A 40-year legacy of a Tipperary photographer to feature at arts festival

A photographic legacy will feature in the Clonmel Junction Arts Festival.
The work of John D Kelly will be displayed at indoor and outdoor locations in Clonmel as part of the festival.

From Thursday the people of Clonmel and visitors to the town will be able to see the work of the photographer on display at the Tipperary Museum of Hidden History, at the Main Guard and outdoor at the Kickham Plaza.
John was a constant observer to what was happening in the community over the last 40 years.
John has a powerful sense of place and that is reflected in this hugely important body of work.

His pictures show how much the lives of the people of Clonmel have changed over the years, how much the town has changed and documents some of the major news events that occurred over the four decades.
Visual Emotion is a stunning exhibition by John D Kelly.
John D Kelly, an award-winning photographer with a career spanning 40 years, has captured significant moments from the transition of film to digital photography, and from darkrooms to the cloud. Known for his work with The Nationalist newspaper and as the official photographer of both Clonmel Junction Festival and Kilkenny Arts Festival, John has collaborated with curator Kate Horgan to develop Visual Emotion.

The Clonmel Junction Arts Festival is programmed around a theme of Legacy X Next explains Artistic Director Cliona Maher.
“In conversation with festival photographer John D Kelly a number of years ago, he mentioned that 2024 would mark his 40th year as a professional photographer, and this comment started a series of conversations about artistic legacies and how to celebrate them.”
T

he festival is showcasing John’s extraordinary work across an exhibition that is primarily housed at long-term partner Tipperary Museum of Hidden History (themselves guardians of legacies both public and personal), but also at the Main Guard and on Kickham Plaza.
Visual Emotion runs at Tipperary Museum of Hidden History runs from June 28 to October 26 and at the Main Guard and Kickham Plaza until August 31.

Marie McMahon, Tipperary Museum of Hidden History said she was honoured to exhibit John D Kelly’s extensive photographic collection at Tipperary Museum of Hidden History.
“While designing the exhibition with John, I was transported back in time to local events and characters. John captured these everyday events with precision and skill. It seems like a cliché but his photographic archive is an invaluable resource for the people of Clonmel and Tipperary. John, a skilled photographer, carried out his craft quietly, always the consummate professional. I am delighted he is exhibiting his body of work and i wsould expect his exhibition to receive the praise he wholeheartedly deserves. The museum is a place where memories are collected and for its visitors to reminisce, so, thank you John for adding to this wonderous legacy,” said Marie McMahon.