An Bhean Chaointe… and a very special event in the Garden of Remembrance

Scroll down for the text in English

’Seans gur chuala tú go raibh mé ag obair ar scannán de mo chuid líníochtaí – agus go mbeidh an scannán seo á theilgean i nGairdín an Chuimhneacháin ar an 7ú lá de mhí Márta.  Bhuel, beidh sé á theilgean ar thrí Mháirt i ndiaidh a chéile anois: ar an 7ú, 14ú agus an 21ú lá de mhí Márta, ag a seacht a chlog san oíche.  Ach tá rud amháin eile nár luaigh mé, scéilín nár chuala éinne go fóillín…

Beidh Sarah Ghriallais, amhránaí ar an sean-nós as Muiceanach idir dhá sháile ag gabháil fhoinn ar an scannán agus tá mé ar bís ar fad faoi seo.

Ach fan nóiméad, seans nár inis mé duit go fóill faoin togra seo atá ar bun agam ar feadh bliana, togra ealaíne faoin tráma a d’eascair as an Cogadh Cathartha.

Léigh mé i leabhar le Diarmaid Ferriter gur eachtra beag a bhí ann, “a smallscale event” mar a thug sé air – mar nár maríodh ach tuairim is 1400 duine.  Ach mar gheall ar seo,  thosnaigh mise ar 1400 líníochtaí a chruthú – chun na mairbh a chomóradh agus, ar bhealach éigin, aitheantas a thabhairt don tráma a tharraing sé ar an tír, tráma a raibh tionchar aige ar saol na tíre le fada an lá.

My video projection in the Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square, Dublin

Ní portráidí iad na líníochtaí seo, níl siad bunaithe ar na daoine a fuair bás.  Ní thugann an tsraith taobh amháin nó taobh eile (cé a fhios inniu cén seasamh a bheadh glactha againn ag an am?) ach creidim go bhfuil sé tábhachtach léirsmaoineamh a dhéanamh ar an chogadh seo, an choimhlint idir cairde, chun meabhrú dúinn cé chomh sobhriste is atá an tsíocháin agus cé chomh riachtanach atá sé athmhuintearas a chothú seachas an t-achrann.

Beidh taispeántas desna líníochtaí i Ghailearaí Olivier Cornet i rith mí Márta 2023 agus níos déanaí sa bhliain san Custom House Gallery & Studios i gCathair na Mart.

So, if you go into the Garden of Remembrance during the day, you’ll notice the mosaic in the cruciform pool which depicts broken spears, swords and shields. This is a reference to the old Celtic custom of breaking weapons and throwing them into the river to signify the end of hostilities.  (If only)

This beautiful garden in Parnell Square was designed by architect Dáithí Hanly and dedicated to the memory of  “all those who gave their lives in the cause of Irish freedom”.  It was officially opened in 1966 on the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising.  The garden is intended as a place of quiet contemplation and remembrance.

I felt that it was the ideal place to show my video: ‘Cogadh na gCarad/ The War between Friends’.  I hope that you will drop by to see it on one of the three Tuesday evenings (7th, 14th and 21st of March from 7pm till 8pm).

Zoe Thomas and Olivier Cornet overseeing the installation of over one hundred drawings at the Olivier Cornet Gallery

And you can visit the Olivier Cornet Gallery (next door to Belvedere College), to see an exhibition of the charcoal drawings.  Have you received your invite yet?  If not, the official opening is next TUESDAY, 7th of March at 6.30pm and you’re very welcome.  The guest speaker is Diarmaid Ferriter and after the speeches, guests are invited to view the video projection in the Garden ( it’s best viewed from the entrance opposite the Hugh Lane Gallery).  Bígí linn!

Sarah Ghriallais

Diarmaid Ferriter

https://www.oliviercornetgallery.com/