Lá le Bríde: A Celebration of Imbolc
Immersive Light Installation
Performance
Light Projection
Artist Talks
Saturday, 31 January 2026
5 pm – 8 pm
A sensory encounter
Imbolc marks the first event of the year by ciarraí art nexus. It celebrates the collective power that emerges when people and communities come together through art — to reflect, exchange ideas, and remain open to new ways of seeing.
In this spirit, we honour St Brigid’s vision of equality, generosity, care for the land, and the transformative power of creativity as a force for renewal and justice.
Audiences can look forward to a wine reception and three distinctive artistic encounters, each inviting participation in unexpected and meaningful ways and responding to shared themes of perception, connection, ecology, and storytelling.
The programme
Wine reception, gathering and launch
Presented by ciarraí art nexus
When: 5:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Where: The Old Penal Church,
Cahersiveen
Seolta Sídhe
Róisín Ní Chionnfhaolaidh
Immersive light installation and
artist talk
When: 5:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Where: The Old Penal Church,
Cahersiveen
Resisting Reductionism – We’ll Tell Our Own Stories
Deborah Birmingham
(Dalia Alnajjar, performance assistant)
Performance
When: 6:00 pm – 6:20 pm
Where: Start at The Old Abbey of the Holy Cross, across from The Penal Church to The Holy Well,
Cahersiveen
I Look to You
Eileen Haring Woods
Light Projection and artist talk
When: 6:20 pm – 6:40 pm
Where: Dan’s Gallery, 5 Main Street,
Cahersiveen
An evening of experience and dialogue
The event was a great success, welcoming over 90 art-curious and culturally engaged visitors throughout the evening. Audiences moved fluidly between installations, projections, and locations, returning to works, and immersing themselves more deeply as the night unfolded. This ongoing movement and exchange culminated in lively conversations and a rich Q&A session with the artists, opening up an inspiring and thoughtful dialogue.
The locations
The evening begins with the wine reception at 5:00 pm at The Old Penal Church, where the first installation and projection will also take place.
Further details on start times can be found in the overview above as well as in the individual event descriptions.
Both the light projection and the light installation will run until at least 8 pm, allowing plenty of time to revisit the works at your own pace and to speak with the artists about their projects.
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Photographs and video recordings may be taken during all events. These may be used for publicity, documentation, or promotional purposes, including on our website, social media channels, and printed materials.
In accordance with Irish data protection law and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), individuals have the right to privacy regarding their personal data, which includes identifiable images. By entering the event premises or taking part in tours, you acknowledge that photographs or video footage may be taken in which you could appear. If you do not wish to be recorded or photographed, please inform a member of staff on site.Photographs of Children and Young People
We take the protection of children seriously. No identifiable images of children under the age of 16 will be published without the prior written consent of a parent or legal guardian. In the absence of such consent, children will not be photographed or recorded in a way that makes them personally identifiable.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all participants and supporters whose contributions made this cultural dialogue possible.
A special thanks goes to Geoffrey O’Connor for making the Old Penal Church exclusively for this event available for use. Their support is invaluable in making these projects possible.
