Vanishing Ireland: Friendship and Community

In their years travelling the Irish countryside, award-winning photographer James Fennell and author and historian Turtle Bunbury are constantly struck by the importance of friendship and community in the lives of the people they meet.
Here, in Vanishing Ireland: Friendship and Community, they take to the roads of Ireland once again and, through stunning photographs and poignant interviews, bring us the stories, friendships and memories that form the identity of our nation.
From sea-swept Ballinskelligs where the traditions of music and storytelling have passed through generations, to the quiet calm of a group of Cistercian monks, we are reminded of a time when kinship and friendship formed the lifeblood of every community; a time before social media and mobile phones, where communicating with a neighbour meant a chat over a cup of tea, on a country lane or over a garden wall.
Through times of adversity and prosperity, the bonds of community between people - family, friends and neighbours - has remained a vital part of Irish life. Vanishing Ireland: Friendship and Community celebrates these bonds and reminds us of what it means to be Irish.

James Fennell is an award-winning photographer specialising in interiors, portraiture, travel and lifestyle photography. In the past decade he has travelled the world extensively working for clients such as Condé Nast and Thames & Hudson, and his work has appeared in magazines and newspapers such as The World of Interiors, Vogue Living, The Financial Times and The Irish Times. His previous books include Living in Sri Lanka, Irish Furniture, The Irish Pub, Thomas Roberts, The Irish Country House, Ballyfin, and the Vanishing Ireland series. Vanishing Ireland: Friendship and Community marks his seventh collaboration with Turtle Bunbury.
James now lives at the family home in Burtown House and Gardens, County Kildare, with his wife Joanna and their three children Bella, Mimi and William. Burtown House and Gardens opened to the public in 2012.
Turtle Bunbury is a bestselling author, historian and TV presenter. He presents ’Hidden History’ on Newstalk’s Breakfast Show and is co-presenter of RTÉ One’s Genealogy Roadshow. Turtle is also curator of the annual History Festival of Ireland. His previous books include the award-winning Vanishing Ireland series, Sporting Legends of Ireland, The Irish Pub and Living in Sri Lanka, and his work has been published in The Financial Times, The New York Post, The Australian, The Guardian, Vogue Living, The World of Interiors, Playboy and National Geographic Traveller.
Turtle is the founder of Wistorical, a history app which pinpoints links between people and places across the world. He lives in County Carlow with his wife Ally and their daughters Jemima Meike and Bay Hermione.