tech
February 17, 2026
Pints, prayers and horse racing on the beach: Martin Parr in rural Ireland
The iconic photographer believed his two years shooting horse fairs, pubs and dance halls in the 1980s had been overlooked. A new exhibition aims to put that right.
TL;DR
- Martin Parr took black and white photographs of rural Ireland in the early 1980s.
- The collection, 'A Fair Day,' shows traditional Irish life including cattle trading, horse fairs, musicians, and dance halls.
- Images juxtapose timeless scenes with modern elements like plastic cups and TV aerials.
- Parr's work aimed to reflect ordinary people's lifestyles and a society in transition.
- The exhibition at The Photographers' Gallery highlights this project, which Parr felt was less widely shown than his later work.
- Parr was a renowned photographer known for his oblique approach, innovative imagery, and prolific output of over 100 books.
Continue reading the original article