‘Bogland Hero’ is a film and multigenerational collaboration celebrating the cultural and ecological heritage of Ireland’s bogs. Through the lens of five passionate native voices from Ardee Bog the film explores the unique topography of boglands, from plantlife and wildlife to social and seasonal change over time. Blending oral histories, live music, film, and art, the work features an original score by Breifne
Holohan accompanied by vivid cinematopraphy and illustrations by Vivienne Byrne with the artistic responses of young voices from Boomerang Youth Café, Drogheda. A moving exploration of memory, place, and the urgent need to protect our natural landscapes.
Commissioned to write a score suitable for live performance by young performers Holohan reached out to students from Grow Music/An Táin Arts Centre School of Music.
Currently a teacher and ensemble director at the school himself, it was fitting that the students come from within the ranks of the Grow Music band, ‘The Rolling Pebbles’, already famed for their electric performances at the Spirit Store, Dundalk, Cruinniú na nÓg and the Irish National Opera.
Supported by school director, Heather Oakes and facilitated by Gaelcoláiste Dhún Dealgan, the ensemble have been preparing for this special live performance of the film since September. Featuring strings, brass, woodwind, percussion, fretted instruments and electronics, Holohan’s score strives to evoke the unique landscape of boglands through changing times, both sociologically and seasonally.
The soundtrack is rounded off by field recordings of Ardee bog and the sounds of ancient bronze age horns and trumpets originally found in bogs all over Ireland, with contributions from the country’s foremost authorities on the instruments, Ancient Music Ireland.
The score also pays tribute to a native renowned piper of Ardee, Pat McCormack, featuring traditional music performance by Ruadhán Collier O’ Brien (uilleann pipes), Róisín Ward Morrow (fiddle) and Joe Savage (bouzouki, guitar).
Friday 12th December, 8pm
Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda
Tickets: https://www.droichead.com/show-detail/?id=873679697
Saturday 13th December, 8pm
An Táin Arts Centre, Dundalk
