A Breath of Fresh Éire

Extent: Paperback

Pages: 128

Size: 180 mm x 130 mm

Publisher: Beehive Books

Review by Paul Clayton-Lea,
Armagh Diocese
July/August Intercom 2022

In her preface Olga Balaeva describes A Breath of Fresh Eire, her latest publication as ‘a personal declaration of love for the natural Irish beauty.’

For those who grew up with the natural Irish beauty the appreciation is often less keen then for those who have discovered Ireland such as Olga, a Moscow born linguist, writer and Gaeilgeoir who has already published a user-friendly guide to the Irish language. Using her other great skill as a photographer Olga illustrates her rhapsody about islands, cities, mountains, sacred spaces and seasons with small but lavish photographs that feature the most attractive aspects and lighting of landmarks and ancient buildings. However, the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words may not quite fit in this instance because Olga’s gift for words is at least equal to her eye as a photographer and her lyrical descriptions linger in the mind and draws the reader back to reflect again on the carefully chosen words and phrases.

Over 5 chapters and 125 pages we are invited to revisit many familiar and perhaps also taken for granted beauties on our doorstep. Flowers and oceans, the four seasons and four corners of the island all form part of this word and image tapestry prompting us to look again and love with new eyes the land that Olga Balava has fallen for. She well fulfils the description of being more Irish than the Irish and this small but perfectly formed publication is a rare gem.

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