Shay's WAW portraits gracing Skibbereen's shop windows

VISITORS to Skibbereen have been met with black and white portraits in some of the shop and business windows.

The photos are the work of Irish photographer Shay Huntson, who has undertaken a massive project on the Wild Atlantic Way.

His ‘People of the Wild Atlantic Way’ photos depict the people who live and work along the world’s longest coastal touring route.

Shay started taking his portraits in Kinsale during the summer. 

After he photographs a selection of people in the selected town, he then asks the relevant shops to display the large photos in their windows.

He has also photographed the people of Clonakilty and finished Skibbereen just before Christmas.

Each photo is accompanied by a short story, written by the subject, of their favourite way to spend a day in West Cork.

The Southern Star’s editor and news editor (Con Downing and Siobhán Cronin) were photographed for the project, and their portraits are on display in the reception area of The Southern Star building on Ilen Street.

Shay intends to compile a selection of photographs, which will be included in a book on the People of the Wild Atlantic Way, in aid of the lifeboats organisation, the RNLI, when the project is over.

A Dublin native, Shay spends a lot of his time photographing for fashion houses in Paris and other European capitals.  

A few years ago he undertook the hugely successful project – The People of Temple Bar – to photograph and document, street by street, the independent retailers in Temple Bar, one of the oldest parts of Dublin.

The photos were then displayed in large format on the sides of buildings in the area, and drew a huge amount of attention, and appreciation.

Now, with his thoughts turned to the WAW, he intends to continue his travels along the route in the New Year, visiting Kerry, Clare, Galway, Mayo and up to Donegal.

He says he has met many new friends along his travels with the project.

Shay’s work can be seen on www.shayhunstonphotography.com