The Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan, live performances at The Pearse Museum, Rathfarnham and the Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality, Sandycove
The Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan, live performances at The Pearse Museum, Rathfarnham and the Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality, Sandycove
October 15 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am IST
The Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan is a live multidisciplinary performance reflecting on trees and forests, the importance of biodiversity and our connections to nature – featuring theatre, poetry and movement.
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Artists
Mary Moynihan, writer, poet, creator of art and photography, Artistic Director, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality, Arts Curator for the annual International Irish Arts and Human Rights festival
Carla Ryan, Actor
Freda Manweiler, Company Manager and Producer, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality
Ciara Hayes, Producer, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality
Full Event Details
“Incredible show, wonderful performers”
“An immersive experience that brought the history of Ireland alive”
“Wonderful performers, beautiful movement and storytelling”
The Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan, is a live, immersive, multidisciplinary performance blending theatre, poetry and movement, to celebrate the beauty of trees and forests, the importance of biodiversity, and our connections to nature. It beautifully intertwines performance art with environmental themes and Celtic traditions. The Art of Trees invites us to walk in nature, to leave behind a world filled with straight lines, computer screens, concrete blocks, and clock time, to explore why tree cover in Ireland has fallen so low, and to reflect on the role trees play in our ecosystem. Audiences are invited to join us as we walk through history and nature and rediscover the magic of woodlands.
Following an international tour to Athens, Greece; Frankfurt, Germany and Saville, Spain, The Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan returns to Dublin due to popular demand for nine performances only. Seven outdoors performances take place at The Pearse Museum and Saint Enda’s Park, Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16, D16 Y7Y5 from 15 to 18 October 2025 – on Wednesday 15 October 10am and 12pm; Thursday 16 October 10am and 12pm; Friday 17 October 10am and 12pm; and Saturday 18 October 1pm. The Meeting Point is outside the entrance to Pearse Museum Reception.
Two indoor performances take place at the Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Centre, 30 Sandycove Road, Dublin A96V9P1 on Saturday 18 October, 7.30pm and Sunday 19 October, 2pm. Tickets €15/10.
Nature is in trouble. Ireland has declared a climate and a biodiversity emergency. As President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins said if we were coal miners we would be up to our knees in dead canaries. Despite our green image we need to do more. Ireland has lost many of its native woods. It is estimated that only eleven per cent of Ireland is currently under forest cover, much lower than most European countries. Finland for example has over 70 percent forest cover while Spain has over 35 percent. How can we celebrate the life of woodlands and connect more with nature, to support the planet that gives us life and sustains us? What can we do to stop the felling and destruction of trees?
In the performance, Brigid of Kildare, patron saint of Ireland has returned from the past. She invites us to join her in the forest and enter the world of trees. Brigid takes us on a journey through the history of trees from the Ice Age to present times, exploring how forests have changed over thousands of years. Listen to stories about the ancient, sacred trees of Ireland such as oak, ash, birch, hazel and hawthorn and explore the wonders of a Celtic tradition of trees and forests where magic can happen.
The show is a theatrically staged fusion of theatre, poetry, story, dance and music and is a dazzling storytelling performance suitable for all ages that is fun, magical and sparking, exploring what can be done to save our sacred trees and ancient woods.
The Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan is part of The Trees Project: Raising Environmental Awareness Through Performing Arts, a project led by Dah Theatre, Serbia and supported by Creative Europe. www.performtrees.eu
The Trees Project
The Trees project supported by Creative Europe is led by Dah Teatar, Belgrade, Serbia. The partners are Action Synergy SA, Greece; Theatro Aeroploio – Ena Theatro Giapaidia, Greece; Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality, Ireland; Grenland Friteater AS, Norway; Centro de Arte Producciones Teatrales SL, Spain; Protagon – Freunde Und Foerderer Freier Theateraktion, Germany and Stichting Zid, Netherlands.
As part of the Trees project, Smashing Times and partners are using creative processes and the performing arts to connect with citizens through a multi-disciplinary approach, raising awareness of the importance of nature in our world today with a focus on bio-diversity and our connections to trees, seas, skies, mountains and land. As part of the Trees project artists from Smashing Times attended a Euroeso Conference on the 22 April 2024 in Belgrade, Serbia and a Trees conference and training programme in Belgrade Serbia from 23-28 April, 2024. Two outreach community workshops on trees and environmental sustainability were conducted by artist Carmen Ortiz Victorino with local community participants in Dublin, Ireland.
The Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan was commissioned for The Trees project. The play creates an extraordinary atmosphere in nature’s setting as we reflect on the role of trees in our ecosystem, the importance of nature in our lives today and themes of biodiversity, climate preservation and climate change. Join us as we enjoy nature and explore how to be proactive in the face of climate change and making Europe climate friendly with a focus on biodiversity and the interconnectedness of the world around us. This project is open to all citizens, communities and artists, and to key stakeholders in the fields of theatre, arts, science, environment, education, business and human rights.
IRISH AND EUROPEAN TOUR DATES: The Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan enjoyed a successful run at The Pearse Museum, St. Enda’s Park, in October 2024, as part of the annual Arts and Human Rights festival prior to bringing its powerful message to audiences across Europe as part of an international tour in 2025 to Athens, Greece (July); Frankfurt, Germany (August) and Saville, Spain (October).
Smashing Times were delighted to perform The Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan at the Fallen Trees festival in Veikou Park, Athens, Greece, on 20 July 2025, and at the Sommerwerft Festival at Weselerwerft, Frankfurt, Germany on 2 August 2025. Performers and artists on tour included Carmen Ortiz Victorino, Fiona Bawn-Thompson, Carla Ryan, Martin Shannon, Hina Khan and Ciara Hayes. The performances took place outdoors enabling unique connection between the audiences and the theme of the importance of nature and biodiversity. The audience reception at both performances was fantastic, with full house at each performance. Audience members enjoyed taking part in our ‘living artwork’ which is a piece of interactive visual art created by visual artist Hina Khan. A partial image of a tree has been drawn on a large piece of paper which lays on the ground beside the performance. Audiences are invited to add to the art work at the end of each performance. In this way, the image grows at every show, with input from people across Europe and Ireland. The show will tour to Seville, Spain on the 9 October 2025 as part of the TREES Creative Europe project.
Following the international tour to Athens, Greece; Frankfurt, Germany and Saville, Spain, The Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan returns due to popular demand to The Pearse Museum and Saint Enda’s Park, Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16, D16 Y7Y5 for seven performances only from 15 to 18 October 2025 and to the Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Centre, Sandycove, for two performances only on Saturday 18 October, 7.30pm and Sunday 19 October, 1pm. Tickets €15/10
The Pearse Museum and St Enda’s Park
The Pearse Museum and St Enda’s Park was where Patrick Pearse lived and ran his innovative Irish-speaking school, Scoil Éanna, between 1910 to 1916. The Pearse Museum houses a fascinating exhibition on the life of Patrick and William Pearse who were both executed for their part in the 1916 Rising in Ireland. The museum showcases the historic house where Pearse, his family and students once lived and worked.
The Pearse Museum is situated within St Enda’s Park which covers nearly twenty hectares of attractive parkland in Rathfarnham, Dublin. The park contains a wild river called Whitechurch Stream which joins the Owendoher river which flows into the river Dodder, as well as forested areas with an abundance of trees including oak and hawthorn and a series of enchanting eighteenth and nineteenth century follies.
St Enda’s Park is situated in Rathfarnham and is a designated National Historic Park run and maintained by the OPW. The park has many wonderful trees and they line the walls of the park and the avenues. One of the most common trees in the park is the Monterey Cypress which was planted along the avenues of the grounds. There are also Horse chestnut, Sycamore, Willow, Larch, Pine trees and Beech trees. Native Trees in the park include Yew, Oak, Ash, Birch and Alder. Shrubs that are common in the park are Hawthorn which is important for birds nesting, Holly and Laurel.
Share your favourite Tree
Tell us about your favourite tree? Take a picture and send it in with ideally the name of the tree, it’s location and a photograph. Even if you only have a photograph send it on and tell us what you enjoy about the tree. Send it to admin@smashingtimes.ie
There are many famous trees in Ireland. We have hanging trees, trees at holy wells, trees associated with historic events and trees that are important to communities. There is the ‘Hungry’ Tree at King’s Inns, Dublin, the tree appears to be eating or swallowing a bench! We have Lady Gregory’s famous ‘Autograph’ Tree at Coole Park in Galway. It is a copper beech signed by the writer W. B. Yeats and his brother the painter Jack, and by writers such as George Bernard Shaw, Sean O’Casey and other famous people.
Enjoy the wide variety of wonderful trees at St Enda’s Park in Rathfarnham, Dublin, including Monterey Cypress, Horse chestnut, Sycamore, Willow, Larch, Pine trees and Beech and our native trees including Yew, Oak, Ash, Birch and Alder.
The Social Life of Trees
“A forest is much more than what you see,” says ecologist Suzanne Simard. Her 30 years of research in Canadian forests have led to an astounding discovery — trees talk, often and over vast distances. Watch Suzanne’s Tedex talk to learn more about the harmonious yet complicated social lives of trees and prepare to see the natural world with new eyes.
Speaker Biographies:
Mary Moynihan MA
Writer of Novels, Poetry, Films, Plays
Creator of Art and Photography
Creative Reflections on Arts, Creativity, Equality, Leadership and Self-Esteem
Mary Moynihan, MA, she/her, is an award-winning author of novels, poetry, films and plays, and a creator of art and photography. Mary is from Dublin, Ireland. Mary embarked upon her award-winning career as a writer in theatre and film and has garnered much acclaim for her plays, poetry and short film scripts, and for creating interdisciplinary artworks combining writing and photography presented in galleries and online. She established and became Artistic Director of Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and is Artistic Curator for the annual Dublin Arts and Human Rights festival. Mary has an honours BA in Drama and Theatre Studies from Trinity College Dublin and an honours Masters in Film Production from TU Dublin.
After raising four children, now adults, Mary dedicated her time to becoming a writer. She writes fiction for young people and adults featuring stories of courage, laughter, tragedy, happiness, love, death and action-packed adventures. Mary is the author of a young adult fantasy novel Amergin and the Warriors of Zen. In her adult fiction, Mary’s characters are clever, fearless, vulnerable, crazy, strong, and dangerous, looking for love, fun, success and happiness. Her work promises enthralling plots, dramatic lives, lots of laughs, serious flirting and sexual intrigue and insights into love, happiness, creativity and meaning in life.
Mary pens a series of articles titled Creative Reflections on Arts, Creativity, Leadership and Self-Esteem which appear in the Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality newsletter and on Mary’s website marymoynihan.ie
In her free time Mary loves to spend time with her four adult children and hang out with friends. She swims in the sea all year round. She loves the ocean, sky and moon and has a spiritual connection to the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea, to the environs of Dublin bay and to the mystical landscapes of Valentia Island and the surrounding Iveragh peninsula in County Kerry, her spiritual home. She is a big fan of the Dublin Gaelic football and hurling teams.
Smashing Times
Mary is Artistic Director of Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality working collaboratively with artists and over fifty organisations across Ireland, Northern Ireland, Europe and internationally, using the arts to promote rights and values for all. Company patrons are Sabina Higgins; Joan Freeman, founder of Pieta House; Ger Ryan, actor and Tim Pat Coogan, writer and historian. Founding patrons were writers Maeve Binchy and Brian Friel.
Mary is Artistic Curator for the annual, international Dublin Arts and Human Rights festival implemented by Smashing Times and Front Line Defenders with Amnesty International, Fighting Words, ICCL, NWCI, Irish Modern Dance Theatre, Trócaire, Poetry Ireland and Irish Pen, and funded by The Arts Council. The festival highlights the extraordinary work of human rights defenders in Ireland and around the world, past and present, and the role of the arts and artists in promoting human rights today.
Awards
Mary’s work has won a number of awards, including the Allianz Business to Arts Special Judges DAA Arts Award at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, the international and prestigious #ArtsAgainstCovid award from the Arts in Health International Foundation and an Arts Council Agility Award. Mary was awarded a Project Award from The Arts Council to write a new work with a range of collaborators titled The Feeling Soul, inspired by stories of women poets from ancient and modern Ireland.
Writer of Novels, Poetry, Films and Plays
Mary is the author of the epic spoken word poem ‘Ode to a Coolock Queen’’, written from a female perspective and exploring identity, gender, violence, passion, self-destruction and possible redemption. An attempt as Sylvia Plath says ‘to be true to my own weirdnesses’. It is an oral storytelling narrative that is about a broader reflection on what it is to be born out of a working class environment. This poem is in homage to all people from working-class communities who find their strength and become their own kings and queens like warriors from an ancient past.
Mary is the author of a young adult fantasy novel Amergin and the Warriors of Zen. As a playwright, Mary’s work includes the highly acclaimed The Woman is Present: Women’s Stories of WWII co-written with Paul Kennedy, Fiona Thompson and Féilim James; Memorial Monologues: The Path of Memory; Tales of Love and Loss featuring two monologues selected by President Michael D Higgins for performance at Áras an Uachtaráin, Constance and Her Friends and Grace and Joe for performance in 2023; In One Breath from the award-winning Testimonies(co-written with Paul Kennedy); Shadow of My Soul and May Our Faces Haunt You.
Plays for children and young people include Gathering on the Pond, a comedy play on the environment by Mary Moynihan and Aoife Reilly; Love the Earth by Mary Moynihan – A Change-Makers Storytelling session for ages 5 to 12 years adapted from three stories – The Water Princess, The Hummingbird, and The Salmon of Knowledge – from Goal’s Global Citizenship Education Resource; and Four Great Plays for Young Children, a series of short plays suitable for performance by children ages 5 to 12 years – The Children of Lir, The Three Bears, The Princess Play and Legend of the Dragon Kings
Mary has a focus on using historical memory in her artistic practice as inspiration for the creation of original artworks. A number of her writings highlight stories of ordinary yet extraordinary women who stood up for the rights of others with a focus on the Holocaust, WWII and the revolutionary period in Irish history.
Mary’s documentary film work includes The Shoah: A Survivor’s Memory – The World’s Legacy, adapted from the writings of French woman Simone Veil (1927-2017), a French lawyer, politician and feminist, Holocaust survivor and first female President of the European Parliament; the creative documentary Women in an Equal Europe; the short film Letter to a Human Rights Defender based on words by Mary Lawlor, a Human Rights Defender, founder of Front Line Defenders and UN Ambassador on Human Rights Defenders; the hour-long documentary Stories from the Shadows reflecting on the arts in peacebuilding in Northern Ireland (co-directed with Mark Quinn); You Matter, a filmed interview with social justice campaigner Dil Wickremasinhge and the short documentary Acting for the Future on the role of the arts to promote positive mental health and well-being and suicide prevention for Travellers in Ireland.
Keep in touch with Mary on:
Tel: + 00 353 (0) 87 7438722
Email: marymoynihanarts@gmail.com
Website: MaryMoynihan.ie
Follow Mary on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
Carla Ryan is an actor, singer and songwriter from Meath. She trained in TU Dublin’s Conservatory of Music and Drama and Columbia College Chicago studying Drama (Performance). She has been working with Smashing Times as an actor since 2016. Professional acting credits include Ettie in At Summers End, Nadine in Shadow of My Soul and Grace Gifford in Grace and Joe. Her performance of Grace and Joe was hand selected by President Michael D. Higgins to be shown at Áras an Uachtarain for Culture Night 2016.
Carla is one half of the alt-pop duo ELKIN. Carla and best friend, Ellen were writing and singing together from the age of 15 before taking their music to a new level as ELKIN. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Joni Mitchell the duo began writing and performing folk-pop, but it wasn’t until they began working with producer lullahush that ELKIN blended their love of thought-provoking folk lyrics with fierce alt-pop production. ELKIN have played at venues and festivals across Ireland including Longitude and Electric Picnic. In 2020 the duo were awarded funding from The First Music Contact Recording Stimulus Grant to record their debut EP Instant Hit, set for release early 2022.
Organisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):
