Richard BodinLast year, to celebrate the 10 years anniversary of Limerick-based band Anna’s Anchor, photographer Keith Kelly was tasked to assemble a photo exhibition. The idea evolved into a coffee-table book that was published before Christmas and quickly sold out. Due to public demand, A River Runs Through It has been re-published last month.
Mapping Limerick’s Musical DNA
The book offers a unique take on Limerick’s relationship with music. It starts by highlighting the long history the city has to provide when it comes to world renowned musicians, dating as far back as the 1800s. A River Runs Through It aims at giving a musical glimpse at flourishing creativity this city has to offer. Keith Kelly is not at his first attempt on the subject. He came up with a compilation of local scene’s bands a few years back called The New Reindeer Age.
But this book is not a best-of, far from it. It is much better. The concept starts from Keith Kelly himself posing with his favourite Limerick album: Everybody Else Is Doing it, So Why Can’t We?, by The Cranberries. It follows with Cranberries’ guitarist Noel Hogan posing with his copy of Woodstar’s album Life Sparks. Woodstar’s Fin Chambers is then featuring his favourite LP and so on…
Following the Trail Through the Treaty City
From there, the readers will follow trails that will lead them all around the Treaty City, meeting artists posing with their own favourite Limerick album. It offers, in the end, a deeper compilation than a mere best-of. A true dive in the beating heart of the city’s cultural life. Starting from The Cranberries — which is probably the most famous Limerick band— we get to discover Bleeding Heart Pigeons, Casavettes, or Headgears…
The trail takes us all around the city. The photos capture many of the city’s landmarks from King John’s Castle, to Dolan’s or the docklands. It also travels in time, as it explores all eras. We cross paths with Johnny Duhan of Granny’s Intentions, Emma Langford or Barry Murphy from Hermitage Green. It is also a testimony to the ever changing cultural life of the city. We meet Giveamanakick’s Keith Lawler and Winding’s Liam Marley who now form Sweets, or Fox Jaw’s Shane Serrano now part of Neptune Blood.
A Book That Gives Back
A River Runs Through It would make an ideal Christmas gift for any music-lover, as it is the perfect book to discover this wonderful musical history of the city. It is also worth noting that all profits go to two charities: The Limerick Civic Trust and The Learning Hub Limerick, which supports young people and artists. The reprint is available in Limerick O’Mahony’s Booksellers, Steamboat Music, Re-Story Limerick and the People’s Museum.
