Frogs for Watchdogs

Portrait of author Seán Farrell, part of a series on great Irish writers for Literature Ireland. After graduating from Cambridge University, he spent fifteen years in France working as a labourer. As well as writing, he works as a freelance editor for publishers and private clients. He lives in Sligo with his wife, the novelist Elske Rahill, and their four children. Seán’s debut novel Frogs for Watchdogs was published by New Island Books in February 2025 to rave reviews. Shot on location in Sligo, photo assistant Molly Keane.

EDGE

Some news about EDGE, my latest body of work. This project is a personal, non-documentary response to the State’s hostility towards homeless International Protection Applicants, particularly on and around Dublin’s Grand Canal. I’m delighted it’s one of fifteen short-listed projects from over 700 worldwide submissions to Photo Museum Ireland’s inaugural International Open Awards Reflecting the Real, which opens at 14:00 this Saturday July 5th. Other works from the series will be seen in the RHA Gallery and in a 10 page portfolio in Source Photographic Review later this year.

Out of The Strong Came Forth Sweetness

I’m proud to have archival and current work on view as part of the “Out of The Strong Came Forth Sweetness GHN 30” exhibition, which takes place between May 12 - 25, Naughton Institute Building (formerly the Science Gallery) in Trinity College Dublin.

Install photograph by Evanna Devine

“Chow Chow” 40x40 cm archival pigment print, from my Disco Vegetables series.

The show also includes archival images and material about my great friend Oliver Stanley (1954-1995).

Install photograph by Evanna Devine

(L-R) Poster for SHAFT, modelled and designed by Oliver, used as the Open Call image for the show.

Portrait of Oliver with his partner Fran, first seen in my exhibition “Portraits” in the Gallery of Photography, 1995.

Portrait of Oliver.

Oliver’s obituary from the Sunday Tribune and his peaked leather cap.

RIP Paul Durcan

My portrait of the great poet was taken for RANT magazine, and after he saw it in an exhibition at Photo Museum Ireland some years later, he was kind enough to send me a card. It said "In so far as one can talk of portraits of oneself without vanity or conceit – and I think one can – I was hugely impressed as well as moved by your portrait".

A lovely and very talented man.

I was very moved to see the portrait used on the Mass card and carried before the casket by his granddaughters Julia and Rosie Joyce at his funeral.

Photograph Nick Bradshaw / The Irish Times

Source

A post inspired by Wendy Erskine, who writes in the current issue of Source Photographic Review that what she'd like to see photographed includes scaffolding and bus stops.

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Jazz fm

I’m sad to hear of the passing a few days ago of Ollie Dowling, the founder of Jazz fm, Dublin’s only “urban” pirate radio station. He gave me a two-hour show there between 1998 and 2002, which I called The Deep End and enjoyed doing very much.

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Acquired

As the year comes to an end, I’m delighted to receive the news that my portrait of the artist Michael Kane has been acquired by the National Gallery.

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Two Years Later

It's been two years this week since my solo exhibition Post-State opened in the RHA Gallery. Many of the works have been shown in other exhibitions since then - click image for more details and images.

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Seasons of the Pole

The last one is shot through a 150-year-old wibbly windowpane, which will soon be replaced by double-glazing. I’ll miss it.

I'M ON THE DART*

*thanks to the Little Museum of Dublin

Tá mé ar an DART, buíochas le Músaem Beag Bhaile Átha Cliath

The DART is the Dublin Area Rapid Transit system. I’m also on the wireless, in this short documentary about the Presidential poster image.