Ring The Bell stems from a lifelong passion for professional wrestling, one that deepened significantly after attending an independent show called ‘Clash at the Quays’. Wrestling is often dismissed as being “fake”. The theatrical performances and larger-than-life personalities can lead many to assume that the competitors are simply actors pretending to fight. However, the physical realities of these performances are intense, gruelling, and unforgiving with wrestlers leaving the ring bruised, exhausted, and in pain.
This project focuses on this Irish community of wrestlers who dedicate themselves fully to the sport. It focusses on the athleticism, endurance, and commitment to spectacle that characterises the performers and events. In reimagining the props and detritus from a fight as photographic objects, Maher presents the images in ways that permit the viewer to consider the true nature of these performances and in doing so consider what the spectacle means for the performers and audience.
The following images are from OTT “Live In Carlow 2” (21/02/26) and NLW “First Impact” (22/02/26).This project has been longlisted for the RDS Visual Artist Award 2026
