Creative surges

This was the least interesting but most photogenic segment of a fascinating evening at our local theatre, devoted to holy wells here in Pembrokeshire and in Co. Wexford Ireland. 

The event was the launch of a series of five chapbooks devoted to holy wells on both sides of the Irish Sea, commissioned and published by the Pembs. County Council Ancient Connections initiative set up to create and reinforce artistic and cultural links between the two coasts.

 I had, naturally, been charged by Freespiral with purchasing the chapbooks, which turned out to be very nicely produced small selections of work by some of the artists, writers, storytellers and historians involved in the project.
(There's also an album of music but I didn't stay to listen to the live performance.)

This image is a cyanotype on the theme of water, one of several by Irish photographer Catriona Dunnett. It was preceded by a story written and told - with great verve -  by Wexford storyteller Michelle Dooley Mahon  about a disturbing 'cure' performed by a rustic healer.

The county of Wexford is littered with Holy Wells, places that have sprung from the ground like mushrooms after rain. There are mapped Holy Wells  and those known locally only to the people who frequent them. 
(I'm sure this resonates with everyone who's been following Freespiral's peregrinations in Cork and Kerry over the years.)

Another chapbook author who spoke was Phil Cope, the Welsh well guru (extra).  I have his book Holy Wells of Wales but had not met him before so this was a welcome opportunity. We shared affectionate memories of my dear friend and teacher Nicole Crossley-Holland who not only lived beside a holy well but died beside it too, a fact I only discovered when Phil's book was published in 2020
See here for full story 
 https://www.blipfoto.com/entry/2695966983597329570

All in all a very interesting evening - thank you Freespiral for providing the incentive!