There are the small delights in the little gems of landscape that one experiences in places such as Cronody Dovecote overlooking Inniscarra Reservoir near Dripsey. I have marvelled at the antique landscapes, in particular the contrasts of standing stone versus for example the satellite on a bungalow I encountered in Inchinaneave, a townland near Inchigeela. There are ghostly presences and spooky atmospheres in the valley’s ruined churches and graveyards. The exhibition though is more than an architectural record. Even though, I have many times stopped to admire and reflect on the influences on the vernacular architecture of the multiple farmhouses, whose meandering driveways, I have wandered up searching for not only answers but also new questions. The exhibition is also more than a study of the rich language of images and symbols that are so inherent in built environments.

It is interesting to see evidence of the past everywhere in tangible and visible monuments but also in people’s thoughts and how it is used everyday in cultural activities. Nevertheless, the Lee Valley is evolving with all its unusual uniquenesses and all the pressures of human existence firmly to be seen. The spirit of the valley’s people are very important to the past and to the current and future geographies and histories of the modern valley.

In my own journey the sense of place in the Lee Valley has grasped my imagination and fails to let go. The valley has evoked feelings in me such as happiness and sadness. The scenic and people stories do have an effect on the mind and body. However, it is not only the scenery but also the character of the place that has become engrained in my own memories. Photography also has the ability to stop the viewer, to impress and make the viewer question, wonder, dream, remember, disturb, explore and not forget – promoting a reaction. With all that in mind, the photographic exhibition attempts to capture the many moods and colours of the River Lee Valley, the characters who have interacted with it, the major events and the minor common happenings to construct a rich and vivid mosaic of life by and on the water.

To be continued…

Announcement Box Contents:

Photographing the Lee Valley – Landscapes and Memories, Kieran McCarthy, Gallery Two, Cork Vision Centre, North Main Street, Cork City, 16 November-7 December 2007

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