Photographer Martin Parr has made a number of visits to Ireland over the last four decades and now, for the first time, several of the resulting images are brought together in a book, From the Pope to a Flat White, Ireland 1979-2019.
Some of the photos feature here at Magnum, together with an introductory essay, by journalist Fintan O’Toole which looks at the changes Ireland's seen over the last forty years or so, from the conservative society that turned out in force to welcome Pope John Paul II in Dublin's Phoenix Park in 1979 to the modern urban world of "Innovation Districts" and flat whites - nicely echoed in Parr's switch from black and white to colour:
The Pope gives mass at Phoenix Park. Dublin. Ireland. 1979. © Martin Parr | Magnum Photos
The Pope gives mass in Knock. County Mayo. Ireland. 1979. © Martin Parr | Magnum Photos
Westport Horse Fair. From 'A Fair Day'. County Mayo. Ireland. 1983. © Martin Parr | Magnum Photos
Belmullet Fair. County Mayo. Ireland. 1983. © Martin Parr | Magnum Photos
Mayflower Ballroom. County Leitrim. Drumshanbo. Ireland. 1981. © Martin Parr | Magnum Photos
Rainbow Centre. From 'A Fair Day'. County Leitrim. Glenfarne. Ireland. 1982. © Martin Parr | Magnum Photos
Amethyst Ballroom. From 'A Fair Day'. County Roscommon. Elphin. Ireland. 1982. © Martin Parr | Magnum Photos
Puck Fair. From 'Early Works'. County Kerry. Killorglin. Ireland. 1980 © Martin Parr | Magnum Photos
Glenbeigh Races. From 'A Fair Day'. County Kerry. Ireland. 1983. © Martin Parr | Magnum Photos
St Mary's Holy Well. This well is visited on 15th August, The Feast of Assumption, for private prayers. From 'A Fair Day'. County Leitrim. Killargue. Ireland. 1981. © Martin Parr | Magnum Photos
On the last Sunday of July about 50,000 people climb Croagh Patrick for Ireland's most important pilgrimage. From 'A Fair Day'. County Mayo. Croagh Patrick. Ireland. 1983. © Martin Parr | Magnum Photos
Abandoned croft. From 'A Fair Day'. County Leitrim. Near Manorhamilton. Ireland. 1983. © Martin Parr | Magnum Photos
A drive through McDonalds. Nutgrove shopping centre. Dublin. Ireland. 1986. © Martin Parr | Magnum Photos
Finglas shopping centre. Dublin. Ireland. 1986. © Martin Parr | Magnum Photos
Butlin’s Holiday Camp. County Meath. Mosney. Ireland. 1994. © Martin Parr | Magnum Photos
County Mayo. Knock. Ireland. 1996. © Martin Parr | Magnum Photos
Dublin. Ireland. 1986. © Martin Parr | Magnum Photos
Dublin. Ballymun. Ireland. 1986. © Martin Parr | Magnum Photos
Innovation district. Dublin. Ireland. 2019. © Martin Parr | Magnum Photos
Flat White. Dublin. Ireland. 2019. © Martin Parr | Magnum Photos
Also included, some of Parr's images of Abandoned Morris Minors in the West of Ireland, which I covered here.