Graduate Project |You Don’t Even Know How You Do It

Ireland has a rich history of folk remedies and practices. These remedies were often carried out by those said to have ‘the cure’ for a specific ailment. Although these practices have died out significantly since Irish people gained easier access to modern medicine, many people around the country still place their faith in healers when contemporary healthcare fails them, while others view healers as their first line of defence for treating illness.

Gerry O’Donoghue, a butcher from Gort, is recognised nationwide for his natural abilities as a bone setter and healer.

For my project, I wanted to capture the understated nature of folk healers, their contribution to their communities, and the enduring nature of folk remedies in Ireland.