Shane Hynan
Beneath | Beofhód
30 May – 5 July 2026
Photo Museum Ireland presents the premiere exhibition of Shane Hynan’s Beneath | Beofhód, a landmark, decade-long project exploring the social, cultural, and historical importance of peat bogs in the Irish Midlands.
‘Beofhód’, an Irish word meaning ‘life beneath the sod’, evokes the primal and totemic significance of bogs in Celtic tradition. This metaphorical exploration of pre-Christian reverence for elemental energies is grounded in Hynan’s commitment to exploring evolving conversations around environmental justice and our shifting relationship to these unique landscapes.
Drawing on Hynan’s authentic connection with his local community and region, the work traces the remnants of industrial peat harvesting, which brought substantial economic benefits and helped forge a strong sense of cultural identity and purpose in the area. Since the de-industrialisation of the boglands, large-scale commercial peat extraction has ceased. Tensions have emerged between the tradition of small-scale harvesting for domestic use and the need to protect remaining peatlands.
Banner Image: Tony’s Footings, Carbury, County Kildare, 2017, from the series Beneath | Beofhód (2017-2026) © Shane Hynan. Above: Works from the exhibition of Beneath | Beofhód at Photo Museum Ireland © Photo Museum Ireland
Irish artist Shane Hynan photographed at his exhibition premiere for Beneath | Beofhód at Photo Museum Ireland © Photo Museum Ireland
Family footing turf for domestic use, Ticknevin, County Kildare, 2020.
Through these immediate concerns, Hynan reflects on the endangered status of bog habitats and the evolving perception and value of peatlands in contemporary Ireland through postcolonial and late-capitalist social lenses. Bogs in the Midlands have undergone significant alteration and a move towards ecologically aware practices, with the construction of new renewable wind and solar farms, which bring their own questions and challenges.
Beneath | Beofhód is a timely and in-depth engagement with urgent issues of landscape, tradition, and community. At a moment of ongoing challenges around the environment and sustainability, restoring our ancient connections to the land seems more vital than ever. Hynan’s long-term focus on Irish boglands creates a profound sense of respect for the complexity of these landscapes, in continuous flux and layered with history.
Exhibition Catalogue
Published to accompany the premiere exhibition of Beneath | Beofhód at Photo Museum Ireland, this catalogue brings together a selection of works from Shane Hynan’s landmark, decade-long exploration of the Irish Midlands boglands.
Meaning “life beneath the sod”, Beofhód reflects on the shifting cultural, environmental, and social significance of peatlands in contemporary Ireland. Through photography and expanded artistic practice, Hynan examines the tensions between heritage, identity, labour, memory, and ecological change, offering a nuanced portrait of landscapes and communities in transition.
The publication features a contextual essay by Shane Hynan alongside an introduction by Luke Gibbons, providing further insight into the histories, ideas, and lived experiences that inform the project. Richly illustrated with works from the exhibition, the catalogue offers an opportunity to engage more deeply with a body of work rooted in place, community, and our evolving relationship with the land.
Published by Photo Museum Ireland.
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© Maija Tammi
Education & Engagement
Explore Beneath | Beofhód through a programme of free talks, tours, and inclusive events designed to deepen engagement with the exhibition’s themes of landscape, community, heritage, and environmental change.
Join artist Shane Hynan in conversation with curators and invited guests, attend a special panel discussion on the cultural significance of Ireland’s boglands, or discover the exhibition through one of our guided tours. An Azure Dementia-Inclusive Tour will also provide a welcoming and supported experience for people living with dementia, their families, friends, and carers.
For schools, educators, and independent learners, a free exhibition learning resource is available to support further exploration and discussion.
About the Artist
Shane Hynan (b. 1976) is a visual artist whose practice centres on photography, incorporating experimental elements in sound, video, collage, and sculpture. He holds an MFA in Photography from Ulster University (2019). His work explores place, land, and architecture, drawing on conceptual, performative, and subjective documentary approaches. Hynan has exhibited extensively both nationally and internationally and has received multiple awards from the Arts Council of Ireland, Creative Ireland, and Kildare Arts. In 2025, he was shortlisted for the AIB Portrait Prize at the National Gallery of Ireland and selected for the FUTURES Photography platform. He also won the Sidney Nolan Trust Residency and PhotoWorks Digital Residency Awards at Earth Photo 2025, hosted by the Royal Geographical Society in London. Selected works from his Beneath | Beofhód project were shown in the exhibition BogSkin at the RHA, Dublin, and the complete body of work will premiere at Photo Museum Ireland in 2026. Hynan is a recipient of the Photo Museum Ireland Artist Development Residency, supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Dublin City Council. He is also a founding member of the Tóch | Dig collective, which was born from his experiences of overlooked and unheard voices encountered while making his Beneath | Beofhód project. He was recently selected as a finalist in the 2026 Sony World Photography Awards.
© Maija Tammi
This exhibition premiere is the first show in a Photo Museum Ireland National Tour, organised in partnership with Source Arts Centre, Thurles, Roscommon Arts Centre, the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny and Galway International Arts Festival, supported by Arts Council Touring & Project Awards.
Beneath | Beofhód is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, Kildare Arts Service, Roscommon Arts Centre, and the Photo Museum Ireland Artist Development Residency.
Events/Workshops
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Wednesday, 1 July 2026
Photo Museum Ireland
Join us for a panel discussion on the role of the bog in Irish culture and history, with artist Shane Hynan, academic and writer Luke Gibbons and environmental scientist Shirley Clerkin.
Cost : Free
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Thursday, 18 June 2026
Photo Museum Ireland
Join artist Shane Hynan in conversation with Photo Museum Ireland director Trish Lambe and curator Darren Campion as they explore Beneath | Beofhód, Hynan’s powerful long-term project examining the landscapes, communities, and contested futures of Ireland’s Midlands boglands.
Cost : Free. Booking required.
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Thursday, 25 June 2026
Photo Museum Ireland
Azure is a free experience designed for people living with dementia and their families and friends. During Azure, you will explore 3 selections of artwork from Photo Museum Ireland’s current exhibition with a facilitator who has received Azure training in dementia-inclusive arts programming. Armchair edition - online event
Cost : Free
1:00 pm to
Wednesday, 3 June 2026
Photo Museum Ireland
Joining one of our guided tours is a great way to get to know our exhibitions in more detail. Our experienced guides are extremely knowledgeable about photography in general, and each exhibition in particular. Tours are free of charge, although booking is required.
Cost : Free
11:30 am to 12:30 pm
Saturday, 27 June 2026
Photo Museum Ireland
A guided tour of the exhibition delivered in Irish Sign Language, providing full access to the artworks, themes, and curatorial context.
Cost : Free for everyone
Classes & Workshops
Sound Bath experience in the Gallery
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Thursday, 25 June 2026
Photo Museum Ireland
Experience an evening of deep relaxation and immersive sound in the unique surroundings of Photo Museum Ireland.