UCC Creative Artists in Residence Series

UCC Creative Artists in Residence Series 2020/2021

UCC Creative hosted a series of Artist Residencies between October 2020 and January 2021 with workshops and public presentations by a stellar line-up of contemporary artists. Gifted playwright, actor and director John McCarthy offered a playwrighting workshop. Danny O’Mahony, a charismatic traditional musician, shared his vibrant connection to the music of North Kerry in his workshop. Danielle McLaughlin, an exceptional short story writer, who won both the Windham-Campbell Prize for Fiction and the Sunday Times Audible Short Story Award last year led a workshop on hope and happiness in short fiction. The renowned writer, filmmaker and theatre director Alan Gilsenan led a workshop on Truth in documentary and fiction films. Dance Artist and choreographer Siobhán Ní Dhuinnín explored the textures and gestures of situated space. You can find video documentation of the public events below. 

John McCarthy & Danny O’Mahony: Public Presentation

An online evening event exploring the works of playwright, actor and director John McCarthy, and traditional musician Danny O’Mahony. Both artists shared their practices and the themes they explored while in residency at UCC. The discussion revolved around contemporary playwriting and traditional music. This event took place on 29 October 2020.

Danielle McLaughlin: Public Presentation

Artist in Residence Danielle McLaughlin, winner of the Windham-Campbell Prize for fiction and of the Sunday Times Audible Short Story Award, explored the themes of happiness and hope in short stories in her UCC Creative workshop. In this public presentation, Danielle read some of her work in progress, discussed the writing craft, and invited a small number of participants to share their writing. This was a lively event on writing, happiness, fiction, and hope were the audience experienced several flash fiction stories read by the authors. The event was hosted by Professor Claire Connolly and took place on 26 November 2020.

Alan Gilsenan: Public Presentation

Alan Gilsenan explored the notion of truth in documentary and fiction filmmaking in his UCC Creative Residency. Alan is a writer, film-maker and theatre director who works across documentary, experimental work, and feature films. In this presentation, Alan showed short excerpts of his practice, discussed questions around truth in contemporary film making, and invited workshop participants to share some of their explorations. The event was hosted by Professor of Creative Practice Jools Gilson and took place on 22 December 2020.

Siobhán Ní Dhuinnín: Public Presentation

Dance artist and choreographer Siobhán Ní Dhuinnín explored notions of site with the body and the senses in her UCC Creative Residency, leading the group through curious investigations around the connections between people and places. In this Public Presentation, Siobhán invited the audience to drop into their bodies in a guided seated exploration, shared some of her practice and discussed her process. A small number of workshop participants read their scores. The event was hosted by Jools Gilson, Professor of Creative Practice and took place on 28 January 2021.