“I moved from Paris last March. I spent almost 12 years living and working there as a wedding photographer.
I’m from a farm in Co Longford originally. I always had my own horse and rode a bit – not particularly well!
After college, I was working in the office at Showjumping Ireland in Naas.
When Dad died, I decided to take a year out.
To Paris
I said, ‘I like photography, I like Paris, I’ll go over and practice [my photography] for a few months.’
When I went over, I did a course and enjoyed it so much. Once that finished, I said I would do a Masters at Spéos, the photography institute over there.
Once I had the Masters, I began shooting weddings and it grew naturally from there.
Years and years pass. It’s Paris; it’s beautiful, I like it there.
Percy and Nora are settling into life in Mohill. /Catherine O'Hara
I kept getting work and then more work and making friends and then I got a dog and then I got a second dog and the next thing I was buying an apartment and life kept happening!
To my absolute shame I am not a fluent French speaker. I did get somewhat lazy as all my friends are ex-pats. From an administrative perspective I had an excellent accountant who dealt with the official stuff and my clients were all destination clients; American, Australian, British. There was no excuse really, although I did pick up very good Franglais (French-Anglais).
The long-term
Pre-COVID, I started thinking of the long-term. Thinking of my family, my nieces and nephews are starting to get older; I was missing them.
I made my decision, moved home and then sold my apartment.
We flew over; my friend came over because we needed two people for two dogs on the flight. Percy is 16 and a bit blind, I tend to mollycoddle him and Nora loves adventures. She is always up for trips! The pair of them are very adaptable.
Catherine O'Hara talks about her move from city life in Paris to the country life in Leitrim. /Catherine O'Hara photography
They are both rescues from Spain. Percy is a Papillion King Charles mix and Nora is a chihuahua mix.
I moved back to Virginia initially when I was house hunting and stayed with a friend. I have a really good dog sitter in Virginia and it is perfect because it is en-route to the airport.
My little house here in Leitrim is a 1900s school house, a former primary school that was converted in the mid-90s into a home. I’m the second home owner of it.
It fell into place quite well. Luckily with my job, I can live anywhere. I didn’t have a specific place I needed to be. I found this schoolhouse and I thought it was charming and it was the house that I fell in love with, rather than having to live in a certain area. I really got lucky actually.
The commute
I still work in Paris. When I go back now, I drive down to Dublin airport and drop my dogs off half-way at the dog sitter.
The bookings can vary. During the summer, I might be doing a few shoots before and after the wedding day itself for clients so I will have a long weekend. Occasionally, I could be there for up to a week and sometimes, I am there for only 24 hours.
Catherine O'Hara is looking forward to exploring her new county this summer with Percy and Nora. /Catherine O'Hara
In Paris, my business is mostly engagements, elopements and some weddings. People come over for their engagement and hire me and sometimes decide they love the Parisienne experience so much, they decide to come back and get married the next year or season.
In Ireland, the weddings are mainly of the wedding day itself.
It’s nice to enjoy the city life of Paris and then to come home to the peace and quiet of Leitrim.
Home sweet home
I will definitely be going to the shows over the summer. It’s nice to be back in that world again. I did miss being away in the summer because of those.
There is a lot to be said to be back home; being amongst your own people, getting the nuances of the country and everything.
It is easier living here. I think it is probably the language thing and I know the people. It is more laid back, it’s hard to describe – it is that sense of being home.
The weather is getting better, I’ll be getting out and exploring my new county a bit more. I’ll bring Percy and Nora to the beach in Sligo and then the wedding season is kicking off too.”
CL
MORE INFO
To view Catherine’s work visit www.catherineohara.com
Read more
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“I moved from Paris last March. I spent almost 12 years living and working there as a wedding photographer.
I’m from a farm in Co Longford originally. I always had my own horse and rode a bit – not particularly well!
After college, I was working in the office at Showjumping Ireland in Naas.
When Dad died, I decided to take a year out.
To Paris
I said, ‘I like photography, I like Paris, I’ll go over and practice [my photography] for a few months.’
When I went over, I did a course and enjoyed it so much. Once that finished, I said I would do a Masters at Spéos, the photography institute over there.
Once I had the Masters, I began shooting weddings and it grew naturally from there.
Years and years pass. It’s Paris; it’s beautiful, I like it there.
Percy and Nora are settling into life in Mohill. /Catherine O'Hara
I kept getting work and then more work and making friends and then I got a dog and then I got a second dog and the next thing I was buying an apartment and life kept happening!
To my absolute shame I am not a fluent French speaker. I did get somewhat lazy as all my friends are ex-pats. From an administrative perspective I had an excellent accountant who dealt with the official stuff and my clients were all destination clients; American, Australian, British. There was no excuse really, although I did pick up very good Franglais (French-Anglais).
The long-term
Pre-COVID, I started thinking of the long-term. Thinking of my family, my nieces and nephews are starting to get older; I was missing them.
I made my decision, moved home and then sold my apartment.
We flew over; my friend came over because we needed two people for two dogs on the flight. Percy is 16 and a bit blind, I tend to mollycoddle him and Nora loves adventures. She is always up for trips! The pair of them are very adaptable.
Catherine O'Hara talks about her move from city life in Paris to the country life in Leitrim. /Catherine O'Hara photography
They are both rescues from Spain. Percy is a Papillion King Charles mix and Nora is a chihuahua mix.
I moved back to Virginia initially when I was house hunting and stayed with a friend. I have a really good dog sitter in Virginia and it is perfect because it is en-route to the airport.
My little house here in Leitrim is a 1900s school house, a former primary school that was converted in the mid-90s into a home. I’m the second home owner of it.
It fell into place quite well. Luckily with my job, I can live anywhere. I didn’t have a specific place I needed to be. I found this schoolhouse and I thought it was charming and it was the house that I fell in love with, rather than having to live in a certain area. I really got lucky actually.
The commute
I still work in Paris. When I go back now, I drive down to Dublin airport and drop my dogs off half-way at the dog sitter.
The bookings can vary. During the summer, I might be doing a few shoots before and after the wedding day itself for clients so I will have a long weekend. Occasionally, I could be there for up to a week and sometimes, I am there for only 24 hours.
Catherine O'Hara is looking forward to exploring her new county this summer with Percy and Nora. /Catherine O'Hara
In Paris, my business is mostly engagements, elopements and some weddings. People come over for their engagement and hire me and sometimes decide they love the Parisienne experience so much, they decide to come back and get married the next year or season.
In Ireland, the weddings are mainly of the wedding day itself.
It’s nice to enjoy the city life of Paris and then to come home to the peace and quiet of Leitrim.
Home sweet home
I will definitely be going to the shows over the summer. It’s nice to be back in that world again. I did miss being away in the summer because of those.
There is a lot to be said to be back home; being amongst your own people, getting the nuances of the country and everything.
It is easier living here. I think it is probably the language thing and I know the people. It is more laid back, it’s hard to describe – it is that sense of being home.
The weather is getting better, I’ll be getting out and exploring my new county a bit more. I’ll bring Percy and Nora to the beach in Sligo and then the wedding season is kicking off too.”
CL
MORE INFO
To view Catherine’s work visit www.catherineohara.com
Read more
The Oscars of Traditional Music are coming up: and the award goes to…
Watch: hen party invades Carrigallen Mart
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