Celtic Eye Art Group backs ÉIRÍ artistic project
Artist and poet Nicola Bowes, a native of Bealnamulla, and a founder of the Celtic Eye Art Group, is inspired by Irish mythology and she is delighted to be a partner in the ÉIRÍ project - evoking Ireland’s resilient female icons.
The ÉIRÍ Project comprising an arts competition and an open participatory research project, has been created by Professor Ralph Kenna, a native of Athlone, and is funded by Coventry University. The project is being hosted by The Irish Post and Story Archaeology with prizes of €3,000 on offer for schools.
Submissions, in any medium, inspired by Irish mythology, local lore or legend, featuring women or girls, closed at the end of last year and assessment of entries is currently underway with winners due to be announced soon. However, there is no closing date for the participatory research submissions.
For more information, check out https://storyarchaeology.com/
Below artist and Nicola Bowes explains why she got involved as a partner in the ÉIRÍ project.
"My art and poetry were for many years inspired by the magic of the Celtic 'other world'. One inspiring figure is the strong-willed ambitious Queen Maebh of Connaught who would fight to protect her land. She stirs in me an urge to protect our world too - in this era of climate change and existential crisis. It is iconic figures like her that led me to become involved with a biodiversity, heritage, and folklore project in collaboration with the Karst Farming Group of South Roscommon. Karst is a topography characterised by underground drainage systems and caves, another Irish example being the Burren in Co. Clare. Such fragile ecosystems need to be preserved and that is the aim of the group.
I knew an ambitious project would need diversity of experience to highlight its importance. So I founded the Celtic Eye Art Group including artists, poets, writers, herbalists, dancers, and farmers. It rapidly grew to an online group of 1,400 members and now, a year and a half after its foundation, we get together in Choill Tigh (Wood House) - my Gallery in Co Galway. There we hold exhibitions and display diverse art from all over Ireland.
We work together in drawing from Irish mythology to depict goddesses and other inspiring female figures. One of these is Clíodhna, Queen of the Banshees of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the supernatural race who, while dwell in the “other world”. Clíodhna is associated with Co Cork where she is goddess of love and beauty. Another is our pre-Christian goddess of healing, Brigid who has been recognised with her own bank holiday this year. The power of women to heal extends from mythology to history: e.g., to Galway’s Cathleen Monahan - the pioneering medic who contributed to the eradication of TB. As is all too common, she was played down in male-oriented historical literature, as was Brigid who, until recently, played second fiddle to Patrick in a patriarchal society.
Many more mythological women are now rising to highlight the importance of the female in protecting our planet. Amongst them is the powerful and fundamental goddess and earth mother Danu, who gave her name to the Tuatha Dé Danann. One of my personal favourites is the wonderful pearl of beauty, Fand. She frees Cú Chulainn from a curse under condition that he defends her otherworldly 'Land of Promise'. Cú Chulainn and Fand become lovers, to the consternation of her husband Manannán Mac Lir (god of the sea). “In truth, neither of you is better or nobler than the other”, she says, “but I will go with you, Manannán, for you have no other mate worthy of you, but Cú Chulainn has Emer”. Thus, the decision is hers and it is she who selects between Ireland’s mightiest men.
My research into these females was as invigorating as the art and poetry they inspire. This is why, when I was invited to be part of the very important ÉIRÍ project, it felt like our goddesses are indeed rising. For now it is time that iconic females are recognised for the very important roles they play in protecting our word - its past, present and future.”