CASADH NA TAOIDE – an epic cultural journey connecting five offshore islands

Laoise Kelly is part of a crew setting off on an epic voyage, reconnecting five islands off the Galway, Mayo and Donegal coasts through music, song and story. Travelling on a traditional Galway Hooker – Mac Duach – led by skipper Dr. Michael Brogan, the crew will visit the islands of Inishbofin (Galway), Inishturk (Mayo), Clare Island (Mayo), Achill Island (Mayo) and Árainn Mhór (Donegal), meeting musicians, artists, storytellers and historians along the way. the next couple of weeks will see Laoise and fellow crew member and Achill native, Diarmuid Gielty, reconnecting with island communities on these offshore islands. They will gather stories of shared heritage and culture, with the hope of forging new connections for a shared future.

In addition to the voyage, an artist has been commissioned on each island to collaborate, compose and create a new body of work, which will be recorded and will feature as the Friday night performance of this year’s Achill International Harp Festival in October. The commissioned artists are as follows:

Inishbofin – Andrew Murray, singer;

Inishturk – Cathy O’Toole, musician;

Clare Island – Beth Moran, weaver;

Achill – Mary Lavelle Burke, RIP, visual artist;

Árainn Mhór – Proinsias Mac a’Bhaird, writer.

Casadh na Taoide commenced today, Friday 16th July 2021, as Laoise and Diarmuid and the crew of the Mac Duach embark on this unique voyage, beginning with a visit to Oileán Mhic Dara. They will then continue their journey onto Inishbofin, Inishturk and Clare Island, then to Achill Island and finally to Arranmore, sharing the love of music, story and culture that always existed between these island communities that are bridged by the sea and shaped by the tide. then to Achill Island and finally to Arranmore, sharing the love of music, story and culture that always existed between these island communities that are bridged by the sea and shaped by the tide.

Follow their journey on Facebook @CnaTaoide, Twitter @CasadhnaTaoide, and Instagram Casadh na Taoide