Ghosts of the Faithful Departed

Irish documentary photographer Creedon offers, in his first book, lush, colorful interiors of abandoned Irish rural houses, with such striking images that it becomes easy to forget that he is documenting the crushing effect of years of emigration and poverty in his native land. Shot throughout Ireland, the book features omnipresent religious icons, stoves, and beds and delicate closeups of commonplace personal items: an ornate Singer sewing machine, a bicycle, teapots, and radios. Creedon’s narrative proves charmingly nonlinear, with childhood memories and even an elegant two-page fictional account of country life written by Linda Keohane. However, the book’s format requires the reader to constantly shift the book from vertical to horizontal—which may become tiresome. While Creedon’s rich photographs provide an excellent record of Irish rural life, his work constantly reminds us of the sadness of a nation of people who left so much behind. (Mar.)