Folklore of Kildare peatlands to be celebrated at event
Tóch I Dig’ is a phased intergenerational community engagement project, initiated by three artists Pamela de Brí
THE folklore of the peatlands communities in Kildare will be celebrated at event at the Bog of Allen later this month.
‘Tóch I Dig’ is a phased intergenerational community engagement project, initiated by three artists Pamela de Brí, Shane Hynan and Sheena Malone who are interested in working with communities of place and interest connected to bogs in north Kildare.
This event in the Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore on Thursday 20 February at 7pm marks the end of Phase I of ‘Tóch | Dig’ which focused on building an oral history archive through engagement with peatland communities in Allen, Allenwood, Ballyteague, Carbury, Coill Dubh, Lullymore, Prosperous, Rathangan, Robertstown and Ticknevin.
During this phase, interviews were conducted with local people about their experiences, memories and stories relating to the bog. On the night, these interviews will be presented along with photographic portraits of the participants and related artefacts. A short panel discussion will provide insight into the future development of the project.
Connected by a shared interest in community and socially engaged art, the artists’ personal practices relate differently to rural Ireland, tradition and folklore. All three artists are based in communities with strong connections to bogs and turfcutting.
‘Tóch I Dig’ was conceived with the intention of being an intergenerational and interdisciplinary phased project, targeting participants with either existing or new connections to the peatlands. While the focus of phase one has been firmly rooted in the past, phases two and three will move towards the present and then the future of the bog. These subsequent phases will engage a group of younger people and encourage a reimagining of the peatlands using the oral history archive as a starting point, leading to intergenerational discourse, interaction and a speculative future for the bog as a location of relevance to future communities.
All are welcome at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre.
