Students Capture Irish Culture in International Photo Essay

Each spring, students in the Moody College photojournalism May Term study abroad program set off to Ireland with the goal of capturing their experience by producing a tactile, visual dispatch in the form of a zine — a self-published, DIY magazine.    

Donna DeCesare, associate professor in the School of Journalism and Media, leads the May Term abroad documentary photography storytelling program, which is now in its second year. The purpose, she says, is for students to seek out stories highlighting social issues, while learning the technical aspects of photojournalism and the connective power of storytelling.  

“When you give a story with a lot of statistics, [for example,] it’s hard for people to connect or visualize,” DeCesare says. “But when they see real people, it’s that human connection — the personal story — that we are really drawn to.”  

DeCesare said the goal is to create impact by bringing the viewer into a story so they can better understand different perspectives.  

At the end of each May Term, students compile their photo stories into two-page spreads ready for layout in their zine, which goes to print later in the fall. The Alcalde shared a selection of images from the inaugural 2024 documentary photography storytelling class—a vivid collection of student photos dispatched from Ireland.

The following are excerpts and photos from the student zine, “Ireland in These Times.”

Home is Where You Moor It: Manoo Sirivelu explores Ireland’s houseboat community. Building a life on water is a centuries-long practice in Ireland and offers live-aboards with a housing alternative that is economically and ecologically sustainable amid the country’s housing crisis.

Dublin in Motion: Itza Martinez, Kamryn Morales, and Noel Cantu explore how the city’s immigrants find their rhythm through community. The modern immigrant experience in Ireland is a complex, nuanced, and, usually, improvised dance.

In Limbo: Anna Ippolito, Mirya Dila, and Quinn Lawrence-Sanderson explore stories from asylum seekers. In the heart of Dublin, behind the bustling streets and iconic landmarks, lies a hidden world of waiting and uncertainty.

Estamos Aquí: Kim Andrade, Mason Rouser, Sally Parampottil, and Walker Watson explore the imprint of the Brazilian diaspora on Irish life. For whatever reason they left — whether in search of economic opportunity or an escape from political turmoil — Brazilian immigrants are making an indelible mark on Irish society.

Éire Environment: Amber Huchton, Becca Youngers, and Kevin Myers explore what it means to bridge the gap between humans and nature. The pedestrianized Capel Street is an example of Dublin’s increasing adoption of cycling as a viable mode of carbon-neutral transportation.