Award winning Artist Niamh McCann is joining forces with Venice Biennale architect Peter Carroll and Grammy nominated Iarla Ó Lionáird (The Gloaming) for an exclusive evening of art and music at the Battle of the Boyne Heritage Centre at Oldbridge House on Thursday, 27th July.
‘Someone decides, hawk or dove’ by artist Niamh McCann was commissioned as part of the programme for ART:2023, a Decade of Centenaries collaboration from The Arts Council and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
To celebrate the commission and collaboration, Solstice Arts Centre is hosting the first presentation of this project, a summer evening of art, spoken word and music with a drinks reception and musical performance set in the stunning surroundings of the walled garden at Oldbridge House on 27th July at 7pm.
The event will feature a sculpture/structure ‘Turn Again’ developed by Niamh McCann in collaboration with architect Peter Carroll with designed bespoke seating and a commissioned musical ensemble with specially composed music by Grammy nominated artist Iarla Ó Lionáird (The Gloaming) and singer Ceara Conway.
Other musical performers are to be announced. These pieces of work invite the audience to reflect on the decade of centenaries, and the institutionalisation of the border on the island of Ireland.
Niamh McCann said at today’s launch: “The Boyne Valley offers a rich and resonant setting for ‘Someone decides, hawk or dove.’ It’s a setting that reminds us of shared pasts with divergent narratives. I am really pleased that this project is being showcased in such a historically vibrant location and on a site that continues to hold an important place in the life and imagination of this country as we reflect on our past and on our future.”
The event will be introduced by Catriona Crowe, Historian and former Head of Special Projects at National Archives of Ireland followed by a 40-minute musical performance in the octagonal walled garden. An installation version of ‘Someone decides, hawk or dove‘, sculpture and sound, will remain in the Octagonal Gardens, Oldbridge House for a further two weeks.
The project will travel to other locations around the country including the National Sculpture Factory, Cork and MAC Belfast as well as Stable Arts, Washington DC in association with Solas Nua.
Belinda Quirke, Director of Solstice Arts Centre and Curator of ‘Someone decides, hawk or dove’ said today:
“This unique collaborative project by Niamh McCann brings together an assemblage of superb artists for ‘someone decides, hawk or dove’ – a project that emerges from the 100-year anniversary of the institutionalisation of a border on the island of Ireland, the establishment of the separation between North and South.
“It has been a personal pleasure working with all artists, particularly with Niamh and Iarla in the development of the work. Our sincere thanks to the OPW and staff at Oldbridge House, and The Arts Council, in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in recognising and supporting the ambition of this project by Solstice Arts Centre under its ART:2023 award. We look forward to welcoming everyone to the Battle of the Boyne Heritage site at Oldbridge House on 27th July.”
