‘Woodstock’ shines a light on storied area of Athy

A fantastic publication has been exploring and celebrating the rich heritage, natural landscape and social life of the Woodstock area of Athy.

These publications are part of a non-profit community publishing initiative called Woodstock Castle Press, created by Lilywhite artists Mark Durkan and Mary Jo Gilligan in collaboration with Woodstock communities as part of their Creative Places Athy Woodstock Artist Residency.

Mary Jo explained that they were inspired by their recognition of the richness of Woodstock heritage and biodiversity and their curiosity to know more about Woodstock and to meet more people who hold this knowledge.

“We are gathering images, stories and ephemera relating to the many aspects of Woodstock heritage and ecology,” she said. “Since early this year we have been making and distributing several issues of a little publication called Woodstock, with specific focuses. We hand deliver Woodstock to all the residents in the area [Dominic’s Park, Carbery Park, Greenhills, Townspark and Castlepark].

“Woodstock Castle, local birdlife, wild and garden flowers, street games, fishing and music are all topics we have covered so far. We continue to discover more to add to these topics as readers respond to the publications, as we meet new people and as we continue to research the national archives.” 

The focus of the May Day publication, for example, was on flowers in the area – wildflowers in the area of conservation down beside the Barrow in Woodstock, but also flowers in people's gardens that they've cultivated.

“We distributed each of these issues to every house early on May Day,” Mary Jo recalled. “We left flowers on the doorstep of every home in Woodstock with the issue... we heard lovely responses about how people found the flowers, and one person was coming back from hospital and it really gave her a lovely sense of comfort and community to find that when she came back from hospital that morning.” 

PDFs of each issue will be released on a rolling basis on the ‘Woodstock Castle Press’ Facebook page – very useful for anyone that doesn’t live in the area any longer.

Mary Jo noted that residents have begun a library in the local Community House, which includes novels and reference books on the likes of gardening, cooking and crafts.

She explained that all the publications and additional information will be collated into a small book as they near the end of their project and launched in late September. “It will be wonderful to add it to the Community House library and the Athy Library local history shelf!” she said.

They’re establishing Woodstock Castle Press as a hub for any text or ephemera publications that they or the community produce. The Community House has secured funding for a scanner/printer and Mary Jo said they will host a zine workshop to support this potential to stock the Woodstock library with self publishing.

“We are also developing a website where ephemera inspired items will be available at cost price as a celebration of Woodstock,” she added.

Mary Jo said they are still welcoming photos, stories and ephemera, so anyone can get in touch with them through the Facebook page (search for ‘Woodstock Castle Press’), by emailing woodstockartists@proton.ie, or via the Community House in Woodstock.