Collections

Dublin 1980s -Ireland in the 1980's was a time of little cash and even fewer established outlets for the creative spirit. However, the arts were long since removed from the traditional establishment and the avant-garde controlled NCAD, and much of the arts infrastructure and media. Following the punk revolution, young artists flocked to Dublin to find their creative selves. A lively music scene in Dublin in 1980 was producing musicians and song writers; ambitious painters & writers were emerging who would eventually bring to reality Charlie Haughey's then plan to promote Irish Arts on an international level. This collection of photographs spans from 1979 to 1983. Capturing the lives of his friends on film, Bill Alford has catalogued the birth of a generation of creative individuals as they followed their dreams and matured into to-day's diaspora. From London to New York, Sydney to Cologne they have made their mark. 45 years on & in light of this year's Gathering & our EU Presidency, this is a timely reminder of a previous generation's struggle to be heard in an economic downturn.

London and... 1980s - A mixture of work, play and life in Thatcher's Britain. A time of restlessness and self discovery for Bill Alford. Love, loss and mental health issues clouded his professional career as well as his personal life. Still, clutching his trusty 35mm SLR, he continued to take images and explore new sources of inspiration. 

The Tunnel Club - "Sunday Night at The Tunnel Palladium – the Alternative Comedians Alternative Comedy Club" is a collection of images taken between 1985 and 1987 in the South East London "Tunnel Club" by Bill Alford.

Bill Alford's photographs capture not only a moment in time at the formation/birth of many a career on stage both in comedy and acting, but also the stark beauty of the performer with nothing but their wit and guile to survive. In many cases artists pushing the comedy envelope at the forefront of a movement, that is now considered the norm. View more on The Tunnel Archive on Flickr