Many of the huntsmen come from families who have been breeding and training hounds for generations and the rivalries between neighbouring hunts have been around for just as long. Living in County Kerry, they are shaped by the harsh landscape in which they reside. Shot over 30 years, the huntsmen photographed are O’Shea’s neighbours and friends, giving him a unique perspective on the community that an outsider would never achieve. The hounds plunge into strong river currents, soar over high hedges and rough terrains, not once taking their mind off the task at hand. As strong a presence in the images as they are in the community, throughout the book the Kerry beagles demonstrate their hardy bloodlines. Kerry beagles, one of the oldest native Irish dog breeds, are bred as hunters and trained by the local huntsmen. Born in 1947 in County Kerry, Ireland, O’Shea set out to return annually to his home county to pursue the Kerry Beagle drag hunt. First Edition includes 50 copies with signed and limited silverprintĬoming early 2023, RRB Photobooks is delighted to present Kingdom of Hounds, a new publication from documentary photographer Tony O’Shea.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |