Joe Boland’s first exhibition captures ‘A Day in the Life’ of a new Donegal

It’s been nearly 45 years since Joe Boland first had a photograph published in the media.

High time, then, that the renowned snapper should stage an exhibition of his work. 

‘A Day in the Life – Donegal’ opened on Friday at Cara House in Letterkenny and runs until April 15.

“I refused for years,” Boland says of his first exhibition. “It never felt like it was my cup of tea.

“Eventually, I gave in. The reason I agreed was the pressure from a few friends - and also because it would be in Cara House. I wanted it in Cara House for two reasons: I am involved there; and it is socially inclusive.”

Among his many community-based roles, he is the Chairperson of Cara House, which opened its impressive new premises on Pearse Road in 2023.

Boland isn’t used to being in front of the lens, but his work here goes beyond a simple image.

“Every photo is different and there is a story behind all of the photos,” as he puts it himself.

There are 32 images in all, whittled down from the 160 he submitted to a party-of-three who made the final selections.

There’s a former Taoiseach (future President?), Bertie Ahern, outstretched on a bench in Glenties at the 2018 MacGill Summer School, alongside Joe Mulholland and former French Ambassador to Ireland Stéphane Crouzat.

‘Just Peter’ shows Peter Robinson, the ex First Minister of Northern Ireland, on the stage at MacGill and there is Glenties, too, in the form of its favourite son, a smiling Jim McGuinness. A freshly-dunked Joe Brolly (an image that might have drew an even bigger smile from McGuinness), from the Polar Plunge in Rathmullan, is among the collection.

Robinson sits in front of a banner outlining his topic at MacGill - The future of Ireland in a new Europe: The challenges ahead?

Mickey Joe Harte took on a Europe of a different sort, blasting ‘We’ve Got the World’ for the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest in Latvia. 

Boland was in Riga with a cohort of local press folk for that performance and he was present too for the portrait that forms part of his exhibition; taken at the Together for Creeslough concert in January 2003, from which a photo of the legendary Moya Brennan was taken.  

Daniel O’Donnell, on the Noah’s Bed Push, and Ronan Keating, at the Muff Liquor opening, feature without a mic too.

Local issues like the defective concrete block crisis and flooding are included and an array of groups from Africa Day, Gay Pride and Palestine protestors to the Royal Black Preceptory are all depicted.

The last Mass of Bishop Alan McGuckian in St Eunan’s Cathedral and the last day of Sergeant Paul Wallace in Letterkenny Garda Station were captured by Boland, who took a portrait of young Muireann Bradley just as her star was rising and Mona McSharry on a homecoming to Ballyshannon after her star shot to the top.

“I am delighted with it,” Boland says. “It’s bright and colourful. The reaction has been very positive. I never expected people to be interested at all.

“I deliberately didn’t want to see the photos they selected before they went on display. 

“There have been some really good reactions - and from people that I didn’t expect.”

The exhibition opened in time for the One Donegal Social Inclusion Week 2025 and the images illustrate a different and changing Donegal. 

Wildlife, says the long-suffering Finn Harps enthusiast, is his “therapy” and his arm might be twisted yet for an exhibition of his photos from that genre.

A former soldier, Boland previously worked as a staff photographer with the Derry Journal and his freelance work, from news and sports markings, are now carried across a variety of local and national outlets. Often, the job takes him to dark spots; fatal crashes, for instance, “they bring you down to earth and make you appreciate what you have”.

Read next: In pictures: Community Garda intercultural coffee morning at Cara House

In September 1980, the Donegal People’s Press carried a photo of Declan Gallagher from the Coneyburrow in Lifford. His neighbour, Boland, took the photo. 

“A lot of the job has changed so much, but it’s still great to get out to chat with people,” he says.  

“I enjoy it. I wouldn’t do what I do if I didn’t enjoy it.”