Here are some examples of Creative Ireland funded projects that were delivered in County Roscommon in 2024
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Roscommon-The Home of Halloween Samhain Project
A Spellbinding Celebration of the True Home of Halloween! 🎃
Celebrating the mystical origins of Halloween in the heart of Roscommon, where ancient traditions and folklore come alive in a captivating community event. This year, Roscommon was proud to highlight its connection to Samhain, the Celtic festival that marks the true beginning of Halloween, with a magical evening of art, culture, and heritage. 
Artist Orla Clogher, a native of Dysart with a rich background in spectacle and creative direction through her work with Macnas in Galway, has collaborated with the Rathcroghan Visitor Centre in Tulsk on a unique community project. This initiative aims to shine a light on Rathcroghan’s significance as the birthplace of Samhain, blending local creativity with ancient mythology.
In preparation for this special celebration, Orla has guided the 4th, 5th, and 6th class pupils of Tulsk and Ballinagare national schools in crafting their own hand-held lanterns, with around fifty enthusiastic students taking part. Drawing inspiration from the ancient legends of Rathcroghan, the focus of the event is the Morrigan, a legendary shapeshifting battle goddess deeply rooted in the folklore of this historic area.
Event Highlights:
- Morrigan Lantern Procession: The mesmerizing lantern procession lit up Roscommon as it journeyed from the Square to the Roscommon Arts Centre. Led by the luminous lanterns of local pupils, the parade was accompanied by the powerful rhythms of The Bash Brothers drummers, evoking the ancient spirit of Samhain as darkness descends.
- Entertainment at Roscommon Arts Centre: Following the procession, the festivities continued with a special book signing by Annmarie Murray, author of The Cave of the Cats, a story intricately woven with the history and enigma of Rathcroghan.
- Storytelling and History: Tales of Samhain with storyteller Mike McCarthy and an insightful introduction to Rathcroghan’s rich past by Daniel Curley helped to discover how the ancient landscapes and legends of the area have shaped folklore for centries.
This event was not just a celebration of Halloween’s ancient roots but a tribute to Roscommon’s unique cultural heritage and vibrant community spirit. it was an unforgettable night that brought together history, art, and the timeless magic of Samhain. The Morrigan then returned to its rightful home and was on display for the Samhain period at Rathcroghan Visitor Centre.
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Forget Me Not Choir
The Forget Me Not Choir is accessible for all members of the community - it is an opportunity for young, old and those with various abilities and needs to come togther with the
primary focus of singing together.
Singing, as has been extensively documented is excellent for our mental health & well being.
Forget Me Not Choir is a well established event twice a month. Initially founded to support persons dealing with alzheimers & dementia, it now welcomes service users & people from all walks of life.
Using song, music and movement as a medium to bring people together and sing for wellness and fun, artist and facilitator Anne Marie Hynes has seen how enriching the choir has been for individual members & the various services users & their carers who attend. The numbers continue to grow.
They continue to use song, music and movement as a medium to bring people together and sing for wellness and fun.
We have had approximately 40 at each our in person choir sessions throughout the summer into October and we have been invited to sing at a number of Christmas events this year.
For More Info check out the link ForgetMeNotCommunityChoirAthlone
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Brothers of Charity Creative Arts Programme
Following a very successful project as part of Boyle Arts Festival, supported by our Creative Roscommon Open Call for Outdoor Performances, we were delighted to be awared additional funding in order to further enhance and sustain the Brothers of Charity (BOC) Creative Arts Programme.
A huge spectacle parade was put together by Spark Catchers in association with the Brothers of Charity staff members which saw the service users from many of the county’s facilities come together to tell the story of “Odras and the River Boyle.” Rhythmic instruments, support and tuition from Rhythm Riot Music added to the atmospheric enactment of the underworld Morrigan stealing the prized bull.
In advance of and in preparation for the parade performance, the BOC Creative Arts programme in Roscommon collaborated with Music Generation tutors on percussion workshops and a number of the people supported have really shown a keen interest in developing their skills in this area.
Playing rhythmic instruments can provide numerous benefits to individuals with additional intellectual needs. These benefits span cognitive, emotional, social, and physical domains, contributing to overall well-being and development.
Overall, rhythmic instrument playing can be a highly effective enjoyable tool for enhancing the quality of life and developmental outcomes for individuals with additional intellectual needs, all while providing an opportunity to perform in future events.
With all this in mind and the reflection on the benefits that were experienced as part of the event at Boyle Arts Festival, supported by Creative Ireland Roscommon, Brothers of Charity have to extended their Creative Arts Programme by starting a STEEL PAN DRUM BAND. we look forward to many performances in the near future where participants will get to show off their new skills.
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Timelines Tapestry
'Timelines: Growth and Catastrophe' Exhibition on was unveiled at Roscommon Arts Centre for Culture Night 2024
The much-anticipated fibre art exhibition, Timelines: Growth and Catastrophe, which launched on 20th September 2024 as part of Culture Night celebrations at Roscommon Arts Centre is a must see. This captivating exhibition, featuring the work of the renowned Roscommon-based weaver Frances Crowe, showcases the third collaborative work from the Timelines Tapestry Group—a talented collective of weavers and tapestry artists. The exhibition ran in Roscommon until 24th October before embarking on a national tour through the five local authority areas that have supported the project. Each venue will also host community engagement opportunities with the artists to further bolster the impact that this piece will have on a national level.
The centrepiece of the exhibition is a breath-taking 5-meter by 1-meter handwoven tapestry, created collaboratively by eight distinguished artists: Muriel Beckett, Tish Canniffe, Frances Crowe, Pascale De Coninck, Lorna Donlon, Terry Dunne, Catherine Ryan, and Heather Underwood. In addition to the large-scale tapestry, the exhibition features individual works by each of the artists, offering a deeper exploration of their personal artistic expressions.
Inspired by the delicate balance of opposing forces in life, Growth and Catastrophe reflects the profound experiences we have all encountered over recent years. The artists weave a narrative that juxtaposes the renewal and resilience of nature with the devastation of war and the darkness of the global pandemic. The tapestry serves as a metaphor for the tension between growth, renewal, and catastrophe, capturing the beauty and fragility of life. As nature regenerates in the aftermath of destruction and provides solace during lockdowns, the artists have infused hope into the intricate fibres of their work.
The creation of this monumental tapestry has been a journey of collaboration and dedication. The group began designing the project in Lorna Donlon’s UCD studio, drawing inspiration from plant science imagery and natural dyes. The weaving process itself took place in Terry Dunne’s home studio in Wexford, where the artists worked together in small groups over several months, fostering a sense of community and shared vision.
Supported by Creative Ireland Programmes of Roscommon County Council, Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Laois County Council, and Wexford County Council, this exhibition is a testament to the power of creative collaboration. Each artist brings their unique expertise and personal history to the collective project.
The exhibition is a powerful reflection on our collective human experience, woven into a tapestry of art that speaks to both the heart and mind.
For more information, visit the Timelines Group on Facebook here
A video documenting the making of the art is available here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1farzJHgak
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Siarsceal Festival 2024
The public response to the Siarscéal Literary Festival was overwhelmingly positive this year. The festival’s new creative coordinators Mary Branley and Sarah O’Keefe have taken it in a welcome, fresh direction from previous years, with a sharper focus on the needs of young adults. The festival was promoted extensively in advance through local and social media and engagement with schools and libraries.
This year saw greater engag
ement by the libraries and arts offices of counties Leitrim and Sligo and 11 workshops were organized across the three western counties. The workshops covered creative writing, book-m
aking, animation (for juvenile participants) and online publishing, with the end result of an impressive eZine of the participant’s work. An impressive new website for Siarscéal was also creat
ed - Siarsceal Website. 
The festival ran from June to September 2024 and concluded in a Celebration Day, attended by over 40 people. It was held in Roscommon County Library and involved the recording of the participants’ creative writings and their combination with live music. The day was covered for local media by Roscommon County Council’s Communication’s Officer, library social media live-streaming and each of the participants were individually interviewed by Ros FM, for broadcast by the stations Arts programme.
