Family, Friends and Neighbours: An Irish Photobiography

These are a few of their stories and split seconds of time that capture many, many emotions. There are hundreds more that could and should be included but for now these must suffice. Others are unfinished and still more cannot be told, yet. Their day will come. The stories are as I experienced them or as related to me in a communal, not legal, way. Those who spoke are the victims and survivors and thus the real experts in chronicling their lives and losses. They deserve to be heard.

In his introduction to the book, Gerry Adams writes:

"This wonderful, sad and inspirational book of images and stories comes from the perspective of a people in struggle as seen through the camera lens of one of our own, Oistín Mac Bride.

"Over the past 20 years, he took thousands of photographs of his family, friends and neighbours to document their experiences as human beings, often touched by personal tragedy. This book is about people, not about historical events or a political movement. It is not chronologically told, it does not explore ideology, nor does it prescribe solutions. It tells the stories of people and families.

"But it is about politics, because as we read the stories and read the pain or absurdity of military occupation in the stares on the faces in this book, we know that somehow we must make this peace process we are committed to work. No matter how frustrating, no matter how many obstacles are put in our way by those who are resisting change, we need to keep ourselves moving forward so that these sacrifices and losses are not in vain."