10 April 2015

Simon Harris TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) today (10 April) welcomed an event today which is effectively the twinning of two cultural centres in Ireland and Scotland with a simultaneous launch of exhibitions in both centres.

The Great Blasket Centre in Kerry will host an exhibition entitled 'The Sgeulacht Hiort - Scéal Hiort - the St Kilda Story' from Taigh Chearsabhagh Arts and Cultural Centre in Lochmaddy on the Isle of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The Taigh Chearsabhagh Arts and Cultural Centre will host an exhibition from the Great Blasket Centre called 'Fairscin Inise', a compilation of historic photos from the Great Blasket which has already been shown in the Blasket Centre.

The two exhibitions will be opened simultaneously in both Centres with musicians, artists and special guests from both countries present to celebrate the occasion.

Wishing the event well today, Minister Harris said: "I am delighted to convey my best wishes to this collaboration. The OPW Great Blasket Centre or Ionad An Bhlascaoid is such a evocative visitor centre, perched as it is on the Dingle Peninsula, telling the story of the heritage of the Blasket Island, the Islanders and their way of life has a resonance with the story and heritage of the Isle of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides. I have no doubt that both exhibitions will be well attended and enjoyed by all".

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If you wish to interview Minister Harris please contact Colette Davis, OPW Press Officer – mobile 087 9475552 or email colette.davis@opw.ie

Notes to Editors:

The two Cultural Centres are as follows:

OPW Great Blasket Centre in Dún Chaoin and Taigh Chearsabhagh Arts & Cultural Centre, situated in Lochmaddy, on the Isle of North Uist, in the Outer Hebrides (or Western Isles) of Scotland.

Both exhibitions, which were created and curated by the respective cultural centres will be opened simultaneously c. 19.00 hrs on 10 April 2015.

Exhibition in Great Blasket Centre: The Sgeulacht Hiort - Scéal Hiort - The St. Kilda Story exhibition, which consists of information panels and a 'Virtual St. Kilda' installation, is to be launched in the Blasket Centre by well known author and seafarer, Danny Mac an tSíthigh, from Baile Eaglaise.

Guest of honour on the occasion will be John MacDonald, now living in Kinsale, Cork, but whose father, Calum MacDonald was born on St. Kilda. Calum MacDonald is the author of a book entitled 'From Cleits to Castles' (The Islands Book Trust, 2010) and its his autobiography, detailing life on the remote St. Kilda, followed by his leaving to pursue a career in London.

It is also hoped to also show film footage made on St. Kilda three years ago by Doncha Mac Con Iomaire, a young film producer from Conamara, who made a series of films, subsequently broadcast on TG4, about his sojourns to the Scottish Isles in a Galway Hooker.

Exhibition in Taigh Chearsabhagh, North Uist, Outer Hebrides, Scotland: This exhibition, entitled 'Fairscin Inise' is a compilation of historic photos from the Great Blasket, which has already been shown in the Centre and in other locations in Ireland. 'The Blasket Island - A Photographic Portrait/ An Blascaod Mór - Portráid Pictiúr' photo book (de Mórdha Dáithí & Mícheál, The Collins Press, Cork, 2013) is based on this exhibition.

Present at the opening in Taigh Chearsabhagh will be Mícheál de Mórdha, Bainisteoir of OPW Blasket Centre and two noted musicians from West Kerry - Breándan Ó Beaglaíoch and Feargal Mac Amhlaoibh, an authority on Blasket island music.This venture is supported by The Colm Cille initiatiave and by both Taigh Chearsabhagh and OPW Ionad An Bhlascaoid.

http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/blascaod/

http://www.taigh-chearsabhagh.org

http://www.kilda.org.uk  

http://www.taigh-chearsabhagh.org/2015/03/fairscin-inise-an-island-portrait/