TD 1
Left: Ross with Ross Kileen, Maui, 1999 Ross McDo
nnell was a towering figure in the creative scene. An Emmy award-winner, his work often featured on the pages of our magazine. He became a collaborator and mentor to many working on an eclectic range of projects which this year alone took him from shooting videos with Róisín Murphy in Arklow to documenting the courts and justice system of the now Taliban occupied Afghanistan for The New Yorker. And we are sure there were many more being conceived, in development or reaching fruition. He tragically died in New York earlier in the autumn. We have asked a few close friends to share some memories and tributes with us. “Ross was like a brother to me. We met as teenagers and clicked straight away. We worked together as lounge boys in the Bloody Stream in Howth and would sit on a bench after work every night just talk for hours. Talking about movies we liked, music we were into, places we wanted to go and things we wanted to do with our lives. Two 15-year-olds figuring out what was cool and what was not. Meeting someone at that age who was just into all the same shit as you was magical. Ross was someone in whose company you could never be bored and I would never run out of things to talk about with Ross and that remained the case throughout our lives together. He saw the world as a small place that was “I first crossed paths with Ross in Dublin back in 2005 when we were both shooting photos for the late, great Mongrel magazine. I’d been aware of his work long before I actually met him and we became fast friends. Over the following 18 years we were constantly in contact, mostly down to Ross’s incredible gift of always keeping in touch no matter where he was in the world and in fairness to him, he got around. Before meeting Ross I don’t know if I’d really met anyone with that kind of energy, drive and ambition for their work. It was infectious and motivating. His encouragement inspired me to move myself out of my comfort zones on numerous occasions and to get out into the world and make things happen. We shared so much in common beyond just photography though. From books, films, music and just his insatiable curiosity at the world around him. He was 100% a kindred spirit. Ross was never just a fair-weather friend, however, he had your back through thick and thin and when it really came down to it he was always there for me in a way that I now realize, in his passing, is actually so rare. From late night Dublin sessions to rooftops in Brooklyn, the adventures I’ve experienced with Ross over the years are what I’ll miss the most. Life was never boring with Ross in your life. Rest easy my friend and thank you for being you.” – Rich Gilligan easily navigable. We went on many adventures – San Francisco, Hawaii, New York, Greece, a road trip around America. He came to visit me in Brazil. Always ready to go and always looking for the next thing. We gave him the nickname – Action Man – which he lived up to his whole life. These photos were from a trip we did in Maui. We rented a clapped out car and drove around the whole island, jumping off bridges into tiny rock pools, standing at the top of volcanos and staying up all night sharing dreams of future travels. I’ll miss the sense of adventure that he brought everywhere he went. It was inspiring to be his friend and I’m full of admiration for the body of work he produced. His art was hanging out and making people comfortable with him. He was a master of this. Wherever he went he just ‘hung out’. Opposite: Ross photographed by Rich Gilligan Above: Ross photographed by his niece Eva Savage Whether it was Afghanistan, Ukraine, Mexico, New York or Ballymun, Ross made friends everywhere he went. I’ll miss the swims, the voice notes, the energy, the action, the adventure. He was the busiest man I knew but always had time for you and was never in a hurry in your company. He brought so many great people together. His work and legacy will inspire many and live on forever. “Living the dream” was his motto and he certainly did that. A remarkable life lived to the absolute max. I’ll miss you brother.” – Ross Killeen 25