Martin McGinley, Fiddle Player

Snapped Derry Journal Editor Martin McGinley for this week's Hidden Lives. Martin, a Donegal native, is a well-known traditional Irish musician when he's not heading up the North-west's biggest newspaper. On the day of the shoot the busy editor forgot to bring his fiddle and I had to send for this 150-year-old antique one to use as a prop.

Maurice Harron, historian

Photographed Derry artist Maurice Harron for last week's Hidden Lives. A really interesting character, Maurice has crafted many of the stunning works jotted around our city – from the hands across the divide at the foot of the Craigavon Bridge to the wedding party at An Grainan Hotel, which I snapped him beside in a break between snow showers.

Leona O'Neill, jeweller

This week's subject is Leona O'Neill. The Irish News columnist, writer, PR Guru, supermum (and my missus) spends what spare time she has making her own jewellery. She collects stones and beach glass from the shores around Donegal and fashions really unique silver wrapped pieces from them. Here are her questions and answers from today's Journal....

Name: Leona O’Neill

Age: 35

Occupation/What you are known for: Journalist/Writer/Blogger/PR Guru/Mum

Your passion/hobby: Making jewellery

When, why and how you started your hobby:

Ever since I was a girl I’ve felt compelled to alter clothes and jewellery to make them unique to me. I’d buy something from a shop, bring it home, hammer bits off, add bits on and make it my own original piece. In the last year I’ve started making jewellery from scratch, trawling the beaches around Donegal for interesting stones and colourful beach glass to envelop in strands of swirling silver. I also enjoy raiding my mother’s jewellery boxes for antique pearls to compliment the stones.

I find the whole process very relaxing, from walking on the beach on a fiercely bitter winter’s day looking for stones to transforming an ordinary pebble into a lovely piece of jewellery.

How much money have you spent on your hobby over the years?

The stones and beach glass are free when picked up from the beaches, the silver wire and chains are quite expensive but the finished pieces are really worth it. You do need certain tools to work the silver like pliers, snippers and curlers. I have been eyeing up a nice blowtorch and a big kiln which would help me create more elaborate pieces but the husband thinks, what with my reputation for being a tad accident prone, that I might burn down the house or blow myself up.

Would you give up your day job to pursue your hobby professionally? Why/why not?

My passion is ultimately writing. Along with everything else I do I’ve been writing a book for the past number of months and find it all consuming – both physically and emotionally. Making jewellery allows me the time to let my mind rest. I make pieces for myself, my friends and family. The beach-found jewellery is very popular with my expatriate friends in particular. They love that they can wear a true piece of Donegal that has been tumbled in the oceans around Ireland. I’ve never sold a piece, just made it and gifted it to loved ones.

At the moment it’s just a hobby and I think I’ll stick to the writing to pay the bills.

Brendan O’Neill is a portrait, wedding and press photographer based in Derry’s Queen Street. You can check out his work on www.brendanoneillphotography.com or contact him on 02871 371703.

Early morning frost...

The snow may have gone but winter's not over just yet. Caught this frosty web this morning whilst out and about. No word on where the spider was, probably back in our house scaring the wife.

Mark Durkan MP, chef

Spent a snowy Sunday afternoon in Mark Durkan's kitchen while he and his little girl made lasagne. Mark, more familiar with the corridors of Stormont and Westminster, put politics aside for the day and showed off some serious culinary skills for the Journal's Hidden Lives feature.
He has acquired himself quite the reputation for being a fantastic chef, although his missus insists that he is legendary mostly due to the mountain of dishes he leaves in his wake.