Visual Poetry: The Photography of John Minihan

Black and white photograph of two men sitting on a bench within the curved dome of St Paul's Cathedral — Whispering Gallery, St. Paul’s Cathedral, 1962, 1962. Photograph by John Minihan. Copyright of University College Cork.

14 March - 11 October 2026
Sir Hugh Lane Room | Admission free.

This exhibition offers an insight into John Minihan’s extensive career, which spans over sixty years, exploring his experience of working as press photographer for the Daily Mail from the age of 16, which led to his introduction to Samuel Beckett, to his eventual relinquishment of media assignments in favour of more personal projects. From the outset of his career, Minihan’s pursuit of photographing “what might have gone unnoticed” and his desire to draw out the poetry of everyday life formed the core of his practice.

Note: the exhibition will have two rotations during the run, with each rotation made up of approximately 30 wall-based works and 5–10 objects for display cases.

Curator: Sarah McAuliffe, Curator of Irish Art Post 1900.