Stamp of approval for photographer from An Post

A Cork photographer is set to leave his stamp on the 2014 festive season, having had his work selected by An Post to adorn thousands of Christmas card and letter envelopes this month.

Mitchelstown man Bill Power said that he is absolutely delighted that his photographs of the stained glass windows in Millstreet’s St Patrick’s Church will be used on an Post’s €1 and 68c Christmas 2014 stamps, and revealed that the news that his work had been selected came completely out of the blue.

“I had taken the picture a few years ago, and the company who designed the stamp saw it on a website and contacted me for permission to use it. They first called me last April, but didn’t say why they wanted to use it at the time,” Mr Power explained.

Vermillion Design, the company commissioned by An Post to create the Christmas stamps, then asked Mr Power to take detailed photographs of sections of the window for the stamps.

Despite knowing that his work would be used on the stamp since August, Mr Power had to keep a lid on his exciting news until the stamps were officially launched this month .

The stained glass window in St Patrick’s Church was illustrated by renowned designer Harry Clarke. Born in 1889, the Dubliner is best known for designing the 11 windows in UCC’s Honan Chapel, which were installed between 1915 and 1917.

Mr Power is no stranger to photographic accolades. Chairman of the Mallow Photography Club and a member of the Fermoy Club, he was this year awarded the rare distinction of a fellowship of the Irish Photographic Federation, a honour that is currently only bestowed on approximately 25 photographers.

“It is a great distinction, any photographer worth their salt wants to achieve it. It was the highlight of my year until I learned about the stamp, which has been the icing on the cake. It’s most extraordinary, I’m bowled over and absolutely delighted. The reaction from people has been brilliant, and it is such an honour to have my photograph on my country’s stamp,” he said. “My photograph will be going in every door in Ireland and to every country in the world.

“It’s the smallest ever reproduction of one of my pictures, but how bad!” Mr Power said.