After more than four decades capturing the very pulse of Donegal and its people, photographer Declan Doherty has compiled a collection of his work.
A photojournalist with the Donegal News regional newspaper, the Letterkenny native recently closed the door on his office darkroom for the last time, having retired.
However, those not familiar with his work now have the chance to see it up close and personal at the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny.
Declan Doherty’s Donegal contains 400 photographs from the hundreds of thousands of images he has captured during those years.
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It is, without doubt, the most concise photographic collection of the county, its people and the events that have shaped it over the past half-century.
From stunning shots of Hollywood actor Meryl Streep visiting Glenties at the premiere of Brian Friel’s film Dancing at Lughnasa in 1998 to local elections, tragic events and everything in between, Doherty acted as the eyes of a generation of readers.
His work has also appeared on the front pages of many of Ireland’s national newspapers, including The Irish Times, during those four decades.
Curated by the cultural centre’s former director Shaun Hannigan, Doherty’s work is one of the last true photographic compilations to cross seamlessly from black-and-white film development to digital photography, always keeping the subject to the fore of his frame.
It is well worth travelling to Co Donegal to see before it closes on Saturday, March 14th.
