Ballina HeritACT Co-Envisioning Day

Talk, Discussion, Walk/Tour, Workshop, Exhibition

Date: Saturday 05th October
Time: 10:00-17:00
Location: HeritHUB, Ballina Library, Pearse Street, Ballina, Co. Mayo.

Join the Ballina Co-Envisioning Day at the HeritHUB in Ballina Library. Connecting communities through an integrated and participatory approach to the cultural heritage and future of Ballina this HeritACT event aims to engage the local community in collaborative design processes to facilitate sustainable urban development.

Focusing on sustainable approaches participants will explore potential solutions for sites in Ballina through a series of interactive activities. These include a guided walk, and digital engagement exercises designed to assess, and negotiate site-specific interventions for selected historic sites in Ballina. The day will conclude with feedback and discussions on the outcomes, guiding the design and location of six potential solutions. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

‘Introduction to the HeritACT project and the 3-step project process (Co-Recognition, Co-Envisioning, Co-Implementation).

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Sense-Making Activity Using SustainACT

Identify impacts of the proposed HeritACT solutions.

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Story Map of Ballina Presentation

Presentation on the research activities and the proposed HeritACT activation sites.

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Walk, Talk, and Lunch Activity 

Guided walk around Ballina, visiting the proposed sites exploring the historical context and potential solutions. Packed lunch provided.

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: World Café & Empathy Mapping Activity using NegoDesign. 

Evaluate and vote on the suitability of sites for the HeritACT activation solutions.

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM: Community Mapping Activity Using Design Your Heritage

Design optimal solutions for one of the historic sites, with a focus on critiquing and improving proposed HeritACT activation solutions.

4:30 PM: Closing Remarks and Next Steps

Recap of the day, completion of feedback forms, and information on upcoming HeritACT events.’

Inis Mór Archaeological Walk

Guided tour led by Michael Gibbons, Walking Ireland

Walk/Tour

Date: Monday September 30th, 2024  
Time: 10am for 10.30am ferry / Return 5pm
Location: Rossaveal Pier, Co Galway  
Link to Ferry Departure location HERE

Archaeological Field Trip to Inis Mór, exploring the karst limestone and the rich Celtic Forts which dominate the western fringes of Europe.

Inis Mór has been settled for at least the last 6,000 years and is ribbed by a filigree network of stone walls, some dating back to these Prehistoric times. The skyline is crowned by spectacular Forts and an array of very beautifully sited Early Monastic Sites. We will explore the most famous site on the island, which is undoubtedly Dún Aengus, a 3,000-year-old: 14-acre cliff-edge fortress: surrounded by the best-preserved example of Chevaux-de-Frise in European archaeology and is the site of the discovery of a Palaeolithic hand axe (c.300,000 years old).

We will also explore the rich monastic sites as the island is famously associated with St Enda, one of the giants of Early Irish Monasticism, although his main monastery was demolished during the Elizabethan and later Cromwellian conquest of the island.

Tickets cost €30, Includes Ferry to the Island.

Bring your walking boots and wear appropriate clothing for the outdoors!  

Event Image* General View with Dún Aengus on the cliff edge.

Photo courtesy Walking Ireland.

The Story of Hospitality

Jennie Moran/Luncheonette

Performance, Lecture, Celebration

Date: Sunday 29th September
Time: 14:00
Location: The Mick Lally Theatre, Druid Ln, Galway

What is hospitality and why does it matter? This performance is a celebration of the gorgeous system we have invented for welcoming strangers. We will delve into the origins of this poetic practice, the risks involved, the philosophy behind it, the strict rules, the honour attached to it, the folklore that surrounds it. This is an invitation to see hospitality, not as an industry, but as a gut instinct that we humans have for generosity and coexistence and to reconsider our role as hosts to one another.

Story of Hospitality is written by Jennie Moran/Luncheonette and animated by dance artist Roberta Ceginskaite and accompanied by musician Seamas Hyland.

Jennie Moran is an Irish visual artist who uses the philosophy of hospitality to create opportunities for shared connection. She runs Luncheonette, an emergency response unit which uses food to make places better. She has written a book entitled How to Soften Corners about the impact of hospitality in institutions.  

Roberta Ceginskaiteis a creator and dancer based in Galway. She graduated in Contemporary Dance from Fontys Hogeschool voor de Kunsten in Tilburg. On return to Ireland, Roberta partook in the Step Up Dance Project, working with choreographer Fearghus Ó’Conchúir. She recently presented her solo piece ‘Spoonful’ at the What Next 2023 festival in Limerick and continues to create her own work thanks to the Arts Council Agility Award, the HATCH mentorship award from Dance Ireland and the Galway Dance Project.

Seamas Hyland, native of west Waterford is a multi-instrumentalist, set dancer and singer. He is currently based in Dublin and is working to release a solo button accordion album in 2023. He plays in a duet project with banjo player Paddy Cummins and is a full-time member of the Mary Wallopers

 Supported by the Arts Council

Photo by Pablo Marín García

Lilliput Press

Architect John Twomey

First Quarter

An evening of conversation, reading and song celebrating the publication of John Twomey’s memoir First Quarter.

Date: Friday, 27 September 2024 
Time: 8pm
Cost: €15
Location: The Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar.

Please join us to celebrate the publication of First Quarterby John Tuomey. In First Quarter, architect John Tuomey navigates the places and memories of his life over twenty-five years. Published by Lilliput Press, First Quarter is a personal and poetical account of childhood in Irish villages and country towns, student life in Dublin and youthful employment in London.

John Tuomey is an Irish architect, co-founder of O’Donnell + Tuomey and designer of social and cultural buildings at home and abroad. He was the inaugural Professor of Architectural Design at University College Dublin. Joint recipient with Sheila O’Donnell of the RIBA Royal Gold Medaland American Academy of Arts and Letters Brunner Prize. He is a member of Aosdána.

Jean Tuomey (John’s middle sister) will read some poems to accompany his memoir. Her collection, Swept Back (Lapwing), was launched in the Linenhall in December 2022. A former teacher, she now facilitates writing groups for creative and therapeutic purposes.

David Tuomey (John's younger brother) will sing some songs mentioned in the memoir. Accompanied by Teresa Burke, vocals and guitar, and Kevin Frain, guitar.

Pat Ruane, architect, former Conservation Officer with Cork City Council, now back home in Mayo, will introduce the evening and continue in conversation with John.

Doors and wine reception from 7.30pm.

John will be available to sign copies of First Quarter after the event.

Shane de Blacam Lecture

In partnership Arts in Action at the University of Galway

Date: Friday 27th September, 2024

Full line up for ther evening;

4:00pm Public reception, presentation.

4:30pm Introduction, Marko Milovanovic

5:00 p.m Lecture Shane de Blacam.

Break

7:00 p.m Lecture by Cian Deegan and Alice Casey, TAKA Architects

7:30 pm - Round table discussion will follow with moderator Marko Milovanovic.

Location: O'Donoghue Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance

Shane De Blacam formed the architectural practice de Blacam and Meagher with John Meagher in 1976. De Blacam’s buildings are characterised by their simplicity and their celebration of local materials. Throughout his career, he has been concerned with creating spaces for people to come together, including the sensitively restored Abbeyleix Library in Laois and the elegant Samuel Beckett Theatre at Trinity College, Dublin. Before forming his practice with Meagher, de Blacam worked in London with the architects of the Barbican Centre, Chamberlain, Powell and Bon. He then travelled to America where he worked with Louis I. Khan for two years on the Mellon Centre for British Art and British Studies, Yale University, New Haven Connecticut.

Shane de Blacam was awarded the 2023 RA Architecture Prize.  He will deliver a lecture with slides originally delivered at the Royal Academy London October 2023.

To complete the line-up of the evening, architects Cian Deegan and Alice Casey from Taka Architects will be in Galway to present their work and join with our moderator Marko Milovanovic, for discussion.

Admission is free upon reservation.

In partnership Arts in Action at the University of Galway.

Supported by Arts Council of Ireland. 

Shane De Blacam was born Dublin 14th October 1945. B.Arch. (NUI) 1968, M. Arch. (PENN) 1970, MRIAI 1972, RIBA 1976, FRIAI 1986, HLFRSAI 1994. Grade 1 Conservation Architect 2003. Undergraduate School of Architecture University College Dublin 1963-68 Post graduate School of Architecture University of Pennsylvania USA 1969-70. Worked in London with Chamberlain, Powell and Bon, and Philadelphia with Louis I. Khan where Shane worked for two years on the Mellon Centre for British Art and British Studies Yale University New Haven Connecticut. 1972 returned to Ireland as first year master at the School of Architecture, University College Dublin. Commenced practice de Blacam and Meagher 1976. Shane worked in architectural partnership with John Meagher in Dublin for 45 years until John died, early 2021. They shared a friendship and close exchange of criticism and drawings and shared design responsibility for the work of de Blacam and Meagher, sometimes with others in the practice. Gold Medal and five silver medals for architecture and conservation including the Gandon Medal of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, Europa Nostra Silver medal, member of AOSDANA an institution to honour achievement in art of the Government of Ireland, and the Royal Academy London Architecture Prize 2023.

TAKA

Alice Casey studied architecture in TU Dublin (DIT) graduating in 2003. after spending time gaining professional experience in London and Dublin, Alice co-founded TAKA in Dublin in 2007. Alice has taught architecture in UCD, Queen’s University Belfast, and TU Dublin – where she currently teaches in the masters in architecture and professional diploma in architectural practice courses. Alice holds a PhD by practice from RMIT, is an RIAI architect accredited in conservation at grade 3, and is registered with the architect’s registration board in the UK. Alice examines candidates for membership of the RIAI and has been a member of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland since 2007. Cian Deegan studied architecture in TU Dublin (DIT) graduating in 2003. after spending time gaining professional experience in London (with Niall McLaughlin architects) and Dublin (with O’Donnell & Tuomey), Cian co-founded TAKA in Dublin in 2007. Cian has taught architecture in UCD, Queen’s University Belfast, and TU Dublin, where he is currently a lecturer. Cian holds a PhD by practice from RMIT and has been a member of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland since 2007.

Marko Milovanovic has been selected as our Shane de Blacam Resident.

Marko is an architect, artist, journalist and founder of @freeschoolof and @mylomark. The educational platform Free School Of celebrates dialogue as a fundamental form of knowledge. Marko has interviewed artists, architects, curators, and scholars and written extensively on culture, politics and urban regeneration. He teaches at the Architectural Association School of Architecture, Royal College of Art, and Oxford Brookes University.  

The Shane de Blacam Residency has been created in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Arts, London.  The project that will be showcased is "Temptation of Influence" by British architect, artist, and journalist Marko Milovanovic. It consists of a selection of video and audio recorded interviews, photographs, video documentation, and a visual and written essay on Influence within the Field of Architecture.  This multimedia project is a collection of video and audio artefacts documenting the architectural legacy and philosophy of architect Shane de Blacam. This conversational piece examines influence across generations and cultures, focusing on de Blacam’s work and his connections to his predecessors, such as Andrea Palladio and his mentor Louis Kahn, as well as his students, who are now prominent Irish and British architects.

TAKA Architects: Transmission

Lecture

Date:           Friday 27th September, 2024
4:30pm:       Public reception
5:00pm:       Presentations by Taka Architects and Shane de Blacam.
7:15pm:       Round table hosted by Marko Milovanovic.
Location:     O'Donoghue Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance

TAKA Architects was founded in 2008, by Alice Casey and Cian Deegan and is based in Dublin, Ireland. 

The practice has received national and international awards; including being shortlisted for the 2017 Mies Van der Rohe European Union Prize, finalist in the BD Young Architect of the Year Award and Royal Academy Dorfman Award, and winner of the AR Peter Davey Prize for Emerging Architecture 2019.
TAKA has exhibited in the Venice Architecture Biennale several times: in 2008 as an exhibitor in the Irish National Pavilion, in 2010 as co-curator of the Irish National Pavilion, and in 2018 as an exhibitor in the Central Pavilion.

Alice & Cian have taught Architecture at Queens University Belfast, University College Dublin, and currently at the Dublin School of Architecture (TU Dublin). They have both been a recipient of the EU Marie Curie/ Adapt-R research fellowship and completed PhDs by Practice with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in 2017.

Inisturk Walking Tour Island

Guided tour led by Islander Jack Heane

Walk/Tour

 Date: Thursday September 26th, 2024  

Time: 10am for 10.30am ferry / Return 5:15pm

Ferry Departs from: Roonagh Point, Louisburg, Co.Mayo F28W8P3

Tranquil, isolated and stunningly beautiful, Inishturk lies around 15km (9 miles) off the coast of County Mayo, nestled between the islands of Inishbofin and Clare. Inishturk Island juts out of the wild North Atlantic Ocean, reaching 189m (621ft) at its highest point stands the ruins of a Napoleonic era watchtower that was part of a network of towers from Mayo to Waterford.

Inishturk has been inhabited on and off since 4,000 BCE and has been inhabited permanently since at least 1700. Some of the more recent inhabitants are descended from evacuees from Inishark to the southwest.

On our walk we will talk about the islands bronze age past, its pirate coves and view the stunning cliffs. Our host, and Island native Jack Heane will be more than happy to talk about life on the island with a small community and the plans for helping it to survive in the future.

In 1993 Inishturk Community centre was opened, this community centre doubles as a library and a pub. The island is home to a primary school on the island which in 2011 had only 3 pupils, this believed to be the smallest primary school in Ireland.

Inisturk is one of the true gems sitting offshore our Island waiting for you to visit.

Cost including Ferry is €30

Ferry timetable available at https://inishturkpassengerferry.ie

Bring your walking boots and remember to wear appropriate clothing for the outdoors!

Soup and sandwiches will be made available on the island at the InisTurk Community Club, but would be advised to bring own additional drinks or snacks.

Inishbofin Archaeological Walk

Guided tour led by by Michael Gibbons, Walking Ireland

Walk/Tour

Date: Wednesday September 25th, 2024 

Time: 11am, for 11.30am ferry / Return 5pm ferry.

Location: Cleggan Pier, Co Galway

Archaeological Field Trip to Inishbofin Island, exploring Bronze Age landscapes emerging from beneath the cutaway bogs and the 17th century fort that controls the natural harbour.

Inishbofin’s early settlement history is evident from the dozens of Bronze Age monuments, which we will see during our Field Trip.  The island was first mentioned by the Venerable Bede in the Early 8th Century and used as a refuge for Northumbrian Monks.  It was raided by the Vikings in 795AD and long retained strong associations with Anglo-Saxon England.  

Located on the border between the two powerful Gaelic maritime lordships of the O’Malley’s and the O’Flaherty’s, Inishbofin has a turbulent history.  It was the last Gaelic stronghold to fall to Cromwell and subsequently had strong links with 17th Century France and 18th Century America.  Its fragmented coastline boasts dramatic sea cliffs and sea caves and is home to a rich variety of marine life.

Tickets cost €30, Includes Ferry to the Island. Book here via Eventbrite

Photo courtesy www.walkingireland.com