The Bridge of Tears

The Bridge of Tears is an artist book produced through letterpress and featuring five original poems by poet Annemarie Ní Churreáin commissioned for the project, dealing with the universal experience of emigration, migration and displacement.

Droichead na nDeor (The Bridge of Tears) sits at the base of Muckish mountain in North-West Donegal. During the 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 parted ways with their loved ones in the knowledge that this would be a final goodbye. Written across English and Gaeilge, the book takes Droichead na nDeor as a starting point from which to explore the greater story and discussion of displacement which is so prevalent at this time.

The book includes a photogravure intaglio print as well as visual interventions created by Ellen Martin-Friel using sumi ink, Atlantic sea salt, burnt 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.

Designed, typeset by hand and printed by Ellen Martin-Friel. Paper is 220 gsm Fabriano Rosapina mould-made etching with Hahnemühle Bugra Butten for endpapers. Type employed is Magister 12 d Roman, Italic and Bold Extended. The photogravure frontispiece was made into a plate by Ellen Martin-Friel from her own photograph and editioned by Mick Timmins at the Graphic Studio Dublin. Bindings are carried out by Barbara Hubert in Cork City. The book is housed in a canvas-covered solander box lined with Martin-Friel’s salted papers and crafted by Elize de Beer at her studio in Cork City.

The book is accompanied by a short film piece documenting the process of its making alongside collaborators and the landscape and area of Droichead na nDeor. This film was shot and edited by Ryan Mortell, with original musical score by Mark Bergin.

Printed in an edition of 60 numbered copies signed by both collaborators and hard case bound in canvas covers. An additional 10 copies marked A – J have been printed and similarly bound for collaborators and friends.