My first-year university project, titled 31-10-23, is a documentary series, mixed with archival imagery, that examines the aftermath of the devastating flood that hit my hometown of Downpatrick on 31 October 2023. On that day, the local Quoile river burst its banks, severely flooding the main street, built on marshland, and bringing normal life to a standstill for several days. Some businesses were forced to close permanently, while others faced extensive renovations and long recovery periods.

Several months after the flood, I returned to document the scene. The work focuses on the river itself — still showing signs of its power — alongside the construction sites, boarded-up shops, renovation work, and the altered landscape of the high street. Through these images, I aimed to capture not just the physical damage, but also the quiet, lingering effects on the community: the slow process of rebuilding, the empty spaces where businesses once stood, and the resilience required in the face of such disruption.

By photographing the location long after the dramatic event had passed, the project shifts the focus from the immediate spectacle of the flood to its enduring human and environmental consequences