Interviewed by Niamh Baugh / photos by Kristina Kelly

Niamh: How long have you lived in the area?
Agustine: Since I was 1, but I’ve lived part time in London.

Niamh: What’s a fond memory you have of living here?
Agustine: When I was about 11-14, myself and a few friends used to dress up in masks on St. Stephen’s Day and go around Teeboy from door to door playing the tin whistle.

Niamh: Have you seen this community come back from hard times before?
Agustine: A lot of the people in the area had the same standard of living – which was that we had what we had and we made the most of it. Although my family never had a lot of money we never regarded it as a problem.

Niamh: What are some things that have helped you through lockdown and what brings you joy?
Agustine: Reading helped me a lot along with a nice glass of wine. I spent a lot of time writing a new book on a fictional account of an Irish business dynasty, and I also spent a lot of time doing the usual chore or re-doing the house.

Niamh: What does community mean to you? What sort of things are you doing now to stay connected to your community and family?
Agustine: Community means home, family and everyone in the area. Community means people being accepting and inclusive, keeping traditions alive, community spirit alive and helping each other in times of need.

Niamh: What message do you want to share for yourself and this community in 10 years time?
Agustine: I hope things will be back to normal in 10 years time. People will hopefully be able to enjoy each other’s company free from fear of the coronavirus. I hope the community is able to enjoy a good standard of living and be able to maintain beneficial organisations such as schools, places of worship, entertainment and farms.

Pictured below are images from Agustine’s shoot with photographer Kristina Kelly.

Agustine Gilroy