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Category Archives: Art

‘Tigh Donal Rua’ Restored

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Posted by Ciaran Walsh on December 11, 2013 – 1:13 pm
Filed under art, Art, Artists, Exhibition, Public Art Work

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‘Tigh Donal Rua’ or ‘Red Donal’s House’ is an installation by Irish artist Caoimhghin Ó Fraithile that was commissioned by Ciarán Walsh in 2006. It involved the reconstruction of a 19th century stone cottage in a remote valley west of Dingle town, in the southwest of Ireland. Since 2006 the roof of the installation had deteriorated and it was replaced in October 2013.

The house is thought to have been occupied by Donal Rua and his family and is very typical of the thatched ‘long house’ lived in by tenant farmers and shepherds in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. It is located on the side of a hill at the back of a glacial valley that forms part of the Brandon mountain range in West Kerry, an area steeped in archaeology and contemporary Gaelic culture.

By 2006 the cottage had been abandoned for over a century. The roof was long gone but the dry-stone walls were reasonably well preserved. Working with a group of local farmers, stonemasons and craftsmen the walls were restored, the interior excavated and the hearth stone exposed, along with clay pipes and other bits of crockery that were left behind when the house was abandoned.

‘Tigh Donal Rua’ was installed over a couple of months and was part of a series on installations that Ó Fraithile built in West Kerry, each one dealing with themes of locality and commemoration incorporated into traditional dwellings as reliquaries of tradition and folk memory.

He went on to develop similarly themed installations in the States and Japan.

 

<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3049" alt="15-d-south-perform-blue" src="http://www.curator click over here.ie/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/15-d-south-perform-blue.jpg” width=”600″ height=”300″ srcset=”https://www.curator.ie/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/15-d-south-perform-blue.jpg 600w, https://www.curator.ie/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/15-d-south-perform-blue-300×150.jpg 300w” sizes=”(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px” />

President of Ireland opens exhibition in Inis Oírr

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Posted by Ciaran Walsh on September 28, 2013 – 4:42 pm
Filed under Art, Exhibition

 visualcage.ru

 

 

 

Minister for Arts launches collaboration between artist Pauline O’Connell and Ciarán Walsh | www.curator.ie

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Posted by Ciaran Walsh on June 20, 2012 – 11:30 am
Filed under Art, Film

 A still from the shoot by  Ciarán Walsh \ www.curator.ie showing Thomas O'Sullivan carrying steel buckets  on the handlebars of an old bike as he cycles along a rural laneway in County Kerry, Ireland. Ciarán Walsh was shooting ‘Drawing the Water’ for artist Pauline O'Connell, a 5 minute film that deals with the tasks associated with collecting water. “It’s an intense reflection on the importance of water, the rhythm of the task of collecting it and the sensuous quality of washing by hand" says Walsh who spent three days filming the piece.

 

Saturday, 23 June 2012 | Milltown, County Kerry | Ireland

The official launch of  the collaboration between artist Pauline O’Connell and www.curator.ie takes place this weekend in Milltown, Co. Kerry. The project will be launched by arts minister Jimmy Deenihan T.D. in the community centre on Saturday. The event will involve a screening of the film, supporting documentation and a celebratory céilí or dance. It kicks off at 8pm.

‘Drawing the Water’ is a public art project by artist Pauline O’Connell. It was commissioned under the Per Cent for Art Scheme that is administered by the Arts Office of Kerry County Council. It was filmed by Ciarán Walsh in September, on location in Milltown and in a studio in Ballyheigue. Post production was managed by Ciarán Walsh.

‘Drawing the Water’ was inspired by ‘The Spout,’ a public water supply in the centre of the Milltown that was a focal point in the town as local people ‘drew’ fresh water on daily basis. O’Connell developed the piece over a year, collecting stories about ‘The Spout’ in schools and in the community.The film is a 5 minute short / artwork that deals with the tasks associated with collecting water. “It’s an intense reflection on the importance of water, the rhythm of the task of collecting it and the sensuous quality of washing by hand. It’s informed by all the conversations that Pauline has had with people in the town’” says Walsh who spent 3 days filming the artwork for O’Connell. The filming  involved performances by Thomas O’Sullivan of Milltown and Chiara Ghia.

 

Invitation: ‘Drawing the Water’     |     Information: Media Release

 

 

 A still from the shoot by  Ciarán Walsh \ www.curator.ie showing Chiara Ghia simulating the wring of water out of cloth. Ciarán Walsh was shooting ‘Drawing the Water’ for artist Pauline O'Connell, a 5 minute film that deals with the tasks associated with collecting water. “It’s an intense reflection on the importance of water, the rhythm of the task of collecting it and the sensuous quality of washing by hand" says Walsh who spent three days filming the piece. This scene was shot in a studio Ballyheigue where Walsh is based.


Inis Meáin 1973, an exhibition of photographs by Chris RodMell

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Posted by Ciaran Walsh on May 31, 2012 – 12:04 pm
Filed under Art, Exhibition

A photograph of rye fields on Inis Meáin, the middle island of the Aran Island, Co Galway, Ireland. It shows two men taking a break whilst cutting rye which was used to make the distinctive thatched roofs on cottages on the island. It is included in an exhibition of photographs entitled 'Inis Meáin August 1973' An exhibition of photographs by Chris Rodmell that has just gone on show on the island. Curated by Ciarán Walsh,www.curator.ie

‘Infield’ by Chris Rodmell, Kodak Ektachrome (6X6), Inis Meáin, Aran Islands, 1973.

 

40 years on …

 

In 1973 Chris Rodmell arrived in Inis Meáin to make a short film. He had won a student award of £250 in response to a proposal to film life in an “enclosed community living on one of the remote islands off Ireland or Scotland.” He chose Inis Meáin. He spent three weeks on the island, filming with a 16mm Bolex and taking photographs with a medium format Mamiya on Kodak Ektachrome professional stock.

40 years on Chris has returned to Inis Meáin to present an exhibition of a selection of the photographs he took in 1973. ‘Inis Meáin 1973’ is presented by Tarlach De Blacam of Cniotáil Inis Meáin as part of a series of exhibitions by photographers who visited Inis Meáin. The series kicked off in 2009 with the acclaimed exhibition of photographs of Árann by John Millingon Synge;  this exhibition was included in ‘The Moderns,’ a major survey of modernism in Irish art that was held in IMMA (Irish Museum Of Modern Art) in 2010.

‘Synge’ was curated by Ciarán Walsh of curator.ie and he resumed his partnership with De Blacam to present ‘Inis Meáin 1973’ by Chris Rodmell, establishing Cniotáil Inis Meáin as one of the more interesting venues currently presenting photographic exhibitions.

The exhibition runs until 15 August 2012.

More information: Press release for ‘Inis Meáin 1973’ by Chris Rodmell

 

 

 

www.curator.ie invites you to meet the Irish Headhunters

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Posted by Ciaran Walsh on April 27, 2012 – 9:44 am
Filed under Art, Exhibition, Heritage

 

 

Ciarán Walsh, www.curator.ie, launches the 'Irish Headhunter Project,' May 2012, the most important photographic archive to come into the public domain in Ireland in a long time. In association with Trinity College Dublin, The Blasket Centre, Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhóir, Justin Carville, Ciarán Rooney and Séamas Mac Philib, The National Museum of Ireland - Country Life. Supported by the Office of Public Works and the Heritage Council.

 

Ciarán Walsh, www.curator.ie, launches the 'Irish Headhunter Project,' May 2012, the most important photographic archive to come into the public domain in Ireland in a long time. In association with Trinity College Dublin, The Blasket Centre, Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhóir, Justin Carville, Ciarán Rooney and Séamas Mac Philib, The National Museum of Ireland - Country Life. Supported by the Office of Public Works and the Heritage Council.

 

 

Exhibition Dates 2012 /13

 

Ionad An Bhlascaoid Mhóir
3 May, 2012 – 23 June, 2012

 

Ionad Ealaíne Áras Éanna, Inis Oirr,

1 July, 2012 – 28 July 2012

 

Coláiste Ó Direáin, Inis Mór, Oileáin Árann

18 – 25 August, 2012 | National Heritage Week 2012.

 

Oireachtas na Gaeilge, An Galf Chúrsa, Eanach Mheáin
1 -25 September  2012 

(opening 19.30 Friday 31 August 2012. An Galf Chursa, Eanach Mheáin).

 

Áras Uí Ghrámhnaigh, Ráth Chairn, Baile Átha Buí, Co. na Mí.

05 – 31 October 2012

 

OPW Headquarters, Trim, Co Meath.

26 November  – 14 December 2012

 

Árd Mhúsaem na hÉireann, Saol na Tuaithe, Castlebar

National Musuem, of Ireland, Country Life, Castlebar

January 2012 – May 2013

 

 

2013

 

The Haddon Library, Cambridge University (September).

 

 

 

Catalogue | Catalóg

 

Fiagaí na gCeann Gaelach: Na hAlbaim Ghrianghraf le Charles R. Browne

The Irish Headhunter: The Photographic Albums of Charles R. Browne

by

Ciarán Walsh | www.curator.ie & Dáithí De Mórdha

 

Ciarán Walsh, www.curator.ie, launches the 'Irish Headhunter Project,' May 2012, the most important photographic archive to come into the public domain in Ireland in a long time. In association with Trinity College Dublin, The Blasket Centre, Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhóir, Justin Carville, Ciarán Rooney and Séamas Mac Philib, The National Museum of Ireland - Country Life. Supported by the Office of Public Works and the Heritage Council.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is this the most important photographic archive in Ireland? www.curator.ie launches the ‘Irish Headhunter Project,’ May 2012.

Comments Off on Is this the most important photographic archive in Ireland? www.curator.ie launches the ‘Irish Headhunter Project,’ May 2012.
Posted by Ciaran Walsh on April 25, 2012 – 10:51 am
Filed under Art, Exhibition, Heritage

Ciarán Walsh, www.curator.ie, launches the 'Irish Headhunter Project,' May 2012, the most important photographic archive to come into the public domain in Ireland in a long time. Co-curator Dáithí de Mórdha. In association with Trinity College Dublin, The Blasket Centre, Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhóir, Justin Carville, Ciarán Rooney and Séamas Mac Philib, The National Museum of Ireland - Country Life. Supported by the Office of Public Works and the Heritage Council.

 © The Board of Trinity College Dublin

 

www.curator.iepresents the ‘Irish Headhunter Project,’ an exhibition by Ciarán Walsh and Dáithí de Mórdha

 

in association with

Trinity College Dublin, The Royal Irish Academy, Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhóir / The Blasket Centre,  Mairéad Ní Ghallchóir (Áras Éanna, Inis Oírr, Árann), Jane Maxwell (TCD), Tim Keefe (TCD), Justin Carville (IADT Dún Laoghaire), Ciarán Rooney (FILMBANK Colour Management) and Séamas Mac Philib, The National Museum of Ireland – Country Life.

Funded by the Office of Public Works (OPW) and The Heritage Council.

 

 

Ciarán Walsh, www.curator.ie, launches the 'Irish Headhunter Project,' May 2012, the most important photographic archive to come into the public domain in Ireland in a long time. In association with Trinity College Dublin, The Blasket Centre, Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhóir, Justin Carville, Ciarán Rooney and Séamas Mac Philib, The National Museum of Ireland - Country Life. Supported by the Office of Public Works and the Heritage Council.

 

 

Introducing

Charles R. Browne, the Irish ‘Headhunter’

 

How did one explain the presence of a primitive (white) race living in the back yard of the United Kingdom – at the height of the British Empire? Scientists based in Trinity College Dublin attempted to do just that by documenting the physical characteristics and habits of  communities in the remotest parts of Ireland. Starting in Aran in 1891, they moved along the west coast and finished up in Carna in 1900. The whole thing was recorded by Charles R. Browne and his associates on a new generation of portable cameras using plates and rolled film, the latest in photographic technology at the time. They took more than photos however, they were the Irish ‘headhunters.’

Alive or dead the head of the Irish native was at the centre of all of their research, cranial capacity (brain size) and physiognomy being regarded as the key to unlocking the mystery of the origins of the Irish race. Specimens – the skulls of dead islanders – were collected and lodged in the Museum of Comparative Anatomy in TCD. Live heads were also taken … with a camera. These anthropometric portraits were contextualised with photographs of “the occupations, modes of transport, and habitations of the people, also several of the antiquities of the district, and a set of views showing surface of land and nature of coastline, etc.”

‘Charles R. Browne The Irish Headhunter’ exhibition will present in exhibition, for the first time ever, the photographs collected by Charles R. Browne. These are held in the Research Collection and Manuscripts Library of Trinity College Dublin. They have been scanned and reproduced especially for this exhibition and it is the first time most of them will have been seen in public.

This is probably the most important photographic archive to come into the public domain. It is supported by written reports – ethnographies – that are held in the Royal Irish Academy. Browne’s archive is singular in terms of its depiction of life on the west coast of Ireland in the 1890s. The anthropological inquiry – and the headhunting – that motivated it is one of the best kept secrets in Ireland.

Information: Ciarán Walsh +353(0)872370846.

 

 

Ciarán Walsh, www.curator.ie,Philip Lavelle, 1894, a photograph from the Irish Headhunter Exhibition, curated by Ciaran Walsh." The Irish Headhunter project is an exhibition of photographs collected by Charles R. Browne between 1891 and 1900. They are held in the Research Collections and Manuscripts library in Trinity College Dublin.It is presented in association with Trinity College Dublin, The Blasket Centre, Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhóir, Justin Carville, Ciarán Rooney and Séamas Mac Philib, The National Museum of Ireland - Country Life. Supported by the Office of Public Works and the Heritage Council.

meet the Irish Headhunters

 

The photographs are reproduced with the permission of the Board of Trinity College Dublin.

The Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy are published with the permission of the Royal Irish Academy ©RIA.

 

The ‘Headhunter’ project has been made possible with financial support of  the

Office of Public Works (OPW) and

The Heritage Council (Education and Outreach Grants 2012).

 

Ciarán Walsh, www.curator.ie, launches the 'Irish Headhunter Project,' May 2012, the most important photographic archive to come into the public domain in Ireland in a long time. In association with Trinity College Dublin, The Blasket Centre, Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhóir, Justin Carville, Ciarán Rooney and Séamas Mac Philib, The National Museum of Ireland - Country Life. Supported by the Office of Public Works and the Heritage Council.


 

 

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An Island Funeral, Inishbofin, 16 July 2023.



TCD to announce return of ancestral remains to Inishbofin



Blogging resumes on Ballymaclinton: An Irish giant, 24 stolen skulls, one colonial legacies project and a slave owner named Berkeley.



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