South coast Mods, but not the coast you’re probably thinking of…
As a teenager in Waterford during the early 80s, being interested in photography and having a job at the chipper in Tramore provided me with a perfect opportunity to capture moments of the Mod scene during those summers. Looking back now it was wonderful to be able to document the culture and create a poster featuring one of the photographs. It’s incredible to think that something created all those years ago is still of interest today. The passage of time can often give a unique perspective on historical moments and subcultures, and it’s fantastic that it has endured and continues to resonate with people.
The Mod subculture, with its distinctive fashion, music and lifestyle, is an essential part of cultural history, and contributions as a photographer can help preserve that legacy. I hope you enjoy some of my photographs and the memories that go with them.
Cork to Tramore
Despite being from the city with the grooviest Mods, Brendan Moynihan has to admit that Cork was never the spiritual home of Mod in Ireland. That title surely goes to Waterford and, specifically, Tramore. In Cork, being a Mod was always a niche interest.
“I became a Mod about 1980, just to follow in the footsteps of my older
