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ONE LOCK FURTHER words & photos: Thérèse Rafter L
ast summer, producer Tom Lawlor approached me about documenting life on the canals in Dublin. As a larger community we had settled into a new way of living, communicating from behind masks and keeping our distance when passing each other in the street. Initially, I believed the pandemic created an unsettling atmosphere but after spending time exploring our waterways my experience and the resulting work told a different story. The people I met were warm and open, chatting with me at length and posing for several minutes for a portrait. I shot a lot more than anticipated and looking through the contact sheets, a narrative of hope and resilience started to emerge. I’ve lived by the Grand Canal most of my life and always taken it for granted. The canals offer a rich biodiversity right in the centre of the city. Nature hugely improves our quality of life, and provides a reprieve from city living. I believe this is reflected in the images. It’s so important we value the canals and protect such a vital resource. One Lock Further, a series of temporary outdoor photography exhibitions celebrating Dublin’s Royal and Grand Canals, was commissioned by Waterways Ireland. The first exhibition is currently installed at Charlemont featuring work by Allen Kiely, with two more, featuring Rafter’s work, planned for Cabra/Ashtown and Clondalkin in June, running through the summer. IG: @onelockfurther 52