Caves of Keash in the Bricklieve Mountains, Co.Sligo (RMP: SL039-034; NGR: 17060 31215) form the genesis for this collaborative arts project. Through a guided walk led by Dr Marion Dowd, archaeologist and leading cave expert, six arts practitioners; Kiera O’Toole, Tommy Weir, Ruth Le Gear, Christine Mackey, Kate Oram and Sarah Ellen Lundy; along with writer, Julianna Holland from the North West of Ireland explored the cave's history, mythology and human relationships. Caves as primordial sites are often associated with thresholds between realms that are unfixed and unknowing. ‘Walking Keashcorran’ embraces the idea of the threshold for unanticipated visual and conceptual exchanges between the artists and the caves.

 The project builds upon ‘Walking Bird’s Mountain I & II’.

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK MARION DOWD, BOTH FOR HER EXPERTISE AND for WRITING 'WALKING KEASHCORRAN’.

Her Essay

excursion

Walking Birds’ Mountain; an event; a participation; took place over a week during Tread Softly 2018 (Walking Birds’ Mountain I) and was repeated again in 2019 (Walking Birds’ Mountain II) building on the collaborations and work from the previous year.

Visual artists and writers trekked across the Ballygawley Mountains with writer and archaeologist Pádraig Meehan exploring Slaibh Dá Eán, the hill of two birds, rich in the mythic narratives of the Cailleach Bhérra for the second time.

Two exhibitions, WMB I & WBMII, presenting the visual, vocal and written responses to the experience were held in The Factory Performance Space & The Nest, respectively, at the end of the week, for one week.

Walking Birds’ Mountain; an event; a participation; took place during Tread Softly 2018. A group of visual artists and writers trekked across the Ballygawley Mountains with writer and archaeologist Pádraig Meehan exploring Slaibh Dá Eán, the hill of two birds, rich in the mythic narratives of the Cailleach Bhérra. They worked on collaborations for the rest of the week. An exhibition presenting the visual, vocal and written responses to the experience was held in The Factory Performance Space at the end of that time, for one night. During Tread Softly 2019 this exhibition was on display for one week alongside Walking Birds Mountain II.

Participant Writers & Artists Leonora Neary | Brian McDonagh | Juliana Holland | Niamh Mac Cabe | Tommy Weir | Joe Hunt | Padraig Meehan | Stephanie Brüning | Katsutoshi Yuasa | Patty Hudak | Bettina Seitz | Una Mannion | Kate MacDonagh & Brian Leydon

Film Joe Hunt

Sound & Tech Joe Hunt