Dinnseanchas
Envisioning the Uplands
Many of Ireland’s upland communities are suffering depopulation, reduced farm incomes and the loss of the Irish language. At the same time, many iconic species and habitats are also in decline. The changing climate is causing wetter and more extreme weather.
What does the future hold? Can Dinnseanchas - lore and knowledge of place - help us to navigate this future?
In modern Irish, dinnseanchas means "topography"; the arrangement of features in a landscape. However, the word has an older meaning that describes the lore of a place. It is associated with accounts of the place names, traditions, events and characters of particular areas.Hometree’s Dinnseanchas Project incorporates both of these aspects while taking a forward-looking approach in exploring the communities, landscapes, habitats, and economies of Ireland’s Atlantic uplands. Lead by a team of artists, ecologists, and communicators, Dinnseanchas aims to support upland communities in understanding the radical role they could play in mitigating the impacts of climate change, the biodiversity crisis, and socio-economic issues such as depopulation. 
practice
During this residency, I am immersed in the rhythms of the Corca Dhuibhne uplands, shadowing and learning about the complexities of this changing landscape from local farmers in particular, and engaging in conversations with ecologists, friends and neighbours who are interested in the future of our area.
So far, I've used photography, visual scribing (graphic recording), and participatory workshops as methods to creatively explore different ways of seeing and imagining the future of the uplands. I took part in our local agricultural show, a summer festival and designed gatherings such as workshops and walks as spaces for dialogue. For the first stage of this project, these conversations have culminated in a book chapter, weaving together voices, insights and possibilities that emerged through these conversations. In the next stage, I will explore how to tell the story of the Corca Dhuibhne uplands through the medium of a soundwalk.Ardnaculla Summer School 2024 - 'Creativity and Change' with Tania Banotti, Zoë Rush and Shane Finan (talk)Another Love Story 2024 - 'Embodying Systems' with Jennifer Ahern & Zoë Rush (workshop)Feile na Beltaine 2025 - 'Walking in the Stories of our Mountains' (workshop)Ardnaculla Summer School 2025 - 'Systems That Shape Our Mountains' with Jennifer Ahern & Zoë Rush (workshop) & Footprints (soundwalk - work in progress)Earth Rising Festival IMMA 2025 - Dinnseanchas
