CARLOW
Youth Pilot Project set to produce model for integrating arts provision for young people over the next three years, writes Helen Rock
NOT many people know what Carlovian means. The unlikely answer is that it’s the rather exotic name given to people who come from Carlow. It may be small in size – the second smallest county in Ireland – but that has never stopped Carlow from having big ideas, which is no surprise when you know it was the royal capital of Ireland in the 14th century.
Evidence of sophisticated human settlement, predating written Irish history, has been found in abundance, dating back thousands of years, with perhaps its most dramatic prehistoric site at Browneshill Dolmen, a megalithic portal tomb standing proud on the outskirts of Carlow Town. Several early Christian settlements are still in evidence today around the county, including the famous St Mullin’s monastery, believed to have been established around the 7 th century.
The great naturalist Robert Lloyd Praeger, who walked the whole island of Ireland and wrote about it in his classic book, ‘The Way That I Went’, though the name Carlow might come from the Gaelic for Four Lakes, but he could find no trace of even one long-ago lake during his time recording the geology, flora and fauna of the county. Carlow shares borders with Wicklow, Wexford, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly and Kildare so it is well placed to be a capital.
On a clear day, from a spot on the northern shoulder of Mount Leinster, Lloyd Praeger says that you can get a wider view than anywhere else in the whole of Ireland. One of its chief natural beauties is the Barrow River, which rises in the Sliabh Blooms and flows gracefully through Bagenalstown, Borris, Graiguenamanagh, Carlow and New Ross, where it joins its sister River Nore and flows into the sea.
Carlow was also an Irish stronghold for agriculture in the early 1800s but the population was cut in half by the famines of the 1840s. The more recent closure of the sugar beet factories, which sustained many farmers and factory workers from the 1920s, saw a further decline in its fortunes. In the last decade or so there has been a sort of renaissance in Carlow and the arts in particular have flourished.
Carlow has a nationally recognised and progressive arts infrastructure including VISUAL, an iconic and world class multi-disciplinary arts centre, theatre and gallery situated on a verdant site donated by Carlow College, the former St Patrick’s seminary, in the heart of Carlow Town. There is also a phenomenal county museum, a rich heritage tradition, a pioneering library service and significant historical buildings as well as ancient archaeological sites.
“The Youth Pilot Project is our key thing in the Carlow creative plan,” explains coordinator, Sinéad Dowling. “Over the next three years it will produce a pilot model for integrating arts provision for children and young people. This has been decided as a result of a recent and rigorous consultation process involving 22 relevant stakeholders.”
Sile Penkert is the leader of Carlow Youth Theatre. “We are delighted by the very strong membership of young people, aged 14 to 19. And delighted that they have been placed at the centre of policy. It’s great that young critical thinkers and artists are voicing their opinions on quality arts provision, driven by their own interests and needs.”
Carlow Arts Festival is the first big cultural event of summer 2017 and Jo Mangan is its CEO. “We have hand-picked world festival premières, awardwinning shows, immersive visual arts projects, the best possible gigs for the O’Hara Pavilion and a host of free events,” she says. Our HQ are in the beautiful Carlow College, St Patrick’s, where you can immerse yourself in artistic adventures over the week-long festival.
“I believe a crucial part of our job is ensuring that the arts are accessible to all and not just to the chosen few,” says Jo. “I am passionate about broadening access to the arts because of their transformative power. This year’s programme is built with that passion at its core and will show the power the arts have to unite us and show us another dimension to living.”
Ann Mulrooney is CEO of VISUAL, a designated national centre for the arts. “For me, the most important aspect of Creative Ireland is that it makes visible just how deeply culture and creativity permeate every aspect of our lives; from how we plan our towns and cities, to how we foster innovation, to how we express and understand our histories and cultural identities. The arts are often thought of as ‘something for other people’, but this belongs to us all. Understanding the value of creativity and culture and creating the conditions to truly foster that, has the potential to transform our society.
“I’m thinking specifically of the Town Narrative project, where storytelling (the most democratic of art forms!) and creative methodologies will be used to help shape future urban planning decisions. I believe it underlines how art and culture can play a central role in shaping our world.”
I believe a crucial part of our job is making sure that the arts are accessible to all
There is a notably large number of events in the Carlow Creative calendar for 2017. This is due in no small part to the inclusive attitude of the Creative Carlow team, which received 96 requests for funding and lo and behold, granted them all.
A weekend of dialogue and discourse with international historians, novelists, journalists, film-makers, poets, theatre directors, war correspondents, biographers, artists and political commentators scheduled to take place at Borris House in the centre of the town of the same name.
It is a beautiful place with wide views all around the county, set on about 600 plus acres.
The owners are Andrew and Tina Kavanagh and they and their children have turned it into a semi-commercial venue to pay for the upkeep of the large gothicised house, the last ancestreal home of the Kings of Leinster, the MacMurrough Kavanaghs, whose motto over the door reads Suíchain agus Fairsinge (Peace and Plenty). This is a place worth visiting, with lots of good art on the walls and a private chapel with murals painted by the late Barrie Cooke, a great friend of the family.
Look out too for the Heritage Trail at Tinryland, a picturesque and deeply historic village 5.5km from Carlow Town. It has a known history dating at least from the Neolithic period (3700-3400BCE) since the discovery of a burial ground in the 1940s and was an early seat of the Leinster kings as well as the ancestral home of, believe it or not, Walt Disney. Other heritage events include night bat walks, wildlife tours, built heritage, fairs, recitals and historical re-enactments.
Tullow Agricultural is one of the most established in the country and is immensely popular non-farming as well as farming folk.
It features food and craft halls, trade stands, competitions for horses, ponies, cattle and sheep and much more.
A great day out in the fresh air. Last, but not least, Carlow has many good gardens to visit and you can check them out at Carlow Garden Festival, which is scheduled for July 21-30.