The Vanishing Ireland Project

Vanishing Ireland

In 2001, Turtle and the photographer James Fennell began traveling around Ireland on the first of many road trips . Their mission was to interview and photograph people born in the first decades of the 20th century.

Homing in on people whose stories are rarely told, they met with farmers, blacksmiths, fishermen, dockers and nurses, as well as priests, nuns, teachers,  saddlers, thatchers, lace-makers and turf-cutters.

In 2021, Vanishing Ireland was relaunched for a new generation as a podcast series in which Turtle interviews members of the older generation about their memories of time’s gone by.

Vanishing Ireland Podcasts

Turtle discusses life and its learnings with Ireland’s elders, celebrating voices of courage, kindness and humour for future generations.

Vanishing Ireland Facebook Group

Founded in 2012, this highly active group is constantly updated with new images and stories from Ireland’s past.

‘A perfect symbiosis between text and images – affectionate, respectful, humorous, slightly melancholic but never sentimental or nostalgic. This is invaluable social history.’

Cara (Aer Lingus)

'A beautiful and remarkably simple book that will melt the hardest of hearts. Bunbury has a light writing style that lets his interviewees tell their stories without interference.’

The Sunday Times

‘One of the nicest books I have ever had the privilege of receiving, reading and looking through. A masterpiece, an incredible book.’

Gerry Kelly, LMFM

‘Stunning … honest and thought-provoking.’

Ireland of the Welcomes

‘Warm, funny, touching, sometimes desperately sad.’

The Dubliner

Vanishing Ireland Interviews in the Archives

Vanishing Ireland – Original Interviews

Interviews from the Vanishing Ireland project are being uploaded to Turtle’s History Archive at all times.

To search for a specific interview, please use the blue button below.

[doc_library doc_category=”vanishing-ireland”]