Main pic: Irish Air Corps crewmen bringing hay to starving sheep on Rathlin O’Birne Island, off Glencolmcille, after winter storms in 1999. Pic: Declan Doherty.

A new exhibition of work by legendary Donegal photographer, Declan Doherty, will be launched this weekend. 

‘Declan Doherty’s Donegal’ will be officially opened at the Regional Cultural Centre (RCC), Letterkenny, on Saturday at 6pm.

This major retrospective celebrates over 40 years of work by the acclaimed press photographer, whose images have powerfully documented life across the county through his role at the Donegal News. His work has also been widely published nationally and internationally and he won the Press Photographers of Ireland (PPAI) Prize for Best Feature in 2007.

Curated by former RCC Director, Shaun Hannigan, it positions Doherty as one of the most important visual chroniclers of Donegal life over the past four decades.

A woman goes her own way during a 5K race in Ballybofey in 1986. Can you name any of them? Pic: Declan Doherty.

The new exposition includes more than 400 photographs, presented both digitally and in print, capturing moments from 1980 to 2023. Many feature the people and everyday events that define the county’s character and community.

Also featured are selections from two significant RCC art commissions: Building the RCC (20th anniversary series) and Imaging Donegal – N56, a major public art project. 

Local hero Ted Ponsonby

The exhibition opening will be followed by a very special night celebrating the great talent of much missed local hero Ted Ponsonby in An Grianan Theatre, presented as part of Trad Week 2026.

A host of musicians including Sarah Ponsonby and her band, as well as Tanya McCole alongside some of Ted’s playing partners will join us to celebrate the man and his legacy.

The concert is a fundraiser for the enhancement of the Arts and Performance area of Letterkenny Town Park which is there to give a new generation of musicians and performance artists their first showcase.

Declan is also looking for help to identify these two gentlemen, if anyone knows them. It was possibly taken in Glenveagh National Park gardens in the 1990’s. Any information or names would be greatly appreciated.

Exhibition of renowned Donegal photographer’s work opens this weekend was last modified: January 28th, 2026 by Staff Writer

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