Briathra Talún / Words from the Land
Artist: Noah Rose
Location: Páirc a’ Tobair, Irishtown, Co. Mayo.
Title: Briathra Talún / Words from the Land
Medium: Corteen steel sculpture and publication
Date: 2025
Briathra Talún / Words from the Land; a public art project by artist Noah Rose, culminating in a sculptural installation at Páirc a Tobair in Irishtown village and a publication. This commission presented a unique opportunity for an artist to engage with a close-knit community that takes great pride in its village and its historical significance. Following an open competition, Noah Rose was selected to take on the commission.
Noah Rose is an accomplished artist with extensive experience of developing and making public artworks. Through thorough research and consultation, the artist eventually focused on the historical significance of the 1879 Irishtown Tenant Right Meeting. An interest in archival research, the Irish language, and history all inform his contemporary arts practice and made his approach particularly relevant to this context. These interests are reflected in both the final artwork and accompanying publication. The sculptural installation consists of twelve Corten steel columns with laser-cut quotations in Irish and English from archival sources. .
The launch of Briathra Talún / Words from the Land, took place on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at Páirc a’ Tobair, Irishtown, Co. Mayo. There was a great turnout to the launch which was well attended by the local community and others who had travelled especially. Attendees were welcomed by Kenneth Cosgrove, Irishtown Community Development Company and Mary Freeley, local resident who spoke about the Cluain a Tobair housing development. Dr. Andrew Newby, Senior Lecturer in Transnational and Comparative History at the University of Jyväskylä gave a vivid talk on the historical context of the 1879 Irishtown Tenant Right Meeting. The artwork was officially launched by Councillor Damien Ryan, Cathaoirleach Claremorris Swinford MD who commented:
Noah has created a wonderful artwork which highlights the significance of Irishtown village in Irish history. It is a wonderful addition to Páirc a’ Tobair and indeed to the collection of public artworks in County Mayo. I am sure the residents, local community and visitors to Irishtown will enjoy this artwork over the coming years where it will be enjoyed by many people, young and old.
Finally, Noah Rose led a guided tour and talk of Briathra Talún/ Words from the Land around Páirc a’ Tobair. Noah gave an insight into his artistic process which is underpinned by an interest in archival research, the Irish language, and history. He spoke about his time researching newspaper articles in the local history archive, Mayo County Library and the challenges of translating the source material to the laser cut steel.
This commission is part of Mayo County Council’s Public Art Programme, funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the Per Cent for Art Scheme. This funding enables the council to commission high quality and ambitious contemporary art for the public in everyday settings throughout county Mayo.
About the artist
Noah Rose is an artist based in Headford, County Galway and working internationally. He specialises in creating sculptural work for public space, always developed in response to context, through original research, and often incorporating community engaged practice. His work is fundamentally interested in investigating the nature of what defines a place, its specific qualities, within its geographical, cultural and socio-historical context. Working through a variety of media including sculpture, drawing, installation, photography and archival research, his practice is rooted in a passionate desire to understand connections between the past and present. He has undertaken a significant number of public art commissions across Ireland, the UK and internationally. Notable commissions and residencies undertaken in Mayo include: ‘Changing Tracks’ (2014), a pan-European public art programme that led to a sculptural installation along the Great Western Greenway and the Tír Sáile Research Residency (2017) in collaboration with artist Selma Makela.
For more information about the Public Art Programme visit: https://www.mayo.ie/arts/public-art.
For more information about this project contact Aoife O’Toole, Public Art Coordinator, Mayo Arts Service, Mayo County Council: aotoole@mayococo.ie; 094 9064376.