Welcome to my site, here on the home page you will find featured projects, I am updating regularly with more images so keep popping back to see what's new!
Lóchrainn na Rónta
On Sunday evening 14th May we installed the installation "Lóchrainn na Rónta" with 5 schools from the Easky creative cluster - Killeenduff National School Kilglass, Stokane, Rathlee and Leaffoney, under the guidance of creative Cluster coordinator Leslie Ryan.
This was the results of over 20 workshops with myself in Lantern making, whereby a group of 18 seals a lighthouse and hundreds of smaller lanterns were made and then displayed at sunset last night in Enniscrone.
The amazing musician Rossa Ó Snodaigh delivered music workshops with over 200 students and then enchanted us all in front of the lantern exhibit.
There was a gorgeous crowd of about 400 people on a beautiful May evening
This was the results of over 20 workshops with myself in Lantern making, whereby a group of 18 seals a lighthouse and hundreds of smaller lanterns were made and then displayed at sunset last night in Enniscrone.
The amazing musician Rossa Ó Snodaigh delivered music workshops with over 200 students and then enchanted us all in front of the lantern exhibit.
There was a gorgeous crowd of about 400 people on a beautiful May evening
Resonance
We had a magical evening at the foot of Croagh Patrick "Resonance" which has come out of a series of workshops with the
Mayo County Council Arts Squad funded by Irish Hospice Foundation’s Seed Grant programme, generously supported by Creative Ireland.
Using the subject of the human figure all the participants made a figure based on themselves, the underlying motivation behind this is to create a visual dialogue about grief and the resources that are there to help us through a process that we all encounter in our lives.
We have a collection of over 10 figures which were displayed at the foot of Croagh Patrick at sunset on Mayo Day 29th April, we had an informal gathering of all the makers and we remembered loved ones that have passed in the last year.
I want to thank
-All the makers of the figures from the Mayo Art Squad, we had a great time doing this which was deepened by the context we were working in.
-Mick Smyth at the Art Squad for all his encouragement and support,
Anneli Watson for all her dedication and work in sourcing the funding.
-Elizebeth hutcheson and Dominic Cambell from the Irish Hospice foundation who were a constant support.
-Murrisk Community development association for all the work they do at Croagh Patrick so we can all enjoy its beauty.
Mayo County Council Arts Squad funded by Irish Hospice Foundation’s Seed Grant programme, generously supported by Creative Ireland.
Using the subject of the human figure all the participants made a figure based on themselves, the underlying motivation behind this is to create a visual dialogue about grief and the resources that are there to help us through a process that we all encounter in our lives.
We have a collection of over 10 figures which were displayed at the foot of Croagh Patrick at sunset on Mayo Day 29th April, we had an informal gathering of all the makers and we remembered loved ones that have passed in the last year.
I want to thank
-All the makers of the figures from the Mayo Art Squad, we had a great time doing this which was deepened by the context we were working in.
-Mick Smyth at the Art Squad for all his encouragement and support,
Anneli Watson for all her dedication and work in sourcing the funding.
-Elizebeth hutcheson and Dominic Cambell from the Irish Hospice foundation who were a constant support.
-Murrisk Community development association for all the work they do at Croagh Patrick so we can all enjoy its beauty.
Longford Lights 2023 -Artistic Director - Tom Meskell
Over 12,000 patrons passed through front gates of Connolly Barracks to view a charming display of 300 handmade lanterns that transformed the town centre location.
It was a gargantuan task, 17 individual projects laid out across the expanse of the 18 century barracks. It was Ireland’s first large-scale community based lantern festival. “I don't think it could have gone better. It was an amazing tribute to everyone involved. There was such a huge team that made it happen. Everyone was on their A game. I think it was great for Longford, because it was a real Longford gig.”
Tom spoke of the 200 people from community groups across the county who participated in making the Longford Lights and facilitated the three day event. These include local schools, Drumlish and Killoe Men Sheds, Longford Irish Countrywoman's Associations, Longford Women’s Link, St Christopher’s and the Ethnic Minority Hub.
Excerpt from Longford leader
Lights in The Darkness Philedelphia
Lights in the Darkness is a large-scale sculptural lantern installation project, using over one hundred sculptures of the human body as lanterns. With these beautiful structures we created a poignant intervention that honours those affected by suicide in Philadelphia. This is an arts event which we intended to bring attention on this issue that which has left so many people in need a focus for creative healing imagery.
Each figure is life size and made by a participant to the project over a two-day period, using wire and specialist tissue paper, the figures were lit internally with LED lights.
To launch the project over 100 Lantern figures were installed at Dilworth Park at City Hall in Philadelphia on the night of September 22nd. Along with the lighting of these lanterns for a powerful display the evening included keynote speeches and an interfaith prayer service.
The “crisis of silence” in mental health can be solved by talking and bringing our anxieties out of the darkness. This project aimed to be a catalyst for the conversations that shine light on mental health in a beautiful, uplifting, creative way.
Each figure is life size and made by a participant to the project over a two-day period, using wire and specialist tissue paper, the figures were lit internally with LED lights.
To launch the project over 100 Lantern figures were installed at Dilworth Park at City Hall in Philadelphia on the night of September 22nd. Along with the lighting of these lanterns for a powerful display the evening included keynote speeches and an interfaith prayer service.
The “crisis of silence” in mental health can be solved by talking and bringing our anxieties out of the darkness. This project aimed to be a catalyst for the conversations that shine light on mental health in a beautiful, uplifting, creative way.
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Pets by my Side - Wild Fires Residency
This body of work marks the culmination of a wonderful residency I developed with Children's Hospitals Ireland.
I went into the residency with a very open agenda, I delivered a series of 20 workshops over two months at CHI Connelly in the Childrens Urgent Care Ware and Out Patients, in that time I developed an arts cart and used some of my time to make lanterns in a waiting room where I just chatted to parents and kids.
Out of that time I spent the recuring conversations were about pets and favourite animals, I began to see the pets the kids spoke of as their protectors in a place where there were unsure of things, in that time I noted details bout the pets and in my own studio time I made a series of 20 small animals reflecting these conversations.
I went into the residency with a very open agenda, I delivered a series of 20 workshops over two months at CHI Connelly in the Childrens Urgent Care Ware and Out Patients, in that time I developed an arts cart and used some of my time to make lanterns in a waiting room where I just chatted to parents and kids.
Out of that time I spent the recuring conversations were about pets and favourite animals, I began to see the pets the kids spoke of as their protectors in a place where there were unsure of things, in that time I noted details bout the pets and in my own studio time I made a series of 20 small animals reflecting these conversations.
