To celebrate ten years Castles in Communities, a community-engaged research project, an exhibition is being held in Ballintober, Co. Roscommon.

Inspired by the ancient Irish harvest festival of Lughnasadh, the exhibition explores how art and archaeology gather meaning from the landscape. I will have three vessels from my Willow Vegetable Collection on display.

“Lughnasadh is used as a conceptual metaphor for transition: the moment when sustained seasonal work is gathered, assessed and shared.

For Castles in Communities, this concept mirrors the close of excavation and survey and the shift into post-excavation analysis, interpretation and public storytelling. After ten field seasons of research, the project stands at its own harvest threshold, where accumulated labour, gratitude for community relationships and archaeological knowledge are gathered and carried forward.”

Other work included in the exhibition will be from artists as well as local residents who notice meaningful details in the landscape – places or moments where history, culture, and everyday life intersect.

Lughnasadh: Gathering the Work will be open to the public on Friday 24th, Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th July in the Old Schoolhouse, Ballintober, Co. Roscommon.