Orla Proudfoot

Meet You at Gala explores the importance of Irish community spaces in shaping identity and fostering relationships through the lens of my local women’s GAA team in County Kildare.

Spanning a five-month documentary process, this work adopts a reflective perspective as I return to a community I was once part of. Locker-room chats and pre-game rituals, including the ceremonial congregation at the local petrol station, Gala, reveal the vibrant personalities and connections within the team.

From schoolgirls to first-time mothers, both individual stories and collective experiences are shared throughout the work. A feminine approach captures both the aesthetic and physical realities of the players: fake tan, slicked-back hair, sprains, and blisters. Through the use of photography and textile application, the work creates an authentic, candid, and intimate account of these moments.

Audiences are invited to engage with a community that is often overlooked, prompting reflection on what it means to belong.