Naked ambition: Fundraiser uncovers local talent

PAULINE LOWNEY’S friends and family signed up straight away when the West Cork woman enquired as to whether they were interested in stripping off for charity.

“Their attitude was: ‘It’s not everyday that somebody asks you to pose partially naked,’” laughs the 65-year-old housewife and mother of three.

And so six of the Clonakilty woman’s closest friends and family members, aged 40 to 72, all headed to Bandon, where coffeeshop queen Mary Rose O’Donovan had offered her Georgian home as a shoot location.

Photographer for the day was Pauline’s son Alan, helped by local snapper Denis Boyle.

“Alan isn’t a professional photographer but photography has long been his hobby,” said Pauline. “He normally shoots landscapes and he was laughing when I asked him to do it. It’s not everyday that a mother asks her son to photograph her semi-naked.”

All proceeds from the Clonakilty Girls Calendar will go to Action Breast Cancer.

“I know the idea isn’t very original but we are Clonakilty people and we have plenty of contacts in the region and I’m sure we’ll be supported in our hometown,” said Pauline.

“If we make €500 or €5,000, it doesn’t matter. If we can help fund research that stops one person from getting cancer or can successfully treat another, then I’ll be delighted.”

Pauline was diagnosed with breast cancer in May last year. During treatment at Christmas, her kidneys nearly failed. However, her treatment is now complete and she describes herself as “halfway through recovery”.

She came up with the idea of the calendar last week and turned around the project in record time. “You know I just felt like I needed something to focus on at the moment,” she said.

The women hope to have the calendar on the shelves before December 8, which is traditionally a 20% discount shopping day in Clonakilty.

The calendar will cost €10.