FAMILY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS. AN IRISH PHOTOBIOGRAPHY
“Running from his devils lord and reaching for the stars and losing all he loves along the way.”
Kris Kristofferson
Introduction
These are a few of their stories and split seconds of time that capture many, many emotions. There are hundreds more that could and should be included but for now these must suffice. Others are unfinished and still more cannot be told, yet. Their day will come. The stories are as I experienced them or as related to me in a communal, not legal, way. Those who spoke are the victims and survivors and thus the real experts in chronicling their lives and losses. They deserve to be heard.
Oistin Mac Bride.
Contact Oistin to request a copy "Family, Friends and Neighbours"
Reviews
His photography captures the tension and strains of historic moments but, above all, the human emotions which statistics and reports so often fail to convey or comprehend. This is an important contribution by an internationally acclaimed Irish photographer and a worthy addition to any collection on the Northern 'Troubles'
Don Mullan. Author of Eyewitness Bloody Sunday
Oistin's collection of intensely personal stories and photographs is a passionate plea for remembrance, and for justice. Within these pages are the people behind the statistics, the horror behind the generalities.
Remarkably, Mac Bride gives us a full picture, so to speak, of the victims of injustice. They are flesh and blood human beings, as flawed as any of us. In his art and in his storytelling, Mac Bride reminds us that their stories must be told, so that their suffering is not forgotten.
Terry Golway. Author of The Irish in America. For the Cause of Liberty and Irish Rebel
Over the past 20 years, he took thousands of photographs of his Family, Friends and Neighbours to document their experiences as human beings, often touched by personal tragedy. This book is about people, not about historical events or a political movement. It is not chronologically told, it does not explore ideology, nor does it prescribe solutions. It tells the stories of people and families.
Gerry Adams
"His stories and pictures made me weep, angry and anxious to see a resolution to Ireland's war"
Peter Maas. Author
Family Friends and Neighbours offers a view of the Northern Irish struggle which is at once haunting and inspiring. Oistin Mac Bride has combined his extraordinary descriptive skills and his all too real life experience to produce a work which uniquely captures the suffering, the dying and-most movingly-the nobility of spirit of the Northern Irish nationalists. This is a unique story-uniquely told-of a brave and resolute people.
Congressman Peter T King.
"A vivid and unsettling portrait. His work can be almost overpoweringly atmospheric. Vivid evidence of the injustices inflicted upon the Nationalist community. Remarkably free of rancour"
Sunday Business Post
"A timely reminder that wars have more than one bad guy. Puts the lie to the notion that only Republican arms pose a problem.
Breaks through prejudice
A compelling record
Inspired view of a people in struggle"
Ireland On Sunday
"Rapidly becoming a bestseller"
UTV
"A different kind of record"
John Kelly RTE's The View
"A very, very valuable record"
Susan Mc Kay
"Mac Bride has an uncanny ability to catch the bewilderment in the yes of people, even hardened people, when they are faced with tragedy.
Haunting evocative images of the tragedy of war.
A professional and impressive production."
Ulster Herald
"He has done us all a service
Stunning images of a community in turmoil"
Irish News
"Magnificent photographs"
Gemma Hussey
"An intensely emotional journey"
Mid Ulster Mail
"Oistin's images are startling
The first photographic history of its kind"
The Derry Journal
"A personal insight into the price of justice
Unique in its personal approach
Honest disturbing and moving
It haunts, makes one angry, yet helps one understand why peacemaking is a necessity"
Irish Examiner
"A chronicle of survival
His epic book"
Derry News
"I don't see any propaganda. This is documentary"
Brian Maguire
“The story denied to so many for so long.
Incredible new collection”
Irish Voice