This Irish Photographer is Challenging the Meaning of ‘Home’

Greg Byrne is an artist at the forefront of Ireland’s grassroots movements rooted in social justice. He’s captured resistance from the heart of erupting protests on housing, the cost of living crisis, racism, trans rights, and war. Byrne’s commitment to documenting the realities of modern-day Ireland led him into the midst of the 2023 Dublin riots, where he chronicled the unfolding chaos. More recently, Byrne was part of a group of multidisciplinary artists who gathered to protest the anti-homeless canal fencing in the exhibition ‘Fences are for Horses, Not People’. Last weekend, he launched his debut photography exhibition, ‘The Boom is Back’ that challenges the meaning of home in the backdrop of Ireland’s housing crisis. We spoke to Greg Byrne about his first exhibition, his work as a visual artist and the pulse of social change in Ireland.

“The essence of my series aims to challenge the very concept of ‘home’ in Ireland in 2024.”

In a ‘booming’ economy marked by widespread homelessness, ‘The Boom is Back’ quietly captures the absurd exploitation facing ‘Generation Rent’ by playing with the increasingly impermanent concept of ‘home’ in contemporary Ireland. “The essence of my series aims to challenge the very concept of ‘home’ in Ireland in 2024,” Byrne asserts. “In a nation boasting an €8.4 billion budget surplus, the housing crisis and rising homelessness are not mere accidents of fate—they are the consequences of intentional policy decisions.”

Through a series of eight sardonic and incisive images, presented as a visual catalogue for an auction of decorative objects, each large-scale image initially appears opulent but gradually shifts towards the absurd. The objects depicted are the decorative bric-a-brac amassed from his rented apartment. None belong to him.

Through these images, Greg invites you to reflect: Can a space ever truly be yours when the presence of those who lived there before still lingers? Can a house feel like a home when the shadow of eviction is always looming? What does “home” mean when ownership is out of reach and security in renting is uncertain?”

“It’s a concept piece and it all centres around the absurdities I found when moving into my rented apartment a couple of years ago.”

Unlike Greg’s work on his social media that are all moments captured on the street completely off-the-cuff, his show is something entirely new. “It’s a concept piece and it all centers around the absurdities I found when moving into my rented apartment a couple of years ago. Specifically, items that I found in my new living room. There were a number of odd things on display — many of which made it into my show. I won’t bore you with all the details, but I did live with a giant, human-sized carrot for two years before I finally snapped and threw it into a skip. I was too afraid to ask the landlord if I could get rid of it in case he owned it and I insulted him by asking if I could throw his gigantic carrot in the bin. A sad state of affairs, really.”

“I just asked myself what was truly personal and meaningful to me. The housing crisis, which was the catalyst for my own initial political engagement, immediately stood out.”

In a way this exhibition was a full circle moment for Byrne when deciding on the theme for his first show. “I just asked myself what was truly personal and meaningful to me. The housing crisis, which was the catalyst for my own initial political engagement, immediately stood out.” These often overlooked
objects accumulate a deeper sense of permanency which renters in Ireland are denied.

“Even years ago, it was clear things were worsening rapidly with no sign of improvement. Many of our brothers and sisters have left in search of stability abroad, while others struggle week by week to simply get by. Then there’s the appalling and unconscionable homelessness situation. The numbers, which increase every month, are a scandal. 14,000 homeless, including 4,000 children. Frankly, it makes me sick. Our leaders may tout Ireland’s booming economy, but the stats tell a different story. We have a projected budget surplus of €8.4 billion for 2024 and a potential €13 billion from Apple that we’re now due – we have the means to address the crisis but lack any political will. Too many vultures getting rich off other people’s misery unfortunately.”

“Given all this, focusing my first exhibition on housing felt right. The situation has me in a state of perpetual anger that fluctuates in intensity but it is always there. I wanted to channel that anger into my own small but tangible response to the issue. The show is my personal reaction to the blatant injustice I believe is being committed against all of us in Irish society.”

Byrne’s show would never have gotten off the ground without the encouragement of his closest friends and loved ones. “I’m often guilty of talking myself out of projects. I tell myself my ideas are too weak or not worth following through on.They gave me the confidence to believe I had something to say with my photographs and to think, “Fuck it,” and start taking the steps to put this whole thing out into the world.”

This project presented the perfect opportunity for Byrne to blend his creativity and advocacy. “I feel like I need to reinvent the wheel with whatever I’m creating, instead of just trusting my gut and pushing forward with that initial spark of inspiration. I’d never done anything like this before now so I needed a lot of advice and encouragement along the way.”

One look at Greg Byrne’s feed and it’s a snapshot of Ireland through people and a sincere moment. “Every time I pick up my camera, it’s with the hope of capturing a sincere moment — whatever that may be. My focus isn’t on aesthetics or chasing a cohesive theme; it’s on the human experience, the interactions, and the emotions that come to life in those moments when we come together in good instances and bad.”

Greg Byrne has been involved in protests for years, starting with the water charges, and he has always been struck by the raw energy at these actions. “Typically, I’d go alone, but every time I’d find myself surrounded by a sea of creativity, dedication, and community spirit. What always stood out to me was the sheer determination of people to show up and raise their voices, fuelled by the issues that truly mattered to them.” No matter what issue brought people out — housing, anti-racism actions, or solidarity with the Palestine liberation movement — there was this palpable sense of purpose. “It never failed to leave me feeling uplifted, even if just for a moment. Witnessing people of all ages and backgrounds come together for something bigger than themselves was powerful. It made whatever we were fighting against seem less insurmountable.”

Capturing moments like these became Greg’s way of contributing, amplifying people’s voices, and sharing the struggle with those who couldn’t witness it firsthand. “My love for photography didn’t really bloom until lockdown, but since then, I’ve barely put the camera down.” When Greg went back to the marches after the world opened up again, it felt natural to bring his camera with him. “Documenting these moments wasn’t just about creating images; it was about showing that these movements were happening, week in, week out. 

“I’ve stood alongside everyday people, photographing them as they confronted far-right extremists threatening to murder them. These individuals stood their ground to protect refugees they had never met. It’s astonishing.”

Having covered the Dublin riots in 2023 and the anti-racist protests taking place more recently, Greg highlights the obvious politics at play here – in the Irish Government’s failure to fix homelessness and in scapegoating immigrants. “Immigrants aren’t responsible for a decade of underfunding, for the government selling off public land to developers, or for the dismantling of social housing.”

“We see this tactic used all over the world, and Ireland is no different. It’s the perfect smokescreen for the government, allowing them to deflect from their own abysmal record on housing. The housing crisis didn’t just appear out of nowhere. It’s been steadily worsening due to years of policy failures, neglect, and a refusal to tackle the core issues like soaring rents, lack of affordable homes, and rampant speculation. This scapegoating stokes division, while distracting from the fact that the housing crisis affects everyone, regardless of where they’re from.” 

“It’s a cynical and cowardly tactic to pit people against each other rather than address the systemic issues that have left so many without a place to call home.” 

“Most of us are searching for a safe space where we can feel truly content, whether that’s a physical place or a state of mind.” Drawing strength from a community sharing this struggle, Greg Byrne hopes to foster real change in Ireland by voting out those who have created the housing and homelessness disaster. A reality that has left many including Greg to reconsider what home means to them.

You can view Greg Byrne’s full exhibition at https://gregbyrnephoto.com/.