Circus Elephants on Market Square, Kinsale. 2008

In putting a collection of images out to the world as a book, you never know how different readers and viewers will see and interpret the work. At the recent launch of ‘Kinsale Light and Time’, where people got their first glimpse of the book, many of the guests who arrived early homed in on this image on their first browse through the book. They were naturally curious about how it came about.

This passing moment in time came and went quickly on a damp July afternoon – peak visitor season in Kinsale. While working in Kinsale Pharmacy, a colleague calmly said, “Er.. John, there’s a couple of elephants coming up the road there, by the Baker’s Oven”. “A couple of what?”, I replied. “Elephants – you better be quick”. 

Luckily, I had my trusty Leica rangefinder camera with me, and ran out the door, quickly changing settings and exposing a couple of frames, before they had passed, leaving myself, visitors and locals alike, looking at each other, bemused. Sometimes you can doubt the evidence of your eyes when something so bizarre comes and goes so quickly. It turned out that a visiting circus had decided to walk the elephants around the town to promote the upcoming performances. It certainly caught everybodys attention! 

Leica M8, 28mm Elmarit. 2008.

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Author’s note: the photograph of circus elephants in a small Irish town in 2008 serves as a poignant reminder of a bygone era when big animals were central to circus performances. However, as concerns for animal welfare have taken precedence, the circus industry has undergone a transformation. The decline of big animals in circus acts reflects society’s evolving values and a greater appreciation for the well-being of animals in captivity. Today, circus acts primarily feature domesticated animals and emphasize conservation and education, highlighting the remarkable changes that have taken place within the circus world.

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