I have been working on an exciting year-long art project with visual artist Marie Brett on the theme of holy wells – in particular associated healing, traditions and rituals. The project is coming to fruition and the exhibition will be opening in Siamsa Tíre, Tralee, County Kerry on the 3rd October and will combine dance, music, film, photography and print – you are cordially invited.
More of this project later!
One of the wells we have been focusing on is Tubrid Well, Millstreet, County Cork and this was our venue for a Culture Night event.
Tubrid is a large and impressive holy well, immaculately maintained by its custodian, James Ó Sullivan.
It has a quiet serenity and presence and what is particularly noticeable is the constant stream of visitors – there is always someone collecting water, paying the rounds, saying a prayer in front of the grotto, lighting candles on the altar or simply sitting and enjoying the peace. We thought it would be meaningful to hold an evening gathering here for Culture Night inviting the community to make and float votives on the well in memory of loved ones, or for any other reasons that felt appropriate. We had no idea whether this would be appealing or well attended but on the Thursday afternoon before Culture Night, we held a series of workshops in Millstreet Library. I set off with a car load of flowers, reminiscent of Kew Gardens!
The library is in an old Carnegie building and is a beautiful bright and cheerful space. The chief librarian, Gillian Kelleher, has provided terrific support throughout the project and has been welcoming and helpful. We were delighted to find the two workshops were at capacity and the room quickly filled up with groups of creative and pleasant women.
Under Marie’s guidance, we made lotus flower votives using greaseproof paper- much more difficult than it looks, I thought! The chat, laughter and concentration was immense. A few struggled like me but some found the whole thing relaxing – one generous woman offered to make 50 more at her home in the evening – and she did! A tea light was placed in each votive and then participants were invited to decorate them with fresh flowers. The end results looked wonderful.
Some women took their votives home so that they could keep the flowers fresh, some left them with us so we could start decorating the well, and all promised to spread the news of the event and to bring their families. One brave man attended – Seán Radley, who has also been incredibly supportive of the project from its inception, and has kindly advertised it on his excellent community website Millstreet.ie.
Later, Marie and I slipped down to the well to that check our creations were waterproof – thankfully they were!
The day of Culture Night, 20th September, was a corker – hot and sunny and the forecast for the evening remained good. Very little needed to be done on site as James maintains it beautifully but a speaker was attached for the music, a table set up near the entrance for more votive making and candles placed hither and thither. As dusk approached, we threw hydrangea blooms and other flowers into the water and started to light a few votives. By 7pm a steady stream of visitors were making their way down to the well. Marie and others continued to construct votives with visitors, and I helped light the candles and placed them in the well – a surprisingly steep drop down!
In the end, I reckon we had around 70 people, from babies to elders, children to young couples and families. As darkness fell everywhere looked wondrous, the atmosphere heightened by the music – an especially commissioned haunting soundtrack by singer songwriter Maija Sofia and musician Billy Mag Floinn. The atmosphere was astonishing – respectful and reverential but also optimistic and uplifting, a real feeling of community and more than anything, it seemed to be meaningful. Many floated their votives in memory of someone dear to them, and welcomed the opportunity to do so, others had their own quiet thoughts and contemplations and it was remarkable how often it was mentioned that, during these challenging and depressing times in the world, it is the simple heartfelt events like these that can bring people together and remind us of the good there still is. Oddly profound.
We prepared to tidy up but James said no – it would break the spell, as if being asked to do the washing up after a sumptuous dinner party. He thought it appropriate to leave everything where it was, for the votives to burn out at their own pace and to tidy up in the morning. I promised to help but of course when I arrived, not very bright and early, he had done it all. What a very special occasion.
What an altogether inspiring and uplifting event. The pictures tell it all – beautiful!
It was all those things, and a bit unexpected but such a relief!
What vision, beautifully realised.
What a beautiful idea and how beautifully it became real.