Song of the Farmer and the Dung Beetle

A new work commissioned by Eco Showboat called The Song of the Farmer and the Dung Beetle, was performed live on the shores of the Barrow by vocal artist and performer Siobhan Kavanagh and multidisciplinary artist Michelle Doyle.

Deirdre has been engaging with farmers in the region, looking at soil health and regenerative agriculture as strategies for adding conservation and biodiversity value to farming and water quality. This new work focuses on the work of Kilkenny farmer Suzanna Crampton, who has been instrumental in raising issues about the importance of dung beetles and their role in converting manure into nutrients to maintain a healthy soil and water ecology.

The artwork is a collaboration between Deirdre, Michelle and Siobhan to transform Deirdre’s research recordings of soil creatures including dung beetles, with excerpts from interviews with Suzanna Crampton into The Song of the Farmer and the Dung Beetle.

Produced and Directed by Deirdre O’Mahony and performed by Michelle Doyle and Siobhan Kavanagh.

Audio sounds and music by Siobhan Kavanagh, Michelle Doyle with Deirdre O’Mahony and  performed in St Mullin’s, County Carlow on July 29th 2023.

Commissioned by Eco Showboat Art Project, curated by the School of Looking through support from the Arts Council.