Are you a Padraig, a Padraic or a Pat?

If so, an award-winning Irish photographer wants you to get in touch with him; this St Patrick’s Day, Ross O’Callaghan is launching a search for Paddy Irishmen from Cork, around the country and abroad.

Ross is photographing men named Paddy, Pat and Patrick from all walks of life for a stunning collection of portraits that capture what it’s like to be Irish and male in contemporary Ireland. The aim is to challenge the stereotype of a ‘Paddy Irishman’ and showcase the diversity of Ireland and the Irish male at an Exhibition of Paddy Portraits in New York on St Patrick’s Day 2022.

Television personality and activist Paddy Smyth, award-winning Irish film director and producer Paddy Breathnach and Limerick composer Paddy Mulcahy have already had their portraits taken.

Ross, or ‘Rosco’, is best known as Hector’s right-hand man behind the lens and also worked with U2 in his early career.

“This is a study of Irish men called Paddy from all walks of life through the medium of portrait photography,” he told us.

“I want to tell the story of Ireland’s oldest and youngest Paddy, of Paddy the farmer, the celebrity, the binman, the Paddy from abroad who has settled in Ireland or who has an ethnic heritage and identity. I want Paddy the activist as well as Paddy in prison, the traveller, the diplomat, the local legend and – if we can find him – Paddy the Drag Queen.

“It could also be Paddy Irish Man who’s now Paddy Scotsman – someone born in Ireland who is now living abroad.”

Anyone named Paddy, Pat or Patrick, Padraig, Padraic, or any other variant of the name Patrick can get involved by emailing ross@paddyirishmanproject.com.