In 1978, photographer Chris Steele-Perkins visited Northern Ireland as part of the Exit Group , three photographers who were documenting the current state of poverty in Britain's dilapidated inner cities.
Arriving in Belfast, his visit was at a time of immense internal tension for the country . Civil war had broken out between Catholic nationalists and Protestant loyalists, exacerbated by the partisan Royal Ulster Constabulary who were supported by the presence of a sizeable detachment of British Army troops from mainland Britain.
Steele-Perkins decided to photograph how life was lived in its various facets; not only riots and military occupation, although he could not ignore what prevailed, but also leisure, entertainment, homes, fun, funerals, and community . During his stay he befriended Paul and Anne McCorry and Paul's story of life as a Catholic in West Belfast is an important reminder of The Troubles' effect on ordinary people in the community.
In 2008 he returned to photograph and interview some of the people he had photographed 30 years earlier . to give an added dimension to this timely book.
Hard cover 27x29cm 144 pages English
