Mountshannon Map of Art 2020

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Walk with us through the art and artefacts 8 that have been gathered over the years by the 7 Mountshannon Arts Festival and Community. 6 Discover a new dimension to your 5km radius. 5 There is lots to see and surprise you - we’d be de- lighted to hear your thoughts, or send us a photo [email protected].

Permanent street art Temporary Art to enjoy ! Poetry, Photo, Arts

www.mountshannonarts.net / [email protected] area, The Mayfly was commissioned by the Mountshannon Arts Festival The Wren to acknowledge the long connection with fishing and the natural beauty return of the white-tailed sea eagles to . These works are on permanent display at the Mountshannon harbour. Nathalie El Baba 1 of Lough Derg, as well as the importance of our connection to nature and biodiversity, the interdependence of the human being and our environment. 2017 Continuing our long-term plan to commission, annually, a significant work Sanctuary of Free Sounds of street art for Mountshannon and the surrounding area, we have asked 8 My interpretation of the brief led me to create an artwork that was composed of Leanne McLaughlin to create a Mayfly sculpture. Leanne, a Derry native, Slavek Kwi bright colours and organic shapes, contrasting it with the angular architecture lives and works in Donegal. and distinct whiteness of the childcare centre’s walls. The art work was required 2020 to express the lively energy and nourishing ethos at the heart of the centre. Crannóg Ceoil The nasturtiums were chosen not just for their bold beauty but also because they 5 There is a small peninsula in Mountshannon Harbour that is becoming a are an edible and familiar plant, often grown in home gardens. They encapsulated Paul Berg sanctuary of silence, a haven for free sounds. You are invited to come and many elements important in the nurturing of children. The wren, of course, listen to the sounds around you as they are, to let your visions of freedom was chosen to represent the young child. This small little bird, at home, in the 2017 unfold in silence, and to co-create this sanctuary. [email protected] undergrowth, hopping and darting low to the ground. Crannóg Ceoil is a work in progress, each phase enhancing life in Creating a work, on site in a public space, gives rise to an engagement with the Mountshannon Harbour. In 2017 Paul constructed a wooden raft as the community that does not exist when I work alone in my studio. The development main structure of this 3-octave organ. In 2018, he worked on the stunning of the work is seen daily by parents dropping children, residents in the street, mosaics on the island. Eventually, the island will have organ pipes with a Returning Swallows centre staff on breaks, those helping me with ladders, and passers by - and pulley and lever system, where music will play with the motion of the wind conversations had with all of them! This engagement becomes part of the process and waves or created manually by rocking this ingenious interactive musical Nathalie El Baba 9 and, I believe, builds a sense of ownership within the community to the work island. Musical performances are part of the life of ‘An Crannóg Ceoil’. itself. https://paulberg.wixsite.com/paulberg 2018 Nathalie El Baba Visual Artist and Facilitator / www.creativearts.ie - 087 615 9466

Signpost Mountshannon Village Bird The theme for the Arts Festival that year was ‘Borders’. My piece, Returning 2 Swallows, was in response to this, and site specific to the red door of the Mark Wilson Conor Fallon 6 barn. I have often incorporated large scale birds in my mural work, and have 2018 1981 used the swallows as a symbolic representation of migration in this one. It is always joyful to see them return. They reflect not only their own migratory A welcome addition to Mountshannon Village landmarks, Mark’s creation, Aosdána Member, Honorary member of the R.H.A, Oireachtas gold journey but also the journeys so many of us have chosen or been forced to made in collaboration with local school children and the Tidy Town’s medal for sculpture 1980. Born in Dublin, to renowned Athenry poet and make. How many of us will never return home? What role have borders committee. playwright Padraic Fallon and Dubliner Dorothea Maher, Fallon is one of the played in our own lives? Mark lives in Mountshannon. He trained in Ceramics, Blacksmithing & finest Irish sculptors of the twentieth century. Green Wood Working in college and has since established a name for His subjects were primarily wildlife, particularly hares, horses, fish and himself as ’s quirkiest artist. His immense passion for community birds (all part of the Celtic tradition). He retained a passion for birds of and for passing on his skills to people of all ages lights the fires for all his prey, their balance of taut energy in stillness with rapid movement of attack The Stag creative projects. https://www.facebook.com/ MarkWilsonArtistIreland/ being perfect examples for the clean, aerodynamic lines of his work. So it is videos/3197704043625065/’ 10 fitting that this piece looks out on to the nesting area on Bushy Island that Donnacha Cahill Ploughing Ahead the White Tailed Sea Eagles have success fully chosen as one of their places 2018 3 to re-establish themselves in Ireland. One can only speculate what the artist Mark Wilson would have thought about Mountshannon’s White Tailed Sea Eagles and the 2019 fact that his sculpture was sited here years before their arrival to commemo- Donnacha Cahill, 2018. The Stag’s striking stature draws as you approach rate Mountshannon’s success winning the competition in 1981. the village from the east. Its antlers are adorned with leaves which symbolise Bench of iron and wood. Mark Wilson, 2019. (To be placed in the Aistear The shield in this piece often captures light from the setting sun coming the contribution each community group makes to the village. Donnacha in June 2020). Bringing new life to remnants of local, heritage horse-drawn from the direction of , thus nicknamed ‘Firebird.’ has been involved in many creative projects, particularly in Galway, his ploughs and wood from the village, Mark created this bench with community home county. He has regular commissions with festivals around Ireland groups in and around Mountshannon, including transition year students such as Electric Picnic, Puck Fair, Killorglin, Galway Volvo Ocean Race, from Scariff Community College. Mountshannon Eagles Mountshannon Harbour Oranmore Celtic Shore Festival, Cork Cycling Festival, National Ploughing Mayfly Championships. Donnacha has also exhibited his work in The Kenny Gallery, Galway, The Leanne McLaughlin 4 Town House, Monaghan, The Titanic Centre, Belfast. 2019 7 http://donnachacahill.wixsite.com/donnachacahill

The mayfly has a special relationship to Mountshannon and Lough Derg. Sadie Monks Sean Durak Sam Gaine Paul Berg It is a yearly visitor and lures many locals to the shores of the lake each May. Continuing on from our long-term plan to commission, annually, Four local artists, Sadie Monks, Paul Berg, Séan Durack and Sam Gaine a significant work of street art for Mountshannon and the surrounding were commissioned to paint and sculpt original artwork to celebrate the