Storytelling a ‘huge part of our culture’
Keeping Cork’s vast oral tradition alive is so important and a new initiative will ensure the stories don't die on seven inhabited West Cork islands.
Cork’s beautiful islands are set to be boosted after three talented storytellers will undertake a residency on Dursey, Bere, Whiddy, Long, Heir, Sherkin and Oileán Chléire.
Cork County Council has announced a Storytellers in Residence Programme. Supported by Creative Places West Cork Islands, this Arts Council-funded initiative aims to build sustained arts investment and create opportunities for local arts programmes.
The residency will see acclaimed storytellers Paddy O’Brien, Nuala Hayes and Simone Schuemmelfeder undertake a 10 month residency with their project ‘Three Heads/Na Trí Chinn on Seven Islands’.
Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Joe Carroll welcomed the residency: “Storytelling is a huge part of our culture in county Cork.
The Creative Places West Cork Islands programme continues to impact and support islanders of all ages, while contributing to the rich and varied arts across all seven islands. This residency will also help to nurture and grow the Irish language, which is very much alive across the West Cork Islands.”
Paddy O’Brien, Nuala Hayes, and German-born Simone Schuemmelfeder have worked with communities, arts centres, and storytelling festivals for many years.
Storyteller Paddy O’Brien expressed the groups excitement for starting the project, saying: “Nuala, Simone and I are excited to further develop our relationships with the islands and connect with islanders of all ages through the art of storytelling.”
The residency will combine participatory live events, song, story-exchange, research into existing folklore and island stories, video, podcasting, and visual art inspired by island stories.
As with many of the Creative Places West Cork Islands programming, there will be an emphasis on connecting different islands and islanders through the arts, as well as responding to the rich creativity already on the islands.
The residency will engage with the Cape Clear Storytelling Festival, as well as Storytellers of Ireland.
Rose Woods, Director of the Cape Clear Storytelling Festival added: “We look forward to partnering with the storytellers and Creative Places West Cork Islands in order to connect further with islands and also to platform our festival, which is an international highlight on the storytelling calendar.”
To keep up to date with the residency, visit the Creative Places West Cork Islands website at creativeplaceswci.ie.
The Storytellers in Residence programme is supported by Cork County Council and Creative Places: West Cork Islands, an Arts Council initiative.