Come and see the Eco Showboat Mayfly, our solar-powered riverboat, moored in Mountshannon Harbour during the last week in May or join us on Saturday 27 May at the Market House with artist-craftsman Paul Berg and sound-artist Slavek Kwi, both living in Mountshannon. We invite scientist Niall Ó Brolcháin, expert in peatlands conservation, to discuss how and why we should rewet our bogs. We listen to the eco-poetry of Grace Wells and the music of harpist Anna Tanvir and her Indian partner Maninder, before finishing with a cup of tea and a chat.
11am to 1pm
Meet Anne Cleary & Denis Connolly, the Eco Showboat artists, who talk about their two year solar journey on the island’s waterways, show you their studies and observations of nature and tell of their encounters with artists, activists and scientists who explore with them the problems and promises of the freshwater environment.
Sound artist Slavek Kwi, living in Mountshannon, talks about underwater sound-ecology and invites us to listen to sound samples recorded locally in Lough Derg, on Atlantic coast of Ireland and also from travels in various tropical places (Brazilian Amazon, Australia and Tasmania, South Africa…).
Mountshannon artist-craftsman Paul Berg shows his recent work including An Crannog Ceoil, his musical island, and The Black Harp, crafted from 3000 year old Derrainy Bog oak.
2 to 5pm
Scientist Niall Ó Brolcháin, who studies peatland restoration & GHG reduction, discusses the ecological damage that has been done by draining and cutting Irish bogs and looks at how we can rewet damaged peatlands. Over 80% of Ireland’s 1.5 million hectares of peatland is degraded, meaning it emits millions of tonnes of CO₂ into the atmosphere each year. Studies have shown that restoration of these peatlands would result in a significant reduction of Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Grace Wells, Clare based eco-poet, reads a selection of her poems focusing on nature, spirit of place and ecological concern.
Harpist Anna Tanvir & her partner Maninder perform music that dips into Irish and Indian folk traditions.
Join Anne, Denis, Paul, Slavek, Niall, Paul, Grace, Anna and Maninder for a chat over tea and some special culinary offerings from Maninder.
ECO SHOWBOAT "Journey to the East"
The Mayfly, solar powered riverboat, sets off on its Journey to the East from Askeaton on the Shannon estuary on a five month arts expedition, from Askeaton in the west to Dublin in the east, aboard the Mayfly, flagship of the Eco Showboat project. Last year the Mayfly sailed from Limerick to Enniskillen, the first time such a voyage has been undertaken on a solar-powered vessel. The project is the brainchild of artists Anne Cleary and Denis Connolly.
