Tom Wood - Irish Work

Headland — Heartland — Meadow — Whitethorn

RRB PHOTOBOOKS BRISTOL

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

22

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

51

52

54

55

56

57

58

59

61

62

64

65

66

70

71

73

74

76

77

78

79

80

81

83

84

85

86

87

88

90

91

92

93

94

95

100

101

102

103

104

106

108

109

111

112

113

116

117

118

119

120

121

122

123

124

125

127

128

129

132

133

134

135

137

138

139

140

141

142

143

147

148

149

150

151

160

161

163

164

165

166

167

168

169

170

171

172

173

175

178

179

180

181

182

183

185

186

187

188

189

194

195

197

198

199

200

201

202

203

204

205

206

207

208

209

211

212

213

214

215

216

217

218

219

222

223

224

225

226

227

229

230

231

232

233

234

235

236

237

238

239

240

241

242

243

244

245

246

247

248

249

250

251

252

253

256

257

258

259

261

262

263

264

265

268

269

The wheat is green on The sidey hill—walk backways up it: There’s a primeval plain to the south, There’s a flashing river-mouth.

There’s virgin soil—no flesh hand can crop it. … A tin-can rings On the flag-stones of a well that’s running low And a townland drinks from love’s unreasonable springs. …

Day passes by the front window round by the stables Like a neighbour coming to borrow a graip or a spade Or to see how the farrowing sow is getting on.

Today he is a little taller than he was yesterday And a little brighter of the eye. Now he is gone Round by the end of the boiler house, shining on the west gables. … The girls stand Upon the grassy bank of a fence and one holds a briar That cuts the vision in two aside with her hand.

Patrick Kavanagh From Possessing Eden

Tom in Ireland, 1953

2

Enniscoe hay field, 1993

39

Suckler, 1976

4

Wild swans of cool Castle Field, 1976

41

Charlie, 1974

6-7

Campbell’s crossroads, 1996

42

‘Son what do you think?’ Páirc na Críonna, 1993

9

Hedgetrimmers, 2018

43

Key to the book, 2015

10

Red and green, 1990

44

Filigree fields, 1980

11

Prevailing, 1990

45

The last house Edmund built, Gauleen Wee, 1995

12

Later, with lupins, 1993

46

‘I’ll be back in 20 minutes’, Scots Ground, 1979

13

Upper room, McMorrow’s, 2019

47

Tea in Blitos, ‘we still have this kettle’, 1976

14-15

Fancy mirror upstairs, Hickson’s, 2013

48-49

Of ragwort and fuchsia, banks and stones, Ballinglen, 2006

16

‘As far as the east is from the west, so far as He removed our transgressions

51

Cloonamine, 1976

from us’ , Psalms on Croag Patrick. As planned met Chris Killip at top, 2003

52

Granny and Jacqueline feeding the hens, early 1960s

Lost by one point (Mayo last won the All-Ireland final 1951), Ballycastle,

53

Stooking the hay, Gauleen Wee, 1995

2013

54

Picking the site, Gauleen Wee, 1993

18

Little boxes, n.d.

55

Nosing a cow, 1980s

19

Intelligence of sheep, Portacloy Bay, Ceathrú Thaidhg, 2017

56

Violet in blue, (having to sell the land), 1991

20-21

Red Cemetery, Kilmurray, 2008

57

Tea and crackers, 1973

22

Red bonnet, 1990

58

Feeding time, Ruari and Charlie, 1996

24-25

Annual migration, 1996

59

Tea set, (leaves for Kathleen to read), 1990

27

Roadside roundup at lake view, 1999

61

Jacqueline and cattle, Lake Field, 1973

28

‘Looks like something seen out of the corner of my eye while I was going

62

Jacqueline with Julia the mare, (Julia worked 32 years before being sent to

17

somewhere else’ (John Davies), 1990

the factory), 1960s

29

Albert Reynolds, Edgeworthstown, 2002

63

Wedding present for Vivian, Blitos, 2006

30

Sky blue, St. Mary’s Bofeenaun, 2003

64

Outdoors/Indoors, 1980s

31

Under ravens nesting, 1991

65

River Deel, view from Gents, John Cawley’s Bar, 1995

32

Yes this does happen, 2012

66

Norman and Alan, 1974

33

Ruminants, 2004

67

Tommy and Poppy’s wedding, 1955

34

May Day bush, Céide Fields, 2005

68-69

‘Unadulterated bliss’, the Nut Gardens, (unworked since Charlie left in 1954),

35

Wiring, Nephin Beg Range, 1986

36

My mind’s eye, Donegal, 2000

70

Auntie Betty’s school book, 1930s

37

Moon over Ruane home, 2012

71

Unopened, upstairs Hicksons, 2013

38

To McMorrow’s for a pint, 1991

72

Unnamed standing stones, Connemara, 1987

2008

73

Jack Leonard, ‘on a beautiful moonlit night, fixing a puncture, Jack reciting

101

Gateway to Nephin, 1993

from Songs of Osian – were you ever out on the great alone…’ n.d.

102

Time lapse, 1990

74

Saints and Mothers, (Micheal Gilroy), 2019

103

Zetor, from Jenůfa’s home, 2013

75

Goodbye Norman, (in the bed he was born in - where George, Charlie, Tommy,

104

Charlie and Tom, 1951

Jim, Betty were born, where I was born. Where little Charlie, Jacqueline and

105

Air bells (Agfa Portriga Rapid), Kerry, 1988

Alan were born. I said, ‘I’ll see you in a few weeks’, he said ‘you’ll have to go to

106-107 Past the Priest, 1980s

Garraunard’, [the funeral home]. He lifted his hand, said goodbye Tom, I lifted

108

Lone digger, Reynville, 1980

my hand and said goodbye Norman), 2006

109

Approaching Manulla Junction, 1978

76

Sweet Afton or Senior Service, n.d.

111

Key to the book 2, Connemara, 1987

77

Tullycross, Connemara, 1980

112

The North, (gates to the Green Field), 1976

78

Jacqueline and hayfork, the Well Field, 1978

113

Less taken, 1986

79

A tree in a nest, (walking the fields with Ivan Fair), 1978

114-115 Pailings, Our Ladies Kilmurray, 2008

80

Heather for the garden back home, Tullycross, Connemara, 1992

116

Rose of Tralee, 1990

81

Charlie, Lake Field, 1986

117

Sheep dogs, St. Bernard trailing, Ballinglen, 2013

83

Coastline near Renvyle, 1987

118

Delinquent cow, Slievemore, Achill, 1979

84

Opis Map (home of Major Pratt. He never married and his life’s work was the

119

Old man looks out/loyal companions, 2005

garden), Enniscoe, 2012

120

Norman, my pram, 1951

85

Céide Fields, Belderrig, 2013

121

Into the vista, 1990

86-87

Soft evening clearing light, (fishing boat leaving Clew Bay), 1999

122-123 Monarch of All He Surveys (recited to me from ‘The Great Hunger’), 2006

88

Atlantic Cliffs towards Downpatrick Head, 2013

124

Flanked by Cushogs, 1986

89

Bitter eyes, Cacht (Kathleen) Leonard, Queen of Connaught, (went to school in

125

Walk to the Green Rooms (bit the camera arm as I passed), Kilshannig, 1987

bare feet, only returned of funerals), 1995

127

Back of beyond, 2000

90

Due west to America, 1986

128

Poor old horse, Donegal Gaeltacht, 1999

91

Hurricane at Kidd Island, 2013

129

Out back to the toilet, Henney’s Pub, 1987

92

‘Essence of the Glen’/ local efforts, 2013

130-131 ‘White wyandots like powder-puffs’, (PK), Donegal, 1999

93

Dugort, Achill, 1986

132

Worked for Major Pratt, (left, Vivian’s Grandfather), early 1950s

94

Forms of water, 1992

133

‘Who’s that now?’ 1993

95

Can we agree? Kylemore, 2001

134

Making hay, 1986

97

Trapped, the Nut Gardens, 1980s

135

Sleán, 1990s

98-99

Patches of blue, 1994

137

Banjaxed (with Hugh Lynn), 1974

100

Roadsign perch, n.d.

138

Mare and pony, Norman, Little Charlie, Maureen and Trixie, 1960s

139

All the stories I never heard (arguing about the best way to mix dung), 1977

175

140

Late June, 1974

176-177 Up to their necks in meadow thistles, 2010

141

I asked Marion to photograph Nephin and the rock we sat on, 1970

178-179 Lost in Mayo, (the first evening with Neal and Fred), 1997

142-143 Where Paddy Leonard lived before he went to Boston, 2005

180

144-145 A new floor, Mt. Nephin, 2006

‘Not too far’, Ballycastle, 2017

The great aunts, Jane and Rebecca, never married, played violin for Queen Victoria, buried in unmarked graves, (or could be Vivian’s Lynn family sisters).

147

Key to the book 3, upstairs, McMorrows, 2019

181

148

Gloss, n.d.

182-183 Sycamore to make a garden, 2006

149

Granny’s geraniums, 1972

185

‘Not much happened there’ (Johnny Gallagher), Strokestown, 2000

150

‘Jesus I don’t remember the stable being pink’, 2008

186

Reflected past, 1996

151

A gentleman’s bedroom, (John Cawley’s as he left it), 2008

187

Political movement, (Jack Leonard?), n.d.

152-153 Aggies bedroom (She was very religious. Every Sunday she would go to the

188

The Windy Gap, 1991

graveyard and clean up the graves of people she knew who had no relatives.

189

The Land League, Campaign of the West, (Jack Leonard, Thornton Pickard

She used to say “will anyone clean my grave when I’m gone?”), 2013 154-155 Aggies kitchen (She had three clocks, one with time set to East Coast America,

Close to reality, 2019

Camera), c.1909 190-191 Horses’ Haven, 2012

one at the correct time and one set an hour different for when the clocks go

192-193 Resting place for Ruane and Leonard, Kilmurray Cemetery, 2008

forward or back), 2013

194-195 In position, Gortskeddia, 2004

156-157 Where the aunts lived and I grew up (swifts nest in the rafters), 2008

197

158-159 Stonewall footprints, Presbyterian Church, Ballycastle, 2008

White lichen, (estimated 1165 species of lichen found in Ireland), Rakestreet, 1996

160

Perspicuous, McMorrow’s Bar, 2019

198

Nigel with Alan, 2015

161

Green in every shot, (like John Ford or Hinde), Achill, 1990

199

Niall coming on 5, Nigel age 8, 2015

163

How do you explain pictures to a dead German? 1975

200

Ballina, B&W Corner, 1978

164

Emerald Green, Leenane, Connemara, 1988

201

Richard Harris, 1987

165

Bluestone for Kerr’s Pinks, small field at Garveys, 1975

202

Reflected past 2, Bridge Street, 2013

166

Cycling to Bofeenaun to meet Rowland girl, Christmas Eve, 1975

203

A large pint! Ballina, 2000

167

A charm, 2011

204

Hickson’s Corner, 1975

168

Norman, Polly’s Acre, 1991

205

An enquiry, Cawley’s, 1991

169

Palaeolithic Plain, back from Pontoon, 1975

206

Heels, Westport, 1990

170

Steady lift from Norman, 1994

207

Inverse patina, Gaughan’s Bar, Ballina, 2019

171

Udder and a smile, (evening milking), 1997

208

Flight of the girls, photocopy, Crossmolina, 1990

172

Under the wires, Enniscoe, 1996

209

Box under each Hickson brother’s Bed, 2013

173

Fallen wren, 1995

211

‘Away on with you’, 1993

212

Flight of the girls 2, 1990

246

Somebody’s blues. Somebody’s reds, 1998

213

My life/after school, Westport, 1990

247

A glass of stout, (John just about in a book), 1998

214

Radio Eireann, 1988

248

Cowboys/middle child, Ballina Show, 1990s

215

Father to lunch, 1993

249

Carr’s icepole, 1997

216-217 Liam Cawley’s Hardware Store, 2004

250

Nigel, age 5, 2013

218

‘Well, these now…’ James Cawley, 1991

251

The passing show, 1996

219

Modelling at Hickson’s, 2013

252-253 The passing show 2, (last ever visit to Crossmolina), 2004

220-221 Inherited by Geraldine, 2009

254-255 Ciaran, Cait, Matty, Niall, Nephin, Loch Conn, 1994

222-223 Out from Hickson’s, 1997

256

Goatherd, Kerry, 1987

224

Vincent Leonard the Hackney Man, 1986

257

Plasterers on the verge, 1987

225

Taxi to the West, (from Dublin in Vincent Leonards’ Ford Consul, shared

258

Standing tall on Gráinne, (quietest cow in Mayo, milked for the house. This

with fellow Irishmen travelling home, 3 in front, 3 in back, Madonna on

Charolais cow had 17 calves and lived to be 21. Down the Shraigh), 1975

the dash-board. ‘Each town we passed a magic password’ Mullingar,

259

Alan, Charlie and Gráinne, the Shraigh, 1986

Edgeworthstown, Longford, Ballinagare, Frenchpark, Charlestown,

261

A promise, Loch Conn, n.d.

Foxford [Paul Durcan]), 1986

262-263 The green track, (once Tommy’s land), 1997

226

A camera, 1986

264

Puddles, Irish Ikebana, 1987

227

Half-talk code, 2001

265

Stone into stone, 1981

229

‘This fella here’, Sligo Fleadh, 2015

266

One for the cats eyes, follow the white line, 1995

230

Irish Bar in Notting Hill, London, 1973

268

The airport down in Knock, 2000

231

‘Well now’, 1973

269

The leaving, Shannon Airport, 1960s

232

Henney’s at 7, 1987

272

Tom with Trixie, 1953

233

Buttons (Irishman in Leicester), 1975

234-235 Bosca Ceoil, 1997 236-237 Fleadh, Ballina, 1997 238

‘Now for ye’s’, 2019

239

Table for one, Lahardan Fair, 2004

240-241 Ballina Show, 2006 242

Wondering brothers, Crossmolina Show, 2015.

243

Abode of stones, Bonniconlon, 1993

244

Lunging/larruping, Bonniconlon, 2005

245

Race meeting, Ballinrobe, 2018

Photographs were made in the west of Ireland between 1970 and 2019 Co. Mayo Sligo Donegal Galway Clare Limerick Kerry Cork

Camera

Film Format

Kodak Brownie Cresta (1965)

1970-73

6x6 cm

Rolleicord IV (1953)

1972-80

6x6 cm

Olympus 35 ECR (1972)

1972-74

35 mm

Olympus OM1 (1972)

1974-79

35 mm

Linhof Tecknika UR (1934)

1977-86

6x9 cm

Ensign Selfix 8-20 (1952)

1979-82

6x9 cm

Leica M2 (1954)

1980-present

35 mm

Leica M3 (1954)

1981-84

35 mm

Leica CL(1973)

1984-88

35 mm

Plaubel Makina 670 (1978)

1983-89

6x7 cm

Wista Field 8105

1984-87

8x10 inch

Noblex Pro 6/175 UX

1996-99

5x17 cm

Noblex Pro 6/150 UX

1999-present

5x12 cm

Hasselblad XPan (1998)

2000-02

24x65 mm

Widelux F1 (1959)

1989-96

24x56 mm

Mamiya 7 II

2005-present

6x7 cm

Mamiya Universal (1969)

2000-08

6x7,6x9 cm

Mamiya Press (1960)

2018-present

6x7,6x9 cm

Leica M9

2010-13

Digital

Fuji x 100/x 1005

2012-15

Digital

Leica M240

2014-present

Digital

Leica CL

2018-present

Digital

Bell & Howell 624

1970s

Standard 8 mm

Nizo 58T

1980s

Super 8 mm

JVC GR-S77

1988-94

Super VHS Tape

Sony CCD-TR2000

1994-2000

Hi-8 Tape

Canon XM1

2000-07

Digital Mini DV

Leica M 240

2014-2018

HD1080p Digital

Leica CL

2018-present

3K Digital

Film/Video camera

Acknowledgements Firstly, I want to express enormous gratitude to all those who trusted me and let me photograph them, without whose help and support I would not have kept going.

Thank you to all my family in Ireland: Alan, Vivian, Nigel, Niall, Jacqueline and Reuben, for years of hospitality. Alan in particular for all his patience with me since 1972! Vivian for her research and encouragement. And also to the Leonard and Ruane families.

To the Stones, Allens and Woods. John Stone for map reading and guidance through the topography of the West. To my own family Lorna, Ciarán & Ruari, for everything.

I would like to thank Peter Finnemore for the first edit and sequencing, many of his ideas carried through to the final book. And Padraig Timoney, above all, for his layout and vision, for orchestrating all the additional photographs as the book doubled in size. The scale and range of the material must have tested him to the limit. I am grateful also to Rudi, Josie and RRB Photobooks, for taking on such a large project in its unabridged form.

Additionally, my thanks to the Arts Council of Wales, Mark Durden for the initial curation, Centre Culturel Irlandais Paris, Ballinglen Arts Foundation, Françoise Bornstein, Augusta Edwards, Richard Bright and Maurice O’Brien at BBC 4, Iolo Williams, Martin Parr, Matt Stuart, François Saint-Pierre, Douglas Gordon, Anthony Haughey, Helen Blakeman, Tim Williams, Paul Lowe at Spectrum, Kirsten Jensen and all at Narayana Press.

My thanks to the locals around Crossmolina, Ballina and Ballycastle, the Lynn family, Eamonn O’Boyle, John Patterson, Geraldine at Hickson’s, Barbara Kelly, Cauleen Barrett, Mary Munnelly, Eileen Robinson, the Leonard Collection.

In memory of those who are no longer with us: Uncle Norman, Charlie, Kathleen, Violet, ‘little Charlie’, my sister Marion Stone (née Wood) and Edmund Burke.

The lines from ‘Possessing Eden’, ‘The Hospital’ and ‘Inniskeen Road: July Evening’ by Patrick Kavanagh are reprinted by kind permission of the Trustees of the Estate of the late Katherine B. Kavanagh, through the Jonathan Williams Literary Agency.

RRB Photobooks, October 2021 Photographs © Tom Wood Layout, artwork and Special Edition dustwrapper by Padraig Timoney Hardcover and typesetting by Jessamine Thoemmes-Tondowski Scans and additional design by Richard Millichap Scans and quality control by Craig Magee Printed at Narayana Press, Denmark 978-1-83-826833-6 rrbphotobooks.com