In October 2016, I had the opportunity to visit Ireland, traveling with several members of my family. A blended family, we all share Irish ancestry and we were excited to explore that common cultural heritage together. While it was a bit of a whirlwind trip, limited in time to a few days and geographically to the southern part of the country, we packed in a lot of wonderful sights and experiences. I was impressed by the beauty and majesty of the land. Knowing that Ireland is often referred to as “The Emerald Isle”, I expected to see lush greenery but I could not be prepared for the intensity of the rich green hues I found myself surrounded by. Each night we landed at a different bed & breakfast in a different town or city which also afforded us to opportunity to meet some wonderful Irish folk and enjoy their homes and hospitality including deliciously-hearty Irish breakfasts.

Although I studied photography at the University of Northern Iowa, my work was primarily focused on studio and manipulated imagery. Many years have since passed and my focus has not been on photography, but rather working to share the work of other artists as a curator and arts administrator. I didn’t approach this trip with any intention of making art or presenting an exhibition. I simply snapped photos to augment and trigger my memories of that trip. However, I am deeply honored to have been invited to share these photographs in conjunction with Iowa Irish Fest. I hope that you will enjoy them, and perhaps be inspired to cross the pond and make a visit of your own!

–Kent Shankle
Executive Director at the Waterloo Center for the Arts