Award-winning Irish filmmaker and photographer Ross O'Callaghan is searching for people named Paddy to take part in a unique project he is putting together that will challenge the "Paddy Irishman" stereotype.
Mr O'Callaghan is photographing men named Paddy, Pat or any other variant of the name Patrick, from all walks of life for a collection of portraits that capture what it’s like to be Irish and male in contemporary Ireland.
"No two Paddys are the same, no two people are the same," he said.
"Everyone has their own story, those stories are all different and no matter how big or small people think they are, they are interesting. The only common denominator here is that they are all called Paddy, and if I do break a stereotype then great."
Mr O’Callaghan plans to exhibit the portraits and share the stories of his subjects in New York City for St Patrick’s Day 2022.
Paddy Smyth is one of Mr O’Callaghan’s first Paddys to take part.
"When you think of a Paddy, you don’t think of a gay, disabled, Irish activist," Mr Smyth said.
"It’s changing the idea of what we think a Paddy should be in our heads."
Mr O’Callaghan’s Paddy Irishman Project is now on the lookout for more Paddys from all walks of life to take part.
"You just need to be Irish and named Paddy, if that’s you, then you’re in as far as I’m concerned," he added.
