Images of the lost words of Wicklow

Wandering Wicklow with Father Browne

edited by Robert O’Byrne (Messenger Publications, €19.95/£18.95)

The latest volume in the series of books drawn from the files of one of Ireland’s greatest photographers under the auspices of the Irish Jesuits is one of the best, for several reasons. It has a limited subject, finely produced.

It was been edited with a scholarly and historical intent by Robert O’Byrne, an influencer in the Irish arts’ world.

Fine images

But more: to the images of the early part of the last century Paula T. Nolan has added her own fine colour images to show the present day aspect of a selected number of places.

One is struck by that of a family out walking in winter in 1929, all wrapped-up well, with a colour picture in the same place on a similar family in modern clothes in the same place, past and present very neatly compared and contrasted. From the hard-worked mountainy fields to the easy life of Shelton Abbey in Lord Wicklow’s day, the whole of Wicklow is here.

The book is full of images that please and amuse the eye, but also with some warm and very human images of real people a century ago, such as the woman chemist in full charge of her own pharmacy, and rightly proud of it.

Another in particular of an old fisherman sitting on boat, talking very earnestly with a small boy, doubtless about the wonders that those who do business on the great water see.

Other wonders fill these pages.