A focus on the beauty of the West

Walter Pfeiffer’s fascination with Connemara has left a legacy of two stunning collections of photography, writes Marjorie Brennan

Walter Pfeiffer’s long-standing love affair with Ireland began in 1964, when on a holiday to Ireland from his native Germany, he laid eyes on the Aran Islands for the first time. The photographer was bewitched by the stunning landscape and the following year, he returned to Ireland, where he would make his home for the rest of his life. The results of Pfeiffer’s fascination with the West of Ireland can be seen in the photographic collection Connemara & Aran, a follow-up to the very successful Connemara & Beyond.

The recent publication of the book is especially poignant given the photographer’s unexpected passing earlier this year, aged 73. Pfeiffer was renowned for his work as a fashion and food photographer, working for publications including Vogue and designing and shooting commercial campaigns for the likes of Bord Bia and Dunnes. Vincent Murphy, creative director of Artisan House Editions, the Connemara-based publishers of Connemara & Aran, had a long and fruitful working relationship with Pfeiffer and it is clear that his loss is still hugely felt.