Project name - "Sha~man"

• Prize
• Photographer
  Daragh Mc Donagh, Ireland

“SHA-MAN”
At present many parts of Western society finds itself in the
midst of the collapse of some of it most trusted
and powerful structures, it’s capitalist system and it’s
predominant religions.
Ireland represents one such country where this can be very
clearly seen.
When polled in 2011, 44% of Irish people claimed to be Non-
religious, a staggering decline from only five years before hand.
This series Sha-man, stemmed from my interest in investigating
this sudden spiritual decline and the
vacuum left by this change. I found myself drawn to investigate
where people were now
migrating to in the advent of this spiritual void.

In an age where many find themselves endlessly connected, yet
disconnected, unable to
decipher if they are the consumer or the consumed.
There is a yearning to connect with the real, the actual and the
genuine.
A seeking for a reconnection with the natural world has led to
the
revival of older ways, traditions and alternative practices.
For the people of the Shamanic community in Ireland and across
many other countries.
Shamanism provides them with practical methods that enables a
vital reconnection with something they somehow know is deep
inside.
More importantly Shamanism allows people to form
communities based on belonging and trust,
where they are able to replace feelings of dissatisfaction and
uncertainty with values that bind them together irrespective of
their societies economic and social prospects.

My contact with the Shamanic community has revealed to me a
very different reality to the preconceived notions and
stereotypical views held by many when confronted with
alternative practices.
Interestingly a large section of the community have
backgrounds in the Mental Health
profession. This series intends to challenge the many
stereotypes that exist around
alternative belief systems and provide a window of opportunity
to question ones own belief
system and spirituality.

Awards Just graduated from MFA in Photography from Ulster University in Belfast, Ireland, under Martin Parr, Donovan Wylie and Paul Seawright