Ag Amharc Siar: Oileán Thoraí - Looking Back: Tory Island
Ag Amharc Siar: Oileán Thoraí
Eric Luke
Oileán Thoraí
“Ina luí naoi míle amach ó chósta thiar thuaidh na hÉireann, Oileán Thoraí nó Toraigh (as Gaeilge) an t-oileán is iargúlta a bhfuil cónaí air.
“Thug mé cuairt ar Thoraigh den chéad uair sa bhliain 1977, bhí Nikon F le dhá lionsa láimhe agus póca lán de Kodak Tri-X agus Kodak Ektachrome liom. Toisc nach raibh seirbhís farantóireachta ann ag an am, ba é an t-aon bhealach chun an stráice garbh sin den Atlantach a thrasnú ná turas a dhéanamh ar bhád iascaireachta nó ar árthach ag iompar lasta. Chun mo phasáiste a thuilleamh, chuidigh mé leo an bád a líonadh le málaí móna, agus thrasnaigh mé an fharraige i mo shuí ar an lasta don turas uair an chloig. Nuair a shroich muid an “sean-ché” bhí bád eile ag cur móna amach ar an ché fosta, tháinig oileánaigh amach le breosla geimhridh a raibh géarghá leis sna míonna ag teacht a thabhairt isteach. Áit ghnóthach a bhí sa ché beag, le málaí plúir athchúrsáilte lán le fód móna, tógtha as na báid sular éirigh an taoide ró-íseal. Bheadh práinn ann mar tá droch-cháil ar aimsir Thoraí mar gheall ar athrú tobann, agus folmhaíodh na báid ceann ar cheann agus rinne siad an turas ar ais go Machaire Rabhartaigh ar Tír Mór. Níorbh rud neamhghnách é do mhuintir Thoraí a bheith scoite amach ón Tír Mór ar feadh seachtainí ag an am, mar a fuair mé amach ar mo chéad chuairt, bhí sé ar intinn agam fanacht trí lá agus bhí orm fanacht deichniúr.
“Tá mé ag teacht go Toraigh anois le breis agus 44 bliain anuas, ag tógáil grianghraif de Mhuintir Thoraí, daoine atá sean nó meánaosta anois agus a raibh ina bpáistí nó ógánaigh nuair a ghlac mé pictiúir díobh ar scannán 35mm. Tá go leor de na hoileánaigh tar éis an t-oileán Gaeltachta a fhágáil, ag tarraingt ar an Tír Mór, Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá, nó níos faide i gcéin, ach tá pobal faoi bhláth ag Toraigh anois, thart ar 120 ag cur fúthu ann. Glacaim mo chuid pictiúr ar scannán go fóill, ag iompar ceamara amháin agus lionsa príomha amháin. Leica M6 le MP 50mm nó Leica MP le 35mm. Is é an rogha scannán is fearr liom ná Kodak Tri-X nó Ilford HP5. Is maith liom a bheith ag taisteal ar bheagán bagáiste gan ualach orm ag tiomáineann mótair, lionsaí súmáil, lionsaí teileachumarsáide nó ceallraí, níl rud ar bith níos áille ná a bheith ag siúl thart leis na beanna go dtí An Tor Mór, an pointe is faide thoir ar an oileán, is é an chéad stad ná Meiriceá.”
Eric Luke
Le breis agus 45 bliain anuas tá Eric Luke ag obair mar ghrianghrafadóir le nuachtáin Náisiúnta na hÉireann.
Is iar-ghrianghrafadóir de chuid an Irish Times é agus buaiteoir de go leor gradam náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta, lena n-áirítear an ‘World Press Photo’, agus Grianghrafadóir PPAI na Bliana.
Tá a shaothar ar taispeáint ar fud na hÉireann, agus níos faide i gcéin. I measc na n-ionad tá Coláiste na Tríonóide, Baile Átha Cliath, World Press Photo Amsterdam agus Foirgneamh na Náisiún Aontaithe Nua-Eabhrac. Tá os cionn 25 gradam aige ó Chumann Grianghrafadóirí Preasa na hÉireann, Camera Circle Photographer of the Year, agus gradam World Press Photo News.
Thug a ghrianghrafadóireacht é ar thascanna ar fud an domhain, lena n-áirítear cúig Chluiche Oilimpeacha, dhá Chorn Domhanda, agus scéalta nuachta i Washington, Londain, Sydney, an India, an tSiria, an Chéinia agus an tSomáil.
Rugadh i nDeilginis, Baile Átha Cliath Theas é, agus tá cartlann phearsanta curtha le chéile aige ag cur síos ar mhuintir na hÉireann le ceithre scór bliain anuas.
Is é údar an leabhair Looking Back: The Changing Faces of Ireland arna fhoilsiú ag O’Brien Press (2016)
Looking Back: Tory Island
Eric Luke
Tory Island
“Lying nine miles off the north west coast of Ireland, Tory Island or Toraigh (in Irish) is our most remote inhabited island.
“I first visited there in 1977, armed with a Nikon F with two manual lenses and a pocket full of Kodak Tri-X and Kodak Ektachrome. As there wasn’t a ferry service at the time, the only way to cross that rough stretch of the Atlantic, was by hitching a ride on a fishing boat or vessel carrying cargo. To earn my passage, I helped load a half-decker with bags of turf, and rode the waves sitting on the cargo for the one hour journey. On arrival at the “old pier” we joined other craft unloading turf , as islanders turned out to help bring in much needed winter fuel for the months ahead. The little pier was a busy place, with recycled flour bags full of sods, bundled from bobbing boats, before a dropping tide. There was a sense of urgency as Tory weather is notorious for sudden change, and one by one boats emptied and made the return dash to Magheraroarty on the Donegal coastline. It was not unusual for islanders to be cut off from the mainland for weeks at a time, as I discovered on my first visit, intended to last three days which turned into ten.
“I’ve been returning to Toraigh on and off over the last 44 years, photographing islanders now elderly or middle aged , who I shot on 35mm film when they were children or youths. Many have left the Irish speaking island, drawn to the mainland, the US, or further afield, but Tory now is home to a thriving community of around 120. I still shoot my pictures on film, carrying a single camera body and one prime lens. A Leica M6 with a 50mm or a Leica MP with a 35mm. My preffered choice of film being Kodak Tri-X or Ilford HP5. Travelling light unencumbered by motor drives, zooms, tele lenses or battery packs, there’s nothing more beautiful than walking along the cliffs to An Tor Mór, the farthest point on the island , next stop America.”
Eric Luke
Eric Luke has worked as a staff photographer with Irish National newspapers for over 45 years.
Former Irish Times photographer and winner of numerous national and international awards, including the World Press Photo, and PPAI Photographer of the Year.
With over 25 Press Photographers Association of Ireland awards, Camera Circle Photographer of the Year, and World Press Photo News award, his work has been exhibited throughout Ireland, and further afield. Venues include Trinity College Dublin, World Press Photo Amsterdam and the United Nations Building New York.
His photography has taken him on assignments worldwide, including five Olympic Games, two World Cups, and news stories in Washington, London, Sydney, India, Syria, Kenya and Somalia.
Born in Dalkey, South Dublin, he has built up a personal archive documenting the people of Ireland over the past four decades.
He is the author of the book Looking Back: The Changing Faces of Ireland published by OʼBrien Press (2016)