The Bridge of Tears Book Launch

The Bridge of Tears (Droichead na nDeor) sits at the base of Muckish mountain in North-West Donegal. During the Great Famine and beyond, emigrants heading towards Derry port in the hopes of boarding ships travelled on foot as far as this point accompanied by their relatives. This bridge marks the place at which they took leave of their loved ones in the knowledge that this would be a final goodbye.

Featuring five original poems by Donegal poet Annemarie Ní Churreáin written across English and Gaeilge, this new artist book explores the universal experience of emigration, migration and displacement of people. The book includes a photogravure intaglio print and visual interventions created by Ellen Martin-Friel using sumi ink, Atlantic sea salt, turf ash and water collected from Srúthan Mhín Easa Roda, the river which flows beneath the bridge. These interventions, inspired by migration pattern mapping and the movement of the tides, capture the essence of the place and form a living embodiment of the space and the people who have passed through it.

All are welcome, please join us in toasting the project and celebrating the release of this new limited edition artist book.