Here are some examples of Creative Ireland funded projects that were delivered in County Roscommon in 2022

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Eco Showboat

There is a growing awareness in environmentalist circles that the arts community is uniquely placed to develop conversations around climate change and to generate positive creative action. Work began on the Eco Showboat project in 2019 as an arts initiative aimed at raising awareness of climate change. The plan was to slowly tour the island’s waterways aboard a zero-carbon riverboat. Interacting with local communities, working with regional artists and bringing thinkers from the scientific world to talk about local and global environmental issues. The 2022 journey travelled throughout the Shannon and Erne waterways where the boat moored and invited communities to exercise their curiosity and get involved.

BOYLE MARINA / KING HOUSE Boyle, Co Roscommon July 24, 2022 Padraig Cunningham installed his works Aven and Folds 1, 2 & 3 on a meadow between the Boyle River and the Boyle Canal. For our Eco Sunday event in Boyle, the artist discussed his project, which explores the Shannon Cave, with Stephen McNamara, of the Shannon Caver Group, who talked about the history of the cave. Poet Mary Turley-McGrath read a selection of her poetry related to rivers and water.

LOUGH KEY FOREST PARK Co Roscommon July 31, 2022 Artists Anna Macleod and Padraig Cunningham created a series of works under the title EPHEMERA (the Latin name for Mayfly). The artists were joined by biologist Dr Mary Kelly-Quinn, Tommy Earley from Mount Allen Eco Farm and musicians Shahab & Shayan Coohe to celebrate the mayfly on the shore of Lough Key.

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Music Teaching Residency

A shared learning opportunity for County Roscommon residents aged 60 and over, presented by Music Network and Roscommon County Council Arts Office

Making Music with The Unwanted - the Roscommon Teaching Residency - took place from January to May 2022 at King House, with fifteen Roscommon locals age 60+ returning to their love of music!

A partnership between Music Network and Roscommon Arts Office, the focus of this project was on returning to playing an instrument and sharing the joy of group music-making. Benefitting from the combined musical backgrounds of The Unwanted members Cathy Jordan (guitar, bodhrán), Seamie O’Dowd (guitar), and Rick Epping (harmonica), the tuition programme offered participants the opportunity to experience an array of musical styles and techniques as well as plenty of opportunities to sing. The programme concluded with an informal performance at the end of May as part of the Bealtaine Festival.

You can see more information here: https://www.musicnetwork.ie/news/catch-up-with-making-music-with-the-unwanted-the-roscommon-teaching-residency and watch some snippets from their performances.

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Ballyleague Men’s Shed Repair Café

The formerly bland-looking upcycled portacabin container, home to Ballyleague Mens Shed Repair Café community repair activties (including Repair Training community education courses in association with GRETB), has received a tremendous transformation through the Creative Roscommon 2022 funding scheme in association with Roscommon County Council and Creative Ireland, rooted in the group's creative wish to create awareness of our work and the creative climate action work we are doing. 

Reknown artist Friz completed a spray-paint repair and circular economy-themed transformation of the Café (ideas brainstormed by our members with Friz) which features elements dedicated to the unique nature of this Men’s Shed (pet donkeys and mascot dog Reo) which they hope will inspire others to think about how they deal with waste, to aim towards repair rather than disposal, and the need for circular economy and coming together in our communities given the current challenges we are facing due to climate change.

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Nádur San Oíche

Nádur San Oíche Community Arts Lantern Project took place in the village of Dysart, Co. Roscommon over the course of a number of months and culminated with a presentation of work on the 3rd December 2022 at the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony in the village. This Project was supported through the Creative Roscommon Open Call as part of the Creative Ireland 2022 Funding. It involved locally born artist Orla Clogher, with the support of Dysart Tidy Towns, collaborating with members of Dysart community in the creation of the work.  The project celebrated the rich biodiversity of the area surrounding the village, taking in the Turloughs, boglands, and very unique Karst landscape around Cnocseefinn . It involved lantern workshops facilitated by Orla at Feevagh N.S and Ballintleva N.S involving children from junior infants through to sixth class, lantern workshops for adults and teenagers facilitated by Orla and Mayo artist Tom Meskell, and specialist work which involved Orla collaborating with her brother Timmy Clogher who is a local metalworker. This work consisted of creating largescale steel structure illuminated sculptures of native animals which have been installed in the village from December to January.

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