TINY LITTLE HISTORIES
Audio and Photographic Exhibition of Community Stories in Limerick
Tiny Little Histories, a community sharing programme that brings untold histories from the Midwest to life.
Through a collaborative arts methodology, Tiny Little Histories embraces a layer of oral history that too often disappears with the passing of generations. The project was piloted in 2021, inspired by the work of the Place Based Curriculum in Leeds. The GAFF with Creative Communities Midwest invited artists and community groups to share cultural and historical experiences with the intention to bring them to public audiences through digital platforms.
Then, working with UK based artist Lowri Evans and curator Maeve McGrath, artists working with community groups excavated these stories, bringing them into the public domain through this audio installation.
TINY LITTLE HISTORIES
The Tiny Little Histories Audio artists are:
Niamh O’Brien | The Ban | Kildimo, Co.Limerick
John Lillis | Black Helicopter | Liscannor, Co. Clare.
Frank Einstein | Back in Them Days | Limerick City
Seán Horgan | Intergenerational Exchange | Ennis, Co.Clare
Helena Enright | Island Banks | Limerick City
Monica Spencer | Living in a Castle | Limerick City
Patrick O’Brien | Peacock | Newcastle West, Co.Limerick
Mairéad Spillane | Women in Contemplative Life | Limerick City
Eoin O Kelly | Our Little Eden | Limerick City
Diarmuid McIntyre | Ballyriggan | Kilfinane, Co.Limerick
Photographic artist: Seán O’Riordan
These seldom heard stories feature Metallica’s visit to Liscannor, the part played by the Island baths in the 1950s/60s in the lives of the local children, a unique glimpse into the reality of living within an enclosed community in 1950s Limerick, the peacocks that roamed Newcastle West, sights and sounds of Ennis of old, an exploration of the living conditions and circumstances of the Travelling Community, and recollections of growing up in a housing estate inside the walls of King John’s Castle.
The stories will be stored online as a long term, accessible arts and community resource.
The GAFF is supported by The Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíonn and Limerick Arts Office in the delivery of its work and thanks the Limerick City Gallery Of Art (LCGA) for supporting the delivery of this project.
The GAFF received funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Irish Government under the Community Enhancement Programme and graciously acknowledge support from The Arts Council, Limerick City and County Council and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government under the Social Intervention Fund