Ellen Maher

This project circulates around the tragic history of Ireland and what defines Ireland to me. I look at the desolate, rural landscape and traditional clothing, personal photographs of my Irish family, their history, hometown (Abbeyleix), and my Dad’s stories through his early poetry. I look closely at the family’s personal identity to Ireland by taking inspiration from the County Laois tartan fabrics, the Maher Family crest, my Dad’s experience of living in rural Ireland through his solitary poetry and the breath-taking, rugged nature that surrounds the town. To expand my knowledge, I reference tragedy on a larger scale, looking at the ongoing conflict between Ireland and Britain through documentation such as the music of The Cranberries, Fontaines D.C. and movies including The Banshees of Inisherin, and photography of the Troubles by Don McCullin. This aims to connect my work with wider tragic historical references such as the Famine, culture, religion and folklore. I am aiming to raise awareness of underrepresented, small communities which are integral to the cultural ecosystem of Ireland, and question the often ignored problems and turmoil around Ireland.