Creative Writing - County Choir - Visual Symbols - Music - Spectacle

Culture Cavan, is an initiative to foster participation and reconciliation among communities in Cavan and Fermanagh through music, drama, creative writing and the visual arts. The funding for this project is being provided by the International Fund for Ireland with the support of Cavan County Council. 

Wishing Trees spectacle making workshop facilitated by Tom Meskell

See all the latest from the Culture Cavan projects at www.culturecavan.com
 

About Culture Cavan
The International Fund for Ireland has provided funding of €252,000 for a two year project, consisting of four individual strands, which will use arts as a tool for community growth, peace and reconciliation:

Music with Kavan and Keelan Donohoe and Merilyn Morton

Strand 1 - Creative Writing as a tool for Peace Building
This section of the project included creative writing workshops with Dr. Anne F. O' Reilly and Susie Minto, the publication of 'Belleek to Ballyjamesduff: Words and Worlds', drama workshops and theatre performances directed by Kevin O' Connor and Geoff O' Keeffe and a film production - 'Revenant' by Sean Smith.

'At The Black Pig's Dyke', Directed by Geoff O'Keeffe

Strand 2 - Spectacle for a Shared Vision
This element was aimed at community leaders, activists, artists and adults who work to enable others to express their ideas creatively. The participants learned skills to create large outdoor sculptural pieces and parade floats while working as part of a team. A series of spectacle making workshops were facilitated by Tom Meskell and Jim Fee throughout 2012 and 2013. Spectacle creations also featured work by Leitrim Scouts and the unforgettable non-parade parade by trans-art

Inspiration for 'The Wishing Trees' by  Tom Meskell

 

Strand 3 - Music as a tool for Peace Building
This work engaged groups of musicians from both traditions on shared performances with opportunities for launching and showcasing collaborative work. Participants from both Catholic and Protestant Traditions shared their unique musical traditions and learned from each other resulting in joint performances. A county choir was developed under this strand and have since performed events including 'Uncommon Wealth' and 'Celebrating the Living Culture'.

2013 performance by Cavan County Choir
 

Watch video of Merlyn Morton and Keenan Donohoe playing Inisheer as part of the Culture Cavan Music Strand
 

Strand 4 - Home, Identity, Emblem – Visual Symbols
This project through the visual arts examines emblems and how we identify ourselves or brand ourselves. This element was represented through trans-art and 'Uncommon Wealth' by John Byrne. 

Five facilitators worked with community groups as part of trans-art. This work was profiled during Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann as part of the festival of contemporary arts.

Further details T: 049 4378629

Notes to editors
About the International Fund for Ireland
The International Fund for Ireland is an independent international organisation established by the Irish and British Governments in 1986. The Fund’s main objectives are to promote economic and social advance and encourage contact, dialogue and reconciliation between unionists and nationalists throughout Ireland.

Contributors to the Fund are the United States of America, the European Union, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Since its inception, the Fund has committed more than €838m / £668m to a wide variety of projects in Northern Ireland and the southern border counties. Developing and funding initiatives that tackle segregation and promote integration to build a lasting peace in Northern Ireland and the southern border counties is a key priority for the Fund.

Culture Cavan Steering Committee: Cllr. Winston Bennett (Co-Chair), Paddy Connaughton (Co-Chair), Tom Sullivan, Savina Donohoe, Kevin Smith, Rev. Craig Mc Cauley, Fr. Jason Murphy, Marian Smith, Anne Marie Mc Phillips, Mary Sullivan, Wendy Swan, Fr. Ultan McGoohan and Catriona O Reilly.

Image left: 'Lighthouse' by artist John Byrne