Image conscious: the photographs of Tony O’Shea

A new collection of the former Business Post photographer’s work showcases his unflagging ability to capture the extraordinary in the everyday

A turkey market on Dublin’s Mary Lane, Christmas 1991, taken for The Sunday Business Post

“There is one thing the photograph must contain,” said the great lensman Robert Frank, “the humanity of the moment.” It’s a rule that certainly applies to the work of Tony O’Shea.

Originally from Valentia Island off the Iveragh Peninsula in Kerry, O’Shea’s compelling pictures of Irish life have appeared in many international publications including the Guardian, Creative Camera and Libération. He also spent many years working for this newspaper, where he combined an unassuming presence ...