The Press Photographers Association of Ireland’s president, Michael Chester, and journalism major Emily Bennett. Photo courtesy of Chloe Jakiela.

The Press Photographers Association of Ireland’s president took four Point Park International Media students on a photo adventure of Ireland that they will never forget.   

The four students who went on the photo tour (left to right) Chloe Jakiela, Emily Bennett, Jacqueline Roberts, and Trevor Marnich. Photo courtesy of Chloe Jakiela.

After clearing his entire Saturday afternoon, Michael Chester drove four students on a photo tour of Ireland, stopping along places that few tourists might think of but were well worth the journey. He had spoken to the group the previous day, and Chester promised students that if he could find the time, he’d be glad to show them some of his favorite places.

Dun Laoghaire is a bay town characterized by the bright blue waters that surround it and the people who enjoy being out in it. It is a vibrant boating town close to the bay, where boat club members  were out participating in sailing races

Sorrento Park’s breathtaking view of Ireland and the surrounding blue waters may have been the students’ most favorite stop. This calming peaceful and well-maintained park is taken care of by the people in the community, and it has one of the most amazing views of Dublin and the towns around.

“This is why I love this place,” Chester said as he turned the corner and came to a view at the top of the park.   

Chester’s wise words, filled with witty comments and a raspy chuckle, guided students throughout the afternoon. Chester always wanted to be a press photographer, he told them.  “To get a job as press photographer would be a pinnacle. I would have never imagined I would be where I am especially a second-time president at PPA.” As a press photographer, some of his favorite things to shoot are, “U2 concerts and motorsports events.”

Chester drove along Dublin Bay all the way up toward Dun Laoghaire past Dalkey, where he lives, and finally to quiet, serene communal Sorrento Park.   

“There’s no place like home,”  Chester said.

But there was another reason for this route.  “I took ya to places you wouldn’t see on the DART [train]. That’s the key, you see,”  Chester said.

As he wrapped up the evening with what seemed like a cued rainbow bouncing off the Dublin Bay, Chester explained why Dublin has been his favorite place.

Michael Chester taking in one of his favorite views. Photo courtesy of Chloe Jakiela.

“If you get the weather, there’s no place like Ireland. You have peace and tranquility, and you can look at the city from up here [Sorrento Park], and you’re only 35 minutes away. You just don’t get that,” Chester said. “Dublin is a great place, and it’s not just the city – It’s the places around it. The sunset as you sip your pint of Guinness is just … wow.”

Emily Bennett, a junior journalism major and photography minor at Point Park, was one of the lucky students to spend the day with Chester. She expressed nothing but gratitude for Chester’s time. “To “to spend this time with him is quite bizarre, and I really admire him for that.”  

Chloe Jakiela, a senior photojournalism major, was the coordinator of this day with Chester. She began talking to Chester earlier in the semester while working on a class assignment, and she was able help secure his visit with the International Media students.Her persistence  convinced Chester to spend some one-on-one time with some students on their free day in Dublin.

“My favorite part about the photo tour, besides all of it, was getting to explore parts of Ireland that we definitely wouldn’t had ever seen if it weren’t for Michael Chester,” Jakiela said.   

Chester took the students to get ice cream at one of his favorite shops. Fluffy and not as sweet, the Irish ice cream cones were delicious and went great with the rushing blue waters of Dun Laoghaire.

Chester said he wanted to showcase for the students what Ireland has to offer aside from the known stereotypes and tourist attractions.

“I want to give you a different feel and different taste of what Ireland is about. We are not all loud drunks,” Chester said. Dublin is becoming a real cosmopolitan dirty city, and I don’t like what it’s becoming. It’s not like what it was when I was coming up.”

Trevor Marnich will be a freshman photography major at Point Park University this fall, and he said he enjoyed Sorrento Park the most.

“It felt like you were on top of the world,”  Marnich said.

The six-hour photo tour of Ireland with Chester was filled with countless hidden gems that the students were able to stop and capture. Chester stopped along gated homes that belonged to celebrities like Bono, the lead singer of U2, and Van Morrison.

As the students approached the last stop on the tour, a beautiful gated home where the walls were just high enough to see below them.

Below are photos from the students who went on the photo tour as well as a video commentary from the students and Michael Chester on some of their favorite things as photographers. For more information on The Press Photographers Association of Ireland, you can visit its website here. 

Jacqueline Roberts contributed to this report.