Herstory Light Show in County Clare on Saturday 3rd February
Herstory ran the successful campaign to make Brigid’s Day Ireland’s new national holiday - the first in honour of a woman - and this year they return with the stunning annual Herstory Light Show, illuminating local landmarks with Clare artistic talent on a tour across the county on Saturday 3rd February, in partnership with Clare County Council, Dodeca and Creative Ireland.
This year’s theme is the Old Irish saying: "There’s room for everyone under Brigid’s cloak. In these divisive times, St. Brigid calls us to remember our true humanity, bringing a message of inclusion, harmony, and healing. The Goddess Brigid was a pan-European Celtic goddess, honoured from Turkey to Spain. Saint Brigid ran a thriving monastery in Kildare and her true Christian message spread through pilgrimages far across Europe.
Herstory Light Show: Clare Programme
Saturday 3rd February
All events are free and open to the public
5.30 - 6.30pm: Doonagore Castle, Doolin
7.30 - 8.30pm: Falls Hotel, Ennistymon with HUSH silent disco by Gilly Kelly Dunne
10 - 11pm: Bunratty Castle
Clare Arts Officer Siobhán Mulcahy, says “Artists have a magical way of creating works of meaning that can bring light to communities and individuals. Herstory, working with Clare artists, will light up the skies in Doolin, Ennistymon and Bunratty as we welcome Springtime and recognise the many strengths of women throughout history. Clare Arts Office is proud to have commissioned the Herstory Education Trust to produce this spectacular artwork for St. Brigid’s Day, with the support of Creative Ireland.”
The Herstory Education Trust commissioned the talented Clare duo, photographer Myriam Riand and conceptual artist Áine O’ Brien to create new photographic art inspired by Celtic goddesses Brigid and the Cailleach:
“Rising from the ashes of old Ireland and calling all women to join us in our noble quest of commanding our power and sovereignty. We present ‘Brigid Rising’ and ‘Calling in the Cailleach”
The artists reveal that “collaborating with HERSTORY has proven to be an enriching and empowering experience for both of us. As we engage in the creation of our art, which addresses the essence of Irish women, it becomes truly gratifying to witness the homage paid to St. Brigid as our matron deity. Through a process of profound ancestral introspection and capturing of presence, we collaboratively brought to life Brigid and The Cailleach. We rise with the depths of our desire to inspire truth.”
Past Herstory collaboration with the artists Myriam Riand and Áine O’ Brien. Discover more about the Sovereignty project in their fascinating photo essay.
The Herstory Light Show will also spotlight award-winning Clare-based documentary filmmaker Dearbhla Glynn, who embodies Brigid's qualities as a champion for human rights and women's empowerment. Dearbhla has made several films in Palestine, Iraq, Sub-Saharan Africa and extensively in The Democratic Republic of the Congo. ‘Gaza-Post Operation Cast Lead’ won the grand prize at the ICCl Human Rights Film award in 2010. Recently she launched her new film FISTULA to make life better and safer for women giving birth and to prevent fistula from happening in the first place.
Dearbhla says:” St Brigid resonates with me as I teach yoga which represents healing and embodiment, and a lot of my film work has been devoted to the protection of women and children and raising awareness towards human rights violations.”
Acclaimed local musicians Susan Quirke and Enda Gallery co-wrote and co-produced a new song ‘Ó a Bhríd’ together in the hills of Kilfenora, County Clare. Commenting on the song, Susan, who is also a meditation teacher and just home from Australia from touring with Xavier Rudd said: ‘We wanted to honour the spirit of Brigid and honour the land of County Clare and its connection with Brigid. We recorded the sound of the water pouring from St. Brigid’s well in Liscannor, to bring the soundscape of Clare into the fabric of the song itself. This is a gentle and simple song that brings the elements of Brigid’s symbolism such as fire, water, and the oak tree, into its mantra-like quality. It was a joy to create and record.’
Enda Gallery says: "In the spirit of St. Brigid's Day, we joined creative forces to craft a musical invocation that channels the strength, grace and wisdom of this remarkable woman. Our collaboration reflects the sacred balance of the masculine and feminine and the power of unity in creating meaningful art.”
The song Ó a Bhríd is available to download or stream for free via Susan Quirke's Spotify, Bandcamp and YouTube channels, and through SusanQuirke.com, EndaGallery.com and Herstory.ie
The illuminations will also showcase Susan’s powerful song ‘HOME’ and Enda’s collaboration with Tolü Makay in The Greatest Gift , both timely calls to remember our true humanity and the Irish spirit of hospitality, community and inclusion.
At the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon, local legend Gilly Kelly Dunne invites you to Hush Disco, an immersive listening and dancing experience where each participant wears their own headsets whilst responding to music inspired by the Goddess.
Creative Director Melanie Lynch reveals: “In many ways Ireland is still catching up with the visionary Saint Brigid, 1500 years after she lived. Our collaborating artists embody Brigid’s qualities as activists who possess a rare authenticity and original voice in amplifying human rights, climate action and ancient Irish wisdom through their artistic creations. I’m in awe of the creative talent in Clare and the infectious spirit for collaboration and community.”
ARTISTS’ BIOGRAPHIES
Dearbhla Glynn’s Bio
Dearbhla Glynn is an award winning documentary filmmaker, specializing in explorations of culture, human rights and conflict. Over the last decade Dearbhla has focused on rights based films. She has made several films in Palestine, Iraq, Sub-Saharan Africa and extensively in The Democratic Republic of the Congo. ‘Gaza-Post Operation Cast Lead’ won the grand prize at the ICCl Human Rights Film award in 2010. Dearbhla filmed post-war Iraq where she made a film on the impact of the use of depleted uranium on children’s health. She also made a series of films during and after the Ebola crisis in West Africa.
Dearbhla won the grand prize at the ICCl Award for the second time for her short film ‘The Value of Women in DRC’. Dearbhla has completed an in-depth feature film on the issue of gender violence and rape used as a weapon of war, this films focuses not only on the survivors of rape but also on the views and perspectives of the perpetrators themselves in an effort to understand how this can happen to a society. The film explores the experience of both the survivors and perpetrators - foot-soldiers, rebel generals, high ranking commandants. What emerges is an arresting and brutal account of how war leaves few victors - least of all women - whose value is often rendered worthless. This feature film was screened internationally and has been used as an education tool by universities worldwide.
More recently Dearbhla has collaborated with rights based groups to make awareness raising films around the issues of social justice, justice and accountability, child protection and gender issues. Dearbhla is a published writer and photo-journalist, publishing both nationally and internationally. She also lectures in gender, conflict and in film. Dearbhla is a yoga teacher and leads yoga retreats both in Ireland and internationally. She lives in Clare on the West coast of Ireland.
Susan Quirke bio
Susan Quirke is an Irish musician, multi-award winning social-change maker, meditation teacher and a leader of mass meditation experiences. She also works one-to-one with elite athletes, musicians, creatives, CEO's, sports teams, and people from all walks of life. She has brought meditation to thousands of people throughout Ireland and globally. She is just home from a year in Australia which included going on tour with Xavier Rudd. Susan is also a recording artist, having released her debut album 'Into the Sea' in 2021. She believes music and meditation to be powerful forces for healing, illumination, and transformation in the world.
Enda Gallery bio
Enda Gallery has spent years crafting soulful and liberating music, exploring the depths of emotion through heartfelt, genuine songs conveying poetic expressions of his truth. His 2021 debut album "The Journey to Zero" earned him RTÉ Radio 1's Album of the Week, with the single "Don't Let Me Win" gaining acclaim from Cerys Matthews on BBC 6 and "It's Alright" featuring on the BBC Introducing mixtape and hit series "Normal People".
Now based in County Clare, his releases since “The Journey to Zero” only serve to emphasise his diverse talent as an artist. Drawing from the genre-defying expressiveness of Frank Ocean and profound candour of Sufjan Stevens, Enda Gallery has created work spanning from the triumphantly honest Liberation EP to his explosive collaboration with the two-time Grammy-nominated producer duo Christian Rich on ‘So Easy, Pt. II’ (Childish Gambino, Vince Staples, Drake). Paired with his collaborations with the likes of Niconé, Kid Simius, Dead Rabbit, Nobody’s Face and having produced Tolü Makay, Willzee, Strange Boy and Mundy, Gallery has developed an undeniable talent for defining his own presence inside of a song through a stunning combination of self-determination and empathy.
Fresh from three American tours over 2022 playing solo piano shows which lean into his prowess as a songwriter, and the release of ‘Take My Hand’ and ‘Click’ in 2023, Enda Gallery is now preparing to celebrate sincerity with the launch of his sophomore album.
Áine is a conceptual and performing artist from Kilfenora, Co. Clare. She has a unique approach to her work, wherein she pursues a specific line of inquiry and allows the process freedom to unveil its own truths and discover new ways to present.
In 2023, her collaborative efforts and art direction manifested in the presentation of two new gallery exhibitions ['Rust Colossus' and 'Invocation to the Unseen']. She is passionate about bringing artists together seeking to create an enriched collective and co-creative experience. Having a foundation in theatre making, she is drawn to the realm of performance-based art experiences. The commissioned art gallery exhibition piece with Herstory in 126 Gallery (Oct 23) titled 'Invocation to the Unseen' was the latest production in her ever evolving artform.
Myriam Riand’s Bio
I am Myriam Riand, a visual artist based in North Clare. My artistic journey, shaped by a background in art direction and photography, is a celebration of community, culture, and the power of art to forge connections. I found analog photography to encapsulate the raw emotions of people and places, serving as a powerful storytelling device.
Myriam says; “Continuing to collaborate with conceptual artist Aine O'Brien on a HERSTORY project for the second time is a privilege. Aine's profound understanding of Irish history and folklore has illuminated our joint projects. Together, through her insightful research & styling and my captures, we created a series of images depicting our interpretations of Brigid & the Cailleach.”
