An Tír Faoi Thoinn – The Land Beneath the Waves (Online)

Beneath the surface of Galway Bay lies an enchanted world, bursting with life in all its forms. These waters contain diverse habitats, rich biodiversity, and strikingly beautiful lifeforms. While many are drawn to the exotic marine life of tropical destinations, Irish waters are equally captivating and colourful. This exhibition of John Costelloe’s underwater photography offers a unique and breathtaking perspective that most have never seen.

An Tír Faoi Thoinn aims to draw attention to the marine ecosystems around Galway Bay, and to develop our appreciation for these hidden habitats. Through mesmerising underwater photography, we invite visitors to encounter the remarkable diversity of life that exists just beyond our shoreline. A selection of accompanying sculptural works by artists Aisling Roche, Andrea Spencer, and John Coll reminds us that that the ocean can be a rewarding source of creative inspiration.

This exhibition also reveals the fragility of this underwater world. Our everyday actions impact the marine environment, often in ways we do not realise. By bringing this hidden world to the surface, we hope to inspire a deeper sense of responsibility and care for its preservation.

John Costelloe (1956 – 2016) was an influential marine biologist and co-founder in 1986 of Galway-based marine environmental consultancy, Aquafact. His passion for Irish underwater life and his keen photographer’s eye offers us a magical insight to the world beneath the waves and continues to inspire new generations to study and protect the marine environment.