Since the late 1980s the esteemed British documentary photographer Martin Parr has been taking photographs in Ireland. Between 1980-1982 he lived in the West of Ireland where he embedded himself in the land and culture capturing the area where he was based. Since then he has returned many times to continue this work, coming back to the country at regular intervals over the last 3 decades.

During that time, he captured the changing Ireland and created a series of images that present the effects of wealth and Americanisation on the country. At a pivotal time of social and cultural change these series range from the Texan inspired Bungalows of Co. Leitrim to the Country and Western dances in rural dance halls showing an Ireland on the cusp of the Celtic Tiger era. Since then he has produced new series of works around the Silicon Docks in Dublin, once again exploring the new wave of Corporate American influence in Irish society and the shadow of an impending Brexit.

To date this expansive series of images made in Ireland over a 40-year period has not been exhibited in its entirety. In 2021 this will no longer be the case as a new tour presenting all of Parr’s works exploring a variety of themes and events of historical and social significance in Ireland is planned, Images featured in show include:

Pope’s visit to Ireland

The remaining horse and cattle fairs.

The rural ballrooms.

Abandoned Morris Minors of the West of Ireland.

Bungalow Bliss.

Kilkee and the seaside.

Mosney holiday camp.

Corporate Dublin in the 00s

The tour will open in Limerick City Gallery of Art and continue to Dublin Gallery of Photography, Roscommon Arts Centre and then travel to Boston College’s McMullan Museum of Art before returning to finish its tour in Belfast Exposed Gallery in the north of Ireland.

Martin Parr is one of the best-known documentary photographers of his generation. The author of more than 90 books and the editor of 30 others, he has firmly established his photographic legacy.

He has also curated two photography festivals: Arles in 2004 and the Brighton Biennial in 2010. More recently he curated the Barbican exhibition, Strange and Familiar. In 1994 he became a full
member of Magnum Photographic Cooperative. Between 2013 – 2017 Martin was president of Magnum Photos. In Autumn 2017 the Martin Parr Foundation opened in Bristol. In 2013 he was
appointed visiting professor of photography at the University of Ulster. Parr’s work has been collected by many of the major museums, including the Tate, the Pompidou, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.