Lanterns and Installations
I've always been fascinated by light. My first street practices involved puppets and things for parades, and I always imagined them lit from inside so you could see the structure. As a practice, I find lanterns very efficient — good value in the materials for the scale you're working at. And they're tremendously transferable. Everyone can have a role in making them. Whether it's a child folding tissue paper or someone in a care home designing a figure or a school making dozens of them, there's always something meaningful to do. That's what drew me to lanterns as my central practice.
I've always been fascinated by light. My first street practices involved puppets and things for parades, and I always imagined them lit from inside so you could see the structure. As a practice, I find lanterns very efficient — good value in the materials for the scale you're working at. And they're tremendously transferable. Everyone can have a role in making them. Whether it's a child folding tissue paper or someone in a care home designing a figure or a school making dozens of them, there's always something meaningful to do. That's what drew me to lanterns as my central practice.
Basking
Basking is an immersive installation that explores environmental resilience and the healing power of community. At its heart is a life-sized lantern sculpture of a basking shark, surrounded by over 60 shell-like lanterns, all hand-crafted from willow and tissue paper. These materials echo both the fragility and strength of nature. An original soundscape by Colm O’Snodaigh and Brian Hogan deepens the experience, inviting audiences to pause and reflect.
The piece was inspired by artist Tom Meskell’s childhood encounter with a basking shark in Dublin’s Natural History Museum and enriched by oral histories from residents of Achill Island, where the sharks are now returning after near-extinction. Basking is a hopeful story of ecological recovery and collective action.
Developed with schools and emerging artists, community involvement is central to Basking. Its participatory model fosters deeper engagement with environmental issues while encouraging collaborative creativity.
Scalable and flexible for outdoor festivals, coastal locations, and public spaces, Basking is ready to tour and can include community workshops to further embed local relevance.
The show was initiated by Roscommon Arts Center, and the first showing is from the 13th June to the 24th July 2025.
The Sleeping Giants
The Sleeping Giants is a large-scale lantern project environmental awareness project. Communities create illuminated sculptures celebrating the night sky, using sustainable methods. The project fosters environmental awareness, creativity, and local pride through inclusive, place-based events.
The Project was made possible by an arts council award, the first iteration of the Giant was held in Charlestown Co Mayo in 2024.
Photo Credit - Amayo Photography
The Sleeping Giants is a large-scale lantern project environmental awareness project. Communities create illuminated sculptures celebrating the night sky, using sustainable methods. The project fosters environmental awareness, creativity, and local pride through inclusive, place-based events.
The Project was made possible by an arts council award, the first iteration of the Giant was held in Charlestown Co Mayo in 2024.
Photo Credit - Amayo Photography
Silva Lumina - Botanic Gardens January 2024
This project was the culmination of a years planning and collaboration with - First Forth night - a charity that seeks to empower and improves the mental health and well being of people through the power of art and creativity "the art of mental health". The figures are a hybrid of humans and plants, representing growth and development, each piece was designed by workshop participants and finished by myself in my studio, there are fifty Silva Lumina in all. A soundscape was commissioned from Colm O Snodaigh and Brian Hogan in response and collaboration with the lantern figures. The installation was shown at the National Botanic gardens in Dublin from the 5th to the 14th January 2024, as part of the First Forth night festival. The first two weeks of the year are shown to be the most difficult time in terms of mental health so we hoped to bring a beautiful and healing experience to the Botanic gardens. The response was very positive and people connected deeply with the work which meant allot to me as an artist. The project was featured on RTE Six One news. The show toured during 2024/25, firstly to Longford lights festival then to Glow Wild at Kew Gardens Wakehurst and finally the Centre Cultural Irlandais Paris. The work was seen by over 95,000 people in the course of its run. Commissioned by First Fortnight and the Arts Council of Ireland. Supported by Culture Ireland and Creative Ireland. In partnership with the National Botanic Gardens and the Office of Public Works. Photo credit - Anna
Photo credit - Anna Wiercioch
This project was the culmination of a years planning and collaboration with - First Forth night - a charity that seeks to empower and improves the mental health and well being of people through the power of art and creativity "the art of mental health". The figures are a hybrid of humans and plants, representing growth and development, each piece was designed by workshop participants and finished by myself in my studio, there are fifty Silva Lumina in all. A soundscape was commissioned from Colm O Snodaigh and Brian Hogan in response and collaboration with the lantern figures. The installation was shown at the National Botanic gardens in Dublin from the 5th to the 14th January 2024, as part of the First Forth night festival. The first two weeks of the year are shown to be the most difficult time in terms of mental health so we hoped to bring a beautiful and healing experience to the Botanic gardens. The response was very positive and people connected deeply with the work which meant allot to me as an artist. The project was featured on RTE Six One news. The show toured during 2024/25, firstly to Longford lights festival then to Glow Wild at Kew Gardens Wakehurst and finally the Centre Cultural Irlandais Paris. The work was seen by over 95,000 people in the course of its run. Commissioned by First Fortnight and the Arts Council of Ireland. Supported by Culture Ireland and Creative Ireland. In partnership with the National Botanic Gardens and the Office of Public Works. Photo credit - Anna
Photo credit - Anna Wiercioch
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
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
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.
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.
The Dream Garden Ballina 2023
"Horses sleep standing and swallows sleep on the wing.
Do animals and birds dream? If so, what do they dream of?
Does a fox, a hare, a snail, a badger dream of us?
Or do they have bigger dreams of a future filled with flowers, birds and play?
As we walk gently through the Dream Garden, among the creatures, we pause and listen.
We can hear them, see their light and experience their magic in the light of this beautiful dream garden.”
The Dream Garden is a specially commissioned installation for Ballina 2023 . It has been created with the support of associate artists Emma Donoghue, Mick Smyth ,Mayo Art Squad, and soundscape by Irish Lights.
It is presented in partnership by Ballina 2023 and the Jackie Clarke Collection.
This project is funded by the Arts Council and Mayo County Council.
Photo Credits - Anna Poshowska
"Horses sleep standing and swallows sleep on the wing.
Do animals and birds dream? If so, what do they dream of?
Does a fox, a hare, a snail, a badger dream of us?
Or do they have bigger dreams of a future filled with flowers, birds and play?
As we walk gently through the Dream Garden, among the creatures, we pause and listen.
We can hear them, see their light and experience their magic in the light of this beautiful dream garden.”
The Dream Garden is a specially commissioned installation for Ballina 2023 . It has been created with the support of associate artists Emma Donoghue, Mick Smyth ,Mayo Art Squad, and soundscape by Irish Lights.
It is presented in partnership by Ballina 2023 and the Jackie Clarke Collection.
This project is funded by the Arts Council and Mayo County Council.
Photo Credits - Anna Poshowska
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 - September 2022
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.
Photo Credit ; Kerry McCreight
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.
Photo Credit ; Kerry McCreight
Pets by my side - August 2021
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 Connolly in the Children's 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 recurring conversations were about pets and favorite 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 Connolly in the Children's 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 recurring conversations were about pets and favorite 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.
Light Brigade - Longford 2022
The Horse is a beautiful animal, the proportions of it excite us, there is a primal connection between us and the horse and being beside a horse brings that out of us. This was my primary motivation in making a group of horses, I had drawn up a number of proposals for a lantern hose projects over a ten year period to no avail, but it’s hard to dismiss a beautiful idea and I could not let go of it.
Shane Crossan asked me if I had any ideas for Faoin Spéir, I pitched the horse idea and he ran with it suggesting we use the barracks, he drew the connection between the cavalry that was stationed there and the light brigade in the Crimea in the 1860s, where a few Calvary men were sent there from Longford.
I had exhibited a project called Lights in the darkness at Longford barracks as part of the 1916 celebrations; this consisted of 50 life-sized sculptural lanterns of people, to commemorate the innocent bystanders killed as collateral damage during the rebellion.
This project was vey important to me on a personal level, my grandfather was from Keenagh in Longford and he fought in 1916 so being part of that celebration in a meaningful poignant way is very important to me. In that time I built up a fantastic repour with the Longford county council, artists and art activists in the area.
When we devised this project there was a very important community engagement element whereby we worked with over 80 people from men’s sheds, women’s groups, ty students. We made large oval shapes that were covered in tissue and leaves so the light shone through the leaves. I wanted to uses the leaves from different parts of Longford so the finished work had a bit from every part of Longford in it. I had fantastic help from Raquel Montero Callero in delivering these workshops.
When we went to make the light brigade due to covid concerns we made the horses in the art centre at Charlestown in Co Mayo, this is my home town and it made sense to be travelling as little as possible, for me the great advantage was working 3 mins from home and having the assistance from my Macnas colleague Tommy Casby who made half of the horses.
It took about six weeks to make 19 horses we made the frames from wire, bamboo and then covered this in tissue paper and glue. We had friends call in and help us cover the lanterns from different walks of life, a vet was in with us and gave us amazing feedback on the shape and size of horses. We had volunteers cover the horses as we went along which allowed us more time to make the horse frames, for this we must thank- Angela Duffy, Aoife Gibbons and Naoime Clarkson and her family.
We noticed as we made the horses we not only became faster but the animals became more beautiful as we progressed. It was only when we transported the work to Longford that we could see them all together, we placed the work in the front of the barracks in what would have been the gardens, we met many ex soldiers who worked at the barracks for years it was fantastic to meet these men and to get their feedback on the project.
For the final event we wanted to engage with the audience through sound , the band Cronin worked with me and developed a soundtrack that brought the work to another level, we also used pyrotechnicians – black powder monkeys to fire up the sky on the opening night.
Gathering in - Cavan November 2021
This was a temporary artistic intervention with long lasting effects. I had been working with the Arts office during the pandemic and we had started a conversation of sorts on how we could bring the arts to the public in a safe and significant way that would not only bring a creative event to Cavan but would also leave a legacy of skills and techniques in the community. This began with Lantern making tutorials online for families using household objects and a series of online workshops with Cavan artists in lantern making.
From this starting point we developed a two week “master class” in lantern making at the town hall art centre, in this two weeks a group of 12 artists made forty two animal and human figure lanterns.
The artists chose domestic and wild animals that would be found in and around the local environs, we ended up with an eclectic mix of sculptures that were unified in the materials we used and the simplicity of the structures, there were no features or colours used to help the unifying effect.
I made a group of Cows and a group of sheep in my own studio with the help of my artist friend and collaborator Tommy Casby.
I made contact with Darragh Slacke and Noel Monahan at this time, who brought their own talents to bear on the work, through the written word and music they created a depth and narrative to the project.
I felt that the plain white work was painted and filled with colour by the poetry and music that was placed alongside the installations. It was through conversations and walks around the town with these two Cavan locals that the landscape the installation was to inhabit emerged.
The pandemic also played a role on how we devised the layout, we could not form crowds so the work was spread over five locations over 3 nights, the music was accessed through QR codes placed beside the individual installations. This in turn created a promenade style event that allowed people who had been cocooning to experience a cultural event with their loved ones in a safe and exciting way, seeing this unfold was very moving.
The restrictions imposed on us by a crisis also freed us up to create work in ways we could never have imagined, using the online realm in particular in the preparation and dissemination of the work has been a real revelation.
The project evolved through the foresight of the Irish Arts Council who developed a stream of funding “Faoin Speir” that would insist that art would happen outside in the public realm for free. Cavan County council Arts Office though the guidance of Catriona OReilly formed a working group online that brainstormed and curated a program for this funding, the Gathering in project was a core part of that proposal.
Lights in the Darkness 2016
They say we see 10 percent of an ice berg, the rest hidden in the sea, for this project the finished products will mark a small percentage of the behind the scenes workshops, organisation and development. In essence, for the artist the process of creating the work with the community groups in Longford has huge significance in creating the final large scale installation on the 24th of April 2016.
The finished piece
The finished piece will be a host of 50 life size lantern figures placed in a location in Longford town for a single evening. This will mark a commemorative event for 1916, in this instance the installation will include sculptural lanterns of men, women and children to symbolise those who died and were injured during this time.
The figures will be featureless representing the anonymity of many of those who died.
The intention of the work is to remember the sacrifice made by those on all sides and no sides.
The process
Tom Meskell, the artist who conceived of this piece, has been developing this style of installation for over 14 years. Fifty figures will be produced through a series of figurative lantern sculpture workshops. The workshops will be held with a number of community groups in various locations in Longford. It is expected that over 100 people will take part in the workshops over a two month period. The participants will be drawn from a broad spectrum of society, Tom has developed a system of creating this work so all can be involved in a meaningful way.
In doing this it is hoped that the workshops will give the participants ownership over the event. The centenary celebration will also create an opportunity to redefine our relationship with our historical past while including new cultural and ethnic influences.
Tom is the grandson of Patrick Doyle a veteran of 1916, who was originally from Kenagh in Longford. For Tom this body of work marks a very personal dialogue with the legacy of a man who died when he was very young but who’s presence is very much alive in his family history and mythology.
They say we see 10 percent of an ice berg, the rest hidden in the sea, for this project the finished products will mark a small percentage of the behind the scenes workshops, organisation and development. In essence, for the artist the process of creating the work with the community groups in Longford has huge significance in creating the final large scale installation on the 24th of April 2016.
The finished piece
The finished piece will be a host of 50 life size lantern figures placed in a location in Longford town for a single evening. This will mark a commemorative event for 1916, in this instance the installation will include sculptural lanterns of men, women and children to symbolise those who died and were injured during this time.
The figures will be featureless representing the anonymity of many of those who died.
The intention of the work is to remember the sacrifice made by those on all sides and no sides.
The process
Tom Meskell, the artist who conceived of this piece, has been developing this style of installation for over 14 years. Fifty figures will be produced through a series of figurative lantern sculpture workshops. The workshops will be held with a number of community groups in various locations in Longford. It is expected that over 100 people will take part in the workshops over a two month period. The participants will be drawn from a broad spectrum of society, Tom has developed a system of creating this work so all can be involved in a meaningful way.
In doing this it is hoped that the workshops will give the participants ownership over the event. The centenary celebration will also create an opportunity to redefine our relationship with our historical past while including new cultural and ethnic influences.
Tom is the grandson of Patrick Doyle a veteran of 1916, who was originally from Kenagh in Longford. For Tom this body of work marks a very personal dialogue with the legacy of a man who died when he was very young but who’s presence is very much alive in his family history and mythology.
Febuary - April 2016 Lights in the Darkness Longford
This project was great fun and involved participants from the Engage Arts group in Longford and participants from the PLC arts course there, the work was displayed as part of the Culture Night events on the 18th September 2015, this was very much a group project and each angel was made by two people.
The Moon Garden
The moon garden was on tour for a second year, this time at the Aisling festival in Longford.
Beast
I was part of a project called BEAST (Baboró, environmet, art, science and technology) and curated the work of a arts science
and schools programme. I put a installation together including all the differents elements and it was in action for the week of Baboró international childrens art festival.
and schools programme. I put a installation together including all the differents elements and it was in action for the week of Baboró international childrens art festival.
The Wishing Trees
This is from a lantern sculpture symposia weekend I facillitated in Cavan at the end of April, the finished piece was called the wishing trees - enjoy!
Look to the Light
This is a lantern sculpture project with young adults from Co Mayo, there were five 3 hour workshops held at National Museum of Ireland - Country Life,
Turlough Park, the figures were based on the collection at the museum and the figures are on tempory display at the museum.
Turlough Park, the figures were based on the collection at the museum and the figures are on tempory display at the museum.
The Moon Garden
This Installation was made in collaboration with the staff and participants at the Rural Training Centre Castlebar Co Mayo, the piece was made for children festivals and will freature in the linnenhall arts centre Roula Boula festival on the 30th and 31st of Oct and the Hullabaloo Childrens art festival in Birr Co Offaly on the 3rd, 4th ,5th Nov 2011. The piece is 10 feet wideand 5 feet deep and 8 feet high and requires electricity and invigilation. There is a sound piece as part of the installation writtten by the participants and recorded by a professional actor Guy Carlton, this utube clip is a slide show of images and the sound track, enjoy!
Minders of the Menagerie - Linnenhall Art Centre 2003
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