A newly commissioned audio-based artwork
POST_ is an audio-based artwork by Deirdre O’Mahony designed to allow hospital patients, staff, and the wider public to imaginatively visit familiar parts of the West of Ireland. Unfolding a portrait of aspects of rural life, it explores the power and connection between place, practice and nature in the west of Ireland.
Combining a scripted voice-over and ambient recordings made in regions served by Saolta University Health Care Group, POST_ is an immersive journey through the social, cultural, and natural sounds of a year’s passing, interweaving evocative sounds of a place shaped by wind and sea, with sounds from the home, farm, mart, and match, the artwork draws attention to the relationships between people, animals, the land, sea and sites of spiritual contemplation.
PRELUDE tells the story of a rural post office, a postmaster, and some of the objects and stories found in the building when it reopened as X-PO in 2007.
FARM looks to the land and the relationship between farming, landscape, animal care and daily life of the farm.
COAST travels from Downpatrick Head over and under the sea, back upstream finally ending with the sound of rolling pebbles on a shingle beach.
BOG moves from the sound of the lark to the strangely melodic, uncanny sound of windmills and back to the wind and water of the peatlands of the West of Ireland.
MOUNTAIN brings sounds of the high places – hazel woods creaking on hills, the rescue helicopter, the wild weather and the peace and quiet of Derryclare.
HOME speaks to family life, leisure and culture in rural Ireland – gardening, fishing, dancing, the agricultural show, and GAA finals.
WELL recalls sites of solace for the spirit – church bells, holy wells and the dawn chorus in an ancient Oak woodland.
Production, Writing and Editing: Deirdre O’Mahony
Sound Recording and Editing: John Brennan
Voiceover: Jack Healy
Commissioned by Saolta Arts in partnership with Galway 2020 for Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture Programme.
Further supported by an Arts Council Bursary Award (2018) and residency support from Ballinglen Art Foundation and Leitrim Sculpture Centre.
