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SUMMARY:Launch of the Eighth Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival 2026
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nBarry Ward\, TD\, Dunlaoghaire-Rathdown \n\n\n\nRichard Boyd Barrett\, TD\, Dunlaoghaire-Rathdown \n\n\n\nMary Moynihan\, Writer\, Poet and Creator of Art and Photography; Artistic Director\, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality; Arts Curator\, Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival. Role on the night: Artist Talk and Poetry Reading \n\n\n\nAlan Glasgow\, CEO\, Front Line Defenders. Role on the Night: Guest Speaker \n\n\n\nHina Khan\, Visual Artist and Artist from Voices of Peace. Role on the Night: Guest Speaker \n\n\n\nCiara Hayes\, Producer\, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality. Role on the night: Performance of a monologue from Memorial Monologues: The Path of Memory by Mary Moynihan \n\n\n\nBrendan Heade\, actor. Role on the Night: Guest Performer \n\n\n\nAndy Johnson\, actor. Role on the Night: Guest Performer \n\n\n\nÉanna Ó Brádagh.  Role on the night: MC \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nSmashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality\, Front Line Defenders and a range of partners are delighted to invite you to the opening reception and launch of the eight annual International Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival on Friday 9 October\, 7 to 9pm\, at 30 Sandycove Road\, Dublin A96V9P1. \n\n\n\nThe Irish annual international Arts and Human Rights festival is launched by key note speaker Barry Ward\, Teachta Dála (TD) for Dún Laoghaire. Our full line-up of guest speakers on the night are Alan Glasgow\, CEO\, Front Line Defenders; Hina Khan\, visual artist and Mary Moynihan\, writer\, poet\,  creator of art and photography\, and Artistic Director\, Smashing Times. Mary will do an artist talk and poetry reading. Enjoy a live performance of a monologue from Memorial Monologues: The Path of Memory Part II by Mary Moynihan\, performed by Ciara Hayes\, directed by Dr Eric Weitz; and live monologue performances by artists Brendan Heade and Andy Johnson\, in association with WALK\, supporting people with intellectual disabilities. \n\n\n\nIn addition to launching the annual international Irish Arts and Human Rights festival\, we are launching Voices of Peace\, a multidisciplinary exhibition supported by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council through the dlr Universal Grant Scheme\, reflecting on peace and human rights.  The launch culminates in refreshments and chat. \n\n\n\nThe annual international Irish Arts and Human Rights festival is presented by Smashing Times and Front Line Defenders\, and a range of partners\, from 9 to 18 October 2026\, with a range of events promoting equality\, human rights and diversity through the arts\, across Ireland and online. The festival showcases 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.   \n\n\n\nMemorial Monologues: The Path of Memory Live Performance \n\n\n\nThe evening features a live monologue performance from Memorial Monologues: The Path of Memory Part II by Mary Moynihan\, presented by Smashing times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and Front Line Defenders\, performed by Ciara Hayes\, directed by Dr Eric Weitz.  Memorial Monologues: The Path of Memory Parts I and II were commissioned by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and Frontline Defenders\, and written by Mary Moynihan. The full play is adapted from the words of nine brave and inspirational human rights defenders from around the world who were murdered because of their peaceful work defending the rights of others.   \n\n\n\nMonologue Performances \n\n\n\nBrendan Heade and Andy Johnson will each perform a monologue that encapsulates the spirit of the Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival. \n\n\n\nBrendan Heade will be performing a powerful piece from Scent of a Woman\, originally performed by Al Pacino\, exploring the theme of Justice. The scene highlights the importance of standing up for what is right\, finding your voice\, and having the courage to speak out when faced with injustice. Through this performance\, Brendan brings his passion for acting to life while exploring the powerful themes of integrity\, equality and justice. \n\n\n\nAndy Johnson is a Dublin-based actor with a passion for acting and performing. He has experience working in television\, including multiple appearances on RTÉ’s Fair City and an appearance in Witness No. 3 for Story Films and Channel 5. He has also taken part in television productions including Name That Tune\, Beat Shazam and Don’t Forget the Lyrics!. Andy started his acting training at Liberties College\, where he completed a Drama Foundation course. He then continued his training at the Gaiety School of Acting\, completing three Acting for Camera courses. In 2026\, he also completed Noel Brady’s Intensive Acting Showreel Course with Phoenix Artz Media. Andy has a strong interest in accents and voice work. His accents include Ulster English\, Cockney\, Scouse\, Scottish\, Spanish-accented English\, Modern California\, New York and Southern American. He also speaks Spanish. Andy is passionate about continuing to develop his acting skills and gaining more experience in film and television. His dream is to build a professional acting career\, work in film and television\, and inspire others to follow their own dreams and believe in what they can achieve. \n\n\n\nVoices of Peace Multidisciplinary Exhibition \n\n\n\nAudiences have the opportunity to view the Voices of Peace multidisciplinary exhibition featuring visual art\, photography\, poetry\, film and storytelling\, and reflecting on peace and human rights.  A series of powerful artworks are on display\, created in response to the theme of peace and human rights. The commissioned artists are Jessica Rodrigues\, Visual Artist; Gillian Lambe\, Visual Artist; Hina Khan\, Visual Artist\, Féilim James\, writer; Viktoriia Yevsiukova\, Visual Artist; and Mary Moynihan\, writer\, poet and creator of art and photography. The exhibition is presented as part of the Smashing Times Artist Development Programme and runs at the Smashing Times Visual Art Gallery\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Dublin A96V9P1\, from Wednesday 23 September to Sunday 29 November 2026\, Wednesday to Sunday 1-6pm daily. This exhibition is co-funded by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council through the dlr Universal Grant Scheme. \n\n\n\nKeynote Speaker: Barry Ward\, Teachta Dála (TD) for Dún Laoghaire. Fine Gael. \n\n\n\nBarry was elected as a member of Dáil Éireann in November 2024. Prior to that\, Barry served as a Senator\, and was Seanad spokesperson on Justice. A practicing barrister\, Barry is originally from Deansgrange. He was first elected to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in 2009\, representing the Blackrock Ward\, which also includes Booterstown\, Deansgrange\, Foxrock\, Monkstown and Stillorgan. Barry also served as Leader of the Fine Gael group on the Council. In 2020\, he was elected to the Industrial and Commercial Panel of the Seanad\, having stood in that year’s general election in the Dún Laoghaire constituency. \n\n\n\nOn the Council\, Barry worked tirelessly on various local issues including parks\, recycling\, public transport and cycling infrastructure\, climate action\, coastal issues and supporting local businesses. In the Seanad\, he has championed criminal justice reform\, and has a particular interest in education\, foreign affairs\, the environment and promoting the Irish language – ár dteanga náisiúnta. \n\n\n\nA sailor\, Barry has been vocal in his support for the Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI\, and speaks frequently about water safety and the need for the improvement of water quality in Dublin Bay. He is a member of the Oireachtas committees on Justice\, An Ghaeilge\, and Members’ Interests\, and is also an Irish Co-Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC). \n\n\n\nBarry has fought hard for gender and marriage equality and is a strong advocate for change. He is a leading voice in local campaigns\, such as the Sutton to Sandycove (S2S) Coastal Promenade and locating a new permanent home for Gaelscoil Laighean in Blackrock as well as providing strong contributions to discussions on ongoing international events in occupied Palestine\, Taiwan\, Hong Kong and Belarus\, even adopting a Belarusian political prisoner. \n\n\n\nIn his spare time\, Barry enjoys walks with his cocker spaniel\, Ruby\, on Dún Laoghaire Pier\, on Killiney Hill and in Cabinteely Park. He speaks Irish and French\, and hosts the Irish Legislation Podcast. \n\n\n\nOn the Council\, Barry worked tirelessly on various local issues including parks\, recycling\, public transport and cycling infrastructure\, climate action\, coastal issues and supporting local businesses. In the Seanad\, he has championed criminal justice reform\, and has a particular interest in education\, foreign affairs\, the environment and promoting the Irish language – ár dteanga náisiúnta. \n\n\n\nGuest Speaker: Richard Boyd Barrett\, TD\, Dún Laoghaire \n\n\n\nRichard Boyd Barrett (born 6 February 1967) is an Irish People Before Profit–Solidarity politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dún Laoghaire constituency since the 2011 general election. Boyd Barrett was previously a member of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council. He is also chair of the Irish Anti-War Movement\, and has been cited on war issues in the Irish media. \n\n\n\nPartner Organisations for Launch \n\n\n\nWALK is a unique association supporting people with intellectual disabilities and / or autism to discover their career and employment ambitions in life. WALK supports people with intellectual disabilities to have the right to work on an equal basis with others\, the right to live independently and be included in the community\, the right to an education and the right to take part on an equal basis with others in the cultural life of a community. \n\n\n\nFront Line Defenders (FLD) is an international human rights organisation founded in Dublin in 2001\, with the specific aim of protecting human rights defenders at risk (HRDs). FLD works to improve the security and protection of human rights defenders and organisations around the world at risk for their peaceful and legitimate human rights work. As identified by human rights defenders themselves\, FLD responds to protection and security needs by providing support through grants\, capacity building\, visibility\, networking\, and advocacy\, at the international\, regional and local levels. Front Line Defenders has been awarded the 2018 United Nations Human Rights Prize. Front Line Defenders maintains its headquarters in Dublin\, an EU Office in Brussels\, and regionally-based field staff in the Americas\, Asia\, Africa\, Europe & Central Asia\, and the Middle East. \n\n\n\nCongratulations to the 2026 Front Line Defenders Annual Award Winners \n\n\n\nOn behalf of the Irish Arts and Human Rights festival\, Smashing Times pay tribute to the Human Rights Defenders to be honoured in 2026 at the Front Line Defenders Annual Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk.  Each year Front Line Defenders announces the five winners of its top distinction\, the Front Line Defenders Annual Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk. The award was established in 2005 to honour the work of human rights defenders (HRDs) who are courageously making outstanding contributions to the promotion and protection of the human rights of others\, often at great personal risk to themselves. \n\n\n\nThe Award focuses international attention on the work and struggles of HRDs\, providing a greater national and international platform to speak about and advocate for the human rights issues they are defending.  \n\n\n\nLaureates are selected from among scores of candidates who are put forward in a secure\, public nomination process carried out towards the end of each year and Award winners are announced on the day of the Award Ceremony in Dublin the following year. Laureates receive a modest financial prize\, a protection grant  and support from Front Line Defenders teams on digital and physical security\, advocacy\, visibility\, well-being and more. More information here \n\n\n\n“These laureates are rays of light in some very dark situations of repression\, discrimination and detention. Their steadfast commitment to human rights provides the solutions we need to bring humanity back from the brink\, and to create a better\, more just world. Governments must begin to see human rights defenders\, not as a threat to their grasp on power\, but as positive changemakers who can improve societies and defend the human rights of their citizens.” Alan Glasgow\, Executive Director\, 2024\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBarry was elected as a member of Dáil Éireann in November 2024. Prior to that\, Barry served as a Senator\, and was Seanad spokesperson on Justice. A practicing barrister\, Barry is originally from Deansgrange. He was first elected to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in 2009\, representing the Blackrock Ward\, which also includes Booterstown\, Deansgrange\, Foxrock\, Monkstown and Stillorgan. Barry also served as Leader of the Fine Gael group on the Council. In 2020\, he was elected to the Industrial and Commercial Panel of the Seanad\, having stood in that year’s general election in the Dún Laoghaire constituency. \n\n\n\nOn the Council\, Barry worked tirelessly on various local issues including parks\, recycling\, public transport and cycling infrastructure\, climate action\, coastal issues and supporting local businesses. In the Seanad\, he has championed criminal justice reform\, and has a particular interest in education\, foreign affairs\, the environment and promoting the Irish language – ár dteanga náisiúnta. \n\n\n\nA sailor\, Barry has been vocal in his support for the Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI\, and speaks frequently about water safety and the need for the improvement of water quality in Dublin Bay. He is a member of the Oireachtas committees on Justice\, An Ghaeilge\, and Members’ Interests\, and is also an Irish Co-Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC). \n\n\n\nBarry has fought hard for gender and marriage equality and is a strong advocate for change. He is a leading voice in local campaigns\, such as the Sutton to Sandycove (S2S) Coastal Promenade and locating a new permanent home for Gaelscoil Laighean in Blackrock as well as providing strong contributions to discussions on ongoing international events in occupied Palestine\, Taiwan\, Hong Kong and Belarus\, even adopting a Belarusian political prisoner. \n\n\n\nIn his spare time\, Barry enjoys walks with his cocker spaniel\, Ruby\, on Dún Laoghaire Pier\, on Killiney Hill and in Cabinteely Park. He speaks Irish and French\, and hosts the Irish Legislation Podcast. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRichard Boyd Barrett (born 6 February 1967) is an Irish People Before Profit–Solidarity politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dún Laoghaire constituency since the 2011 general election. Boyd Barrett was previously a member of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council. He is also chair of the Irish Anti-War Movement\, and has been cited on war issues in the Irish media. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAlan Glasgow has worked for 25 years in development\, humanitarian\, and human rights contexts. He joined as CEO of Front Line Defenders in May 2024\, from the position of Regional Director for Asia and Europe with the Washington based Aid Agency\, Mercy Corps. Prior to this he served as Mercy Corps’ European Migration Director. \n\n\n\nAlan has also worked with the International Rescue Committee in New York and as Country Director in Sierra Leone\, and with GOAL as Country Director in Kenya\, South Sudan and Sudan\, and Director of Global Business Development. \n\n\n\nAlan’s leadership experience has focused on work at the frontlines of the world’s most challenging human rights environments\, including Afghanistan\, Gaza\, Liberia\, Myanmar\, Sierra Leone\, South Sudan\, Sudan\, Syria\, Ukraine and Yemen. His career has demonstrated a profound commitment to the rights of the marginalized and his work has been underpinned by a belief in the principles of human rights. \n\n\n\nAlan holds a Master’s Degree from UCD in addition to professional training with Columbia and Harvard Universities. He lives in Dublin. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMary Moynihan\, MA\, she/her\, is an award-winning author of novels\, poetry\, films and plays\, 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. \n\n\n\nAfter 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 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 \n\n\n\nIn 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. \n\n\n\nSmashing Times \n\n\n\nMary 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. \n\n\n\nArts and Human Rights Festival \n\n\n\nMary 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. \n\n\n\nAwards \n\n\n\nMary’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.    \n\n\n\nMary 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. \n\n\n\nAs 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;  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. \n\n\n\nMary’s film work includes the hour-long documentary Stories From the Shadows (co-directed with Mark Quinn); the short film Tell Them Our Names\,  (directed by Mary\, co-written with Paul Kennedy) inspired by women’s stories of WWII and selected for the London Eye International Film Festival and Kerry Film Festival; the creative documentary Women in an Equal Europe; the short film Courageous Women\, inspired by powerful women’s stories from the 1916 to 1923 decade of commemorations period in Irish history; In Time\, a poem-film created in response to the changing landscape of our world today in a time of pandemic (written by Mary Moynihan\, co-directed with Mark Quinn); and 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. \n\n\n\nMary 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. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBrendan Heade will be performing a powerful piece from Scent of a Woman\, originally performed by Al Pacino\, exploring the theme of Justice. The scene highlights the importance of standing up for what is right\, finding your voice\, and having the courage to speak out when faced with injustice. Through this performance\, Brendan brings his passion for acting to life while exploring the powerful themes of integrity\, equality and justice. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAndy Johnson is a Dublin-based actor with a passion for acting and performing. He has experience working in television\, including multiple appearances on RTÉ’s Fair City and an appearance in Witness No. 3 for Story Films and Channel 5. He has also taken part in television productions including Name That Tune\, Beat Shazam and Don’t Forget the Lyrics!. Andy started his acting training at Liberties College\, where he completed a Drama Foundation course. He then continued his training at the Gaiety School of Acting\, completing three Acting for Camera courses. In 2026\, he also completed Noel Brady’s Intensive Acting Showreel Course with Phoenix Artz Media. Andy has a strong interest in accents and voice work. His accents include Ulster English\, Cockney\, Scouse\, Scottish\, Spanish-accented English\, Modern California\, New York and Southern American. He also speaks Spanish. Andy is passionate about continuing to develop his acting skills and gaining more experience in film and television. His dream is to build a professional acting career\, work in film and television\, and inspire others to follow their own dreams and believe in what they can achieve. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBorn in Montpellier\, France\, to a Belgian father and an English mother\, Sebastien Luthers’ family moved to Leitrim when he was six years old. He started learning the whistle at around age six or seven and later progressed to the fiddle\, with Michael Clancy in Leitrim\, the man known as ‘the man of a thousand reels’.From those beginnings\, Sebastien’s love of music has blossomed. He currently teaches French and English in Wilson’s Hospital School as well as promoting extra-curricular music participation for students\, and is founder of Franco-Hibernian folk group CAS.Sebastien’s album\, The Lost Violin\, is a collection of tunes he wrote over the last 20 years inspired by the landscape of Leitrim and the Auvergne volcanic peaks\, where he lived and toured with a Celtic rock band Oubert . The name of the album relates to a custom-made instrument by renowned fiddle maker and All-Ireland champion Jim McKillop. It was stolen from Sebastien in Barcelona in 2013\, and serendipitously found and returned to him over 10 years later.The Lost Violin is for sale on Bandcamp and selected outlets\, along with his band CAS’ debut album\, Tonnta na Maidine\, which was released on tour in the UK\, Ireland and France during summer 2026. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCiara Hayes is a graduate of University College Cork with an MA in Arts Management and Creative Producing. She also holds a teaching diploma from the London College of Music in Drama and Communication\, and a BA Joint Hons in Drama and Theatre Studies with German. She has a background in theatre and worked for several years as a drama teacher\, later becoming a teacher of social skills for children on the autism spectrum.  \n\n\n\nSince completing her Masters in 2020\, Ciara has worked as a producer and festival administrator for Half Moon Festival (Cork\, 2020) and festival producer for Dublin Arts and Human Rights Festival (Dublin\, 2020 – present). She works at Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality as the festival producer\, and also works at UCC as a part-time lecturer on the MA Arts Management & Cultural Producing. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/launch-of-the-eighth-irish-arts-and-human-rights-festival-2026/
LOCATION:Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Sandycove\, Dublin\, A96V9P1\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Sandycove\, Dublin\, A96V9P1
CATEGORIES:Launch,Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IARHFestival-launch.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261009T143000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261009T153000
DTSTAMP:20260925T144913Z
CREATED:20260916T114031Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T144913Z
UID:10000743-1791556200-1791559800@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Art\, Voice and Human Rights Visual Art Workshop Programme with Hina Khan\, Visual Artist\, supporting Darndale Human Rights Day
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nThrough participatory art\, conversation and imagination\, participants explore artistic expression\, equality\, and human rights and create responses reflecting their experiences and perspectives. Presented by Smashing Times + Creative Places\, Darndale \n\n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nSold Out \n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nHina Khan\, Visual Artist \n\n\n\nFreda Manweiler\, Producer\, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality\, Producer and MC \n\n\n\nMary Moynihan\, Curator\, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nArt\, Voice and Human Rights Creative Places Darndale Workshop Programme \n\n\n\nVisual artist Hina Khan works creatively with two community-based groups in Darndale – older adults from the Golden Years Senior Centre Programme and young people from the neuro-divergent group Lighting Up the Spectrum.   Each group takes part in participatory art sessions as participants  explore what artistic expression\, equality\, inclusion and human rights mean to them. \n\n\n\nUsing conversation\, imagination and visual art-making\, each group works alongside visual artist Hina Khan\, to develop ideas\, images and creative responses that reflect their experiences\, identities and perspectives. The process celebrates the right of everyone to participate in cultural and artistic life\, while creating space for voices that are often underrepresented. \n\n\n\nThis event is presented by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and \n\n\n\nCreative Places Darndale. \n\n\n\nCreative Places Darndale is an arts award supported by the Arts Council. First awarded to the area of Darndale\, Belcamp\, Moatview\, Clonshaugh and Priorswood in June 2021\, the Arts Council’s Creative Places programme invests in places such as towns\, villages\, suburbs\, and island communities that have had fewer opportunities to take part in the arts. The arts in Ireland can be defined by its various art forms  i.e. Visual Art\, Music\, Dance\, Literature\, Film\, Theatre\, Opera\, Traditional Arts\, Architecture\, Circus and Street Arts and Spectacle. \n\n\n\nThe purpose of Creative Places Darndale is to promote arts participation in the areas outlined above\, support local creatives living in the area\, and embed socially engaged arts practice into the community. Over the course of the years\, Creative Places Darndale has been active building on the variety of art forms that are already present in the Dardale area; introducing the arts or different art forms where they are not present;  increasing participation in the arts by the people who live in this area and leaving a legacy of participation in the arts. \n\n\n\nCreative Places Darndale is run by Northside Partnership and Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and is supported by the Arts Council and Dublin City Council Arts Office.  \n\n\n\nGolden Years Senior Centre \n\n\n\nDarndale Belcamp Village Centre CLG offers a range of services to older people living in the areas of Dublin 17\, 5 and 13 through the Golden Years Senior Centre\, working closely with statutory agencies to ensure the services delivered are up to the highest possible standards for all members. Golden Years is a group  supporting independent\, secure social living for older people in the community. Golden Years provides members with: socialising opportunities\, exercise programmes\, meals\, alternative therapies and home/hospital visits through its Outreach Team. The group are based at the Darndale Belcamp Village Centre\, The Link Road\, Darndale\, Dublin 17. The telephone contact is 01-8771600 and email  is info@villagecentre.ie. The website is www.darndalebelcampvc.ie. New members are always welcome. \n\n\n\nLighting Up the Spectrum \n\n\n\nLighting Up the Spectrum is a group based in Dublin 17 for children with autism between the ages of 6-12. https://www.instagram.com/lighting_up_the_spectrum/ \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHina Khan is a Pakistani-Irish\, visual artist based in Kinsale\, County Cork. Hina’s grandparents migrated to Pakistan at the time of partition and then Hina migrated to Ireland\, arriving as a refugee and is now an Irish citizen.  Hina was born in born in Pakistan in 1980 and completed an MFA\, majoring in Miniature Painting from Pakistan. Hina’s work uses a mixture of traditional and innovative techniques in miniatures. Hina’s work portrays socio-political issues such as migration\, identity\, borders\, and humanitarian crises including prostitution\, gender discrimination\, gender restrictions\, trauma\, child abuse and killings. \n\n\n\nHina uses miniature in her work as the intricacy and delicacy of the brush work has a unique identity. Hina’s work began as a mixture of traditional and contemporary miniature and her practice has now expanded to include small and large-scale installation\, videos and 3D. \n\n\n\nAccording to Hina ‘My work is a constant search for the best way to interpret ideas and to express my own ideologies through symbolism.  I am creating a dialogue through my art. My art is a reflection of inner connection\, and how immigrants and nomadic artists are a part of this land. Migration is deeply rooted in my blood. I have carried two cultures\, one from where I was born and the other is this culture where I am trying to re-root myself. Sometimes a situation is not in our control\, but life always takes us on different voyages. This journey has built up a constant transition in my art\, personality\, and in terms of experimentation\, enabling me to evolve my artistic practice.’ \n\n\n\nHina has participated in a number of groups shows in Pakistan from 2002 to 2011. Hina came to Ireland in 2015 and participated in a number of exhibitions in Dublin\, Laois\, Mayo\, and Cork. Hina was awarded several residencies with Fire Station Arts Center\, Create Ireland\, West Cork Art Center and Cow House Studio and has displayed solo exhibitions at Ballina Art Center\, Mayo\, and Stradbally Art house\, Laois. \n\n\n\nHina’s art pieces are held in the permanent collection of The Arts Council of Ireland. She is the recipient of several awards from The Arts Council of Ireland\, Create Ireland\, and from different counties. She is the recipient of an R&D award from Create Ireland in collaboration with Tomasz Madajezak under the mentorship of Jesse Jones and is also collaborating with filmmaker David Bickley. Hina’s art pieces were commissioned for State of the Art: The Nation State as both Violator and Protector of Human Rights (2022) and for States of Independence (2023). Both projects were presented by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and funded by The Arts Council. Hina says that ‘as an artist\,  I am inspired by Sadequain\, Michelangelo\, Picasso\, Frida Kahlo\, Shahzia Sikander and Anselm Kiefer.’ \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMary Moynihan\, MA\, she/her\, is an author of novels\, poetry\, films and plays\, 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\, poetry 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 international Arts and Human Rights festival. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFreda Manweiler has worked with Smashing Times since 1999. She is highly skilled in project management\, coordination and implementation. She has extensive experience working at a European level developing and delivering a range of European Initiatives\, collaborating with over 50 cultural\, educational and civil society organisations from over 22 European Countries. Promoting European Values through working on activities and projects that promote human rights\, gender equality\, positive mental health\, remembrance and civic engagement. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/art-voice-and-human-rights-visual-art-workshop-2/
LOCATION:Lighting Up the Spectrum\, Sports and Leisure Complex\, Darndale\, Belcamp Village Centre\,\, Priorswood\, Dublin 17\, DI7 H793
CATEGORIES:Visual Art,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Hina.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality":MAILTO:info@smashingtimes.ie
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261009T120000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261009T130000
DTSTAMP:20260925T144848Z
CREATED:20260916T113535Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T144848Z
UID:10000742-1791547200-1791550800@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Art\, Voice and Human Rights Visual Art Workshop Programme with Hina Khan\, Visual Artist\, supporting Darndale Human Rights Day
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nThrough participatory art\, conversation and imagination\, participants explore artistic expression\, equality\, and human rights and create responses reflecting their experiences and perspectives. Presented by Smashing Times + Creative Places\, Darndale \n\n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nSold Out \n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nHina Khan\, Visual Artist \n\n\n\nFreda Manweiler\, Producer\, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality\, Producer and MC \n\n\n\nMary Moynihan\, Curator\, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nArt\, Voice and Human Rights Creative Places Darndale Workshop Programme \n\n\n\nVisual artist Hina Khan works creatively with two community-based groups in Darndale – older adults from the Golden Years Senior Centre Programme and young people from the neuro-divergent group Lighting Up the Spectrum.   Each group takes part in participatory art sessions as participants  explore what artistic expression\, equality\, inclusion and human rights mean to them. \n\n\n\nUsing conversation\, imagination and visual art-making\, each group works alongside visual artist Hina Khan\, to develop ideas\, images and creative responses that reflect their experiences\, identities and perspectives. The process celebrates the right of everyone to participate in cultural and artistic life\, while creating space for voices that are often underrepresented. \n\n\n\nThis event is presented by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and \n\n\n\nCreative Places Darndale. \n\n\n\nCreative Places Darndale is an arts award supported by the Arts Council. First awarded to the area of Darndale\, Belcamp\, Moatview\, Clonshaugh and Priorswood in June 2021\, the Arts Council’s Creative Places programme invests in places such as towns\, villages\, suburbs\, and island communities that have had fewer opportunities to take part in the arts. The arts in Ireland can be defined by its various art forms  i.e. Visual Art\, Music\, Dance\, Literature\, Film\, Theatre\, Opera\, Traditional Arts\, Architecture\, Circus and Street Arts and Spectacle. \n\n\n\nThe purpose of Creative Places Darndale is to promote arts participation in the areas outlined above\, support local creatives living in the area\, and embed socially engaged arts practice into the community. Over the course of the years\, Creative Places Darndale has been active building on the variety of art forms that are already present in the Dardale area; introducing the arts or different art forms where they are not present;  increasing participation in the arts by the people who live in this area and leaving a legacy of participation in the arts. \n\n\n\nCreative Places Darndale is run by Northside Partnership and Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and is supported by the Arts Council and Dublin City Council Arts Office.  \n\n\n\nGolden Years Senior Centre \n\n\n\nDarndale Belcamp Village Centre CLG offers a range of services to older people living in the areas of Dublin 17\, 5 and 13 through the Golden Years Senior Centre\, working closely with statutory agencies to ensure the services delivered are up to the highest possible standards for all members. Golden Years is a group  supporting independent\, secure social living for older people in the community. Golden Years provides members with: socialising opportunities\, exercise programmes\, meals\, alternative therapies and home/hospital visits through its Outreach Team. The group are based at the Darndale Belcamp Village Centre\, The Link Road\, Darndale\, Dublin 17. The telephone contact is 01-8771600 and email  is info@villagecentre.ie. The website is www.darndalebelcampvc.ie. New members are always welcome. \n\n\n\nLighting Up the Spectrum \n\n\n\nLighting Up the Spectrum is a group based in Dublin 17 for children with autism between the ages of 6-12. https://www.instagram.com/lighting_up_the_spectrum/ \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHina Khan is a Pakistani-Irish\, visual artist based in Kinsale\, County Cork. Hina’s grandparents migrated to Pakistan at the time of partition and then Hina migrated to Ireland\, arriving as a refugee and is now an Irish citizen.  Hina was born in born in Pakistan in 1980 and completed an MFA\, majoring in Miniature Painting from Pakistan. Hina’s work uses a mixture of traditional and innovative techniques in miniatures. Hina’s work portrays socio-political issues such as migration\, identity\, borders\, and humanitarian crises including prostitution\, gender discrimination\, gender restrictions\, trauma\, child abuse and killings. \n\n\n\nHina uses miniature in her work as the intricacy and delicacy of the brush work has a unique identity. Hina’s work began as a mixture of traditional and contemporary miniature and her practice has now expanded to include small and large-scale installation\, videos and 3D. \n\n\n\nAccording to Hina ‘My work is a constant search for the best way to interpret ideas and to express my own ideologies through symbolism.  I am creating a dialogue through my art. My art is a reflection of inner connection\, and how immigrants and nomadic artists are a part of this land. Migration is deeply rooted in my blood. I have carried two cultures\, one from where I was born and the other is this culture where I am trying to re-root myself. Sometimes a situation is not in our control\, but life always takes us on different voyages. This journey has built up a constant transition in my art\, personality\, and in terms of experimentation\, enabling me to evolve my artistic practice.’ \n\n\n\nHina has participated in a number of groups shows in Pakistan from 2002 to 2011. Hina came to Ireland in 2015 and participated in a number of exhibitions in Dublin\, Laois\, Mayo\, and Cork. Hina was awarded several residencies with Fire Station Arts Center\, Create Ireland\, West Cork Art Center and Cow House Studio and has displayed solo exhibitions at Ballina Art Center\, Mayo\, and Stradbally Art house\, Laois. \n\n\n\nHina’s art pieces are held in the permanent collection of The Arts Council of Ireland. She is the recipient of several awards from The Arts Council of Ireland\, Create Ireland\, and from different counties. She is the recipient of an R&D award from Create Ireland in collaboration with Tomasz Madajezak under the mentorship of Jesse Jones and is also collaborating with filmmaker David Bickley. Hina’s art pieces were commissioned for State of the Art: The Nation State as both Violator and Protector of Human Rights (2022) and for States of Independence (2023). Both projects were presented by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and funded by The Arts Council. Hina says that ‘as an artist\,  I am inspired by Sadequain\, Michelangelo\, Picasso\, Frida Kahlo\, Shahzia Sikander and Anselm Kiefer.’ \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMary Moynihan\, MA\, she/her\, is an author of novels\, poetry\, films and plays\, 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\, poetry 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 international Arts and Human Rights festival. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFreda Manweiler has worked with Smashing Times since 1999. She is highly skilled in project management\, coordination and implementation. She has extensive experience working at a European level developing and delivering a range of European Initiatives\, collaborating with over 50 cultural\, educational and civil society organisations from over 22 European Countries. Promoting European Values through working on activities and projects that promote human rights\, gender equality\, positive mental health\, remembrance and civic engagement. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/art-voice-and-human-rights-visual-art-workshop/
LOCATION:Darndale Belcamp Village Centre\, The Link Road\, Darndale\, Dublin
CATEGORIES:Visual Art,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Hina.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality":MAILTO:info@smashingtimes.ie
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261006T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261006T200000
DTSTAMP:20261001T123738Z
CREATED:20260831T154159Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261001T123738Z
UID:10000718-1791309600-1791316800@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Through Their Eyes: A Visual Exhibition on Avoidable and Preventable Blindness
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nThe exhibition explores vision loss through a human-rights lens\, connecting eye health with equality\, dignity\, education\, employment and participation. \n\n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nAdmission Free\, no booking required \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nThrough Their Eyes: A Visual Exhibition on Avoidable and Preventable Blindness will be launched at the Round Room at the Rotunda on 6 October 2026. Through powerful photography\, personal stories\, and immersive imagery\, the exhibition shines a light on the reality of avoidable and preventable blindness and the profound impact it has on millions of people around the world. \n\n\n\nPresented by Sightsavers Ireland\, the exhibition highlights both the challenges faced by individuals living with vision loss and the extraordinary progress being made to prevent blindness and promote eye health. It showcases the life-changing effects of access to eye care\, surgery\, treatment\, and inclusive support\, demonstrating that simple\, proven interventions can transform lives\, livelihoods\, and communities. \n\n\n\nMore than an exhibition\, this is a call to awareness and action. Visitors are invited to reflect on the human stories behind the images\, celebrate the resilience of individuals and communities\, and recognise that together we can help create a world where no one is needlessly blind and where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential. \n\n\n\nThrough Their Eyes promotes a human rights agenda by highlighting access to eye health and inclusion as fundamental issues of equality\, dignity and participation. \n\n\n\nAvoidable vision impairment disproportionately affects people experiencing poverty and exclusion\, and a lack of access to appropriate eye care can create or reinforce barriers to education\, employment\, independence and participation in community life. Through photography\, personal stories and immersive imagery\, the exhibition connects these global inequalities with the people whose rights and opportunities are directly affected.The exhibition also explores disability through a rights-based lens\, recognising that people with visual impairments have the same right to participate fully and equally in society. It highlights the importance of accessible and inclusive health services\, education and communities\, while demonstrating how proven interventions and stronger\, more equitable systems can remove barriers and enable people to exercise their rights. \n\n\n\nBy centring the experiences and perspectives of people and communities affected by vision impairment\, Through Their Eyes encourages audiences to consider preventable blindness not simply as a health issue\, but as an issue of social justice\, equality and human rights – and to recognise the collective responsibility to build a world in which everyone can participate on an equal basis. \n\n\n\nThis event is presented by Sightsavers Ireland \n\n\n\nSightsavers Ireland is an international charity working in more than 30 countries in Africa and Asia to train health workers\, provide eye operations\, support people with disabilities\, improve women’s health\, and more. \n\n\n\nAt Sightsavers\, we start with sight\, but we don’t stop there. \n\n\n\nWe treat eye conditions such as cataracts and tackle debilitating diseases\, many of which cause sight loss. To do this\, we work with governments and local\, national and international partners to carry out eye operations and distribute treatments where they’re needed. \n\n\n\nWe help to improve health services so they are sustainable and make education more inclusive for children with disabilities. We also advocate for the rights of women\, girls and people with disabilities. \n\n\n\nWe’re proud to be a leader in our field. Our programmes consistently achieve high performance ratings from Irish Aid. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s)\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/through-their-eyes-a-visual-exhibition-on-avoidable-and-preventable-blindness/
LOCATION:The Pillar Room\, Parnell Street\, Dublin\, D01 P5W9
CATEGORIES:Exhibition
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/802717763_1539267798233718_6239043390524912690_n.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260930T200000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260930T210000
DTSTAMP:20260925T144644Z
CREATED:20260916T111531Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T144644Z
UID:10000739-1790798400-1790802000@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:HYPERACTIVE
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nAthletic\, funny and physically demanding\, HYPERACTIVE offers a snapshot of contemporary Irish masculinity while exploring vulnerability\, energy and performance. \n\n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nBook here \n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nCreated and choreographed by John Scott\, Irish Modern Dance Theatre\, Director and Choreographer \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nHYPERACTIVE is a high-energy human dance installation for five virtuosic outstanding male dancers with wild street energy – dancing styles from Broadway to Jazz to Afro-Brazilian. Athletic\, high-energy\, funny and exciting\, the dancers dive into relentless\, physically demanding routines that leaves them visibly exhausted\, adding a sense of raw\, vulnerable honesty to the stage. It functions as a “sugar rush” of dance energy that seamlessly translates the raw electricity of street dance into a highly conceptual theatrical setting.  \n\n\n\n​ \n\n\n\nHYPERACTIVE shows a snapshot of contemporary Irish masculinity. Incredibly dynamic\, stretching horseplay and dance to the limit and suitable for all\, commissioned by Galway International Arts Festival and Dublin Dance Festival\, touring internationally to Festival Racconti di Altre Danze\, Italy\, Espace Culturel Hermine\, France and La MaMa Moves Dance Festival\, New York. \n\n\n\n‘five athletic performers of Hyperactive … teeming with dance energy and boyish glee….. get-down-and-dirty dance… highly charged\, wonderfully high-octane exhibitionistic fun\, an entertaining sugar rush for all involved.’ \n\n\n\nSeona Mac Reamoinn/Irish Times \n\n\n\nThis event is presented by Irish Modern Dance Theatre at The Mermaid Arts Centre\, Bray\, County Wicklow. \n\n\n\nIrish Modern Dance Theatre – Pioneering Transformative Dance \n\n\n\nFounded in 1991 by dancer and choreographer John Scott\, Irish Modern Dance Theatre is one of the most original and responsive dance companies working in Ireland today. A Dublin-based ensemble\, Scott and international guest choreographers create distinctive dance works with diverse casts\, mixing virtuosic Irish and international dancers with African and Middle Eastern refugees and torture survivors. Key works include Lear\, Inventions\, Actions and Fall and Recover – all recognised for their intelligence\, honesty and humanity. The work of Irish Modern Dance Theatre crosses disciplines\, subverts expectations of dance and dancers and finds new ways to explore contemporary issues. Irish Modern Dance Theatre is Strategically funded by the Arts Council. \n\n\n\nMermaid Arts Centre\, Bray\, County Wicklow \n\n\n\nMermaid Arts Centre is County Wicklow’s creative engine-room. With a theatre\, gallery\, cinema\, café and a lively programme of events to enjoy and participate in\, Mermaid Arts Centre is a home for artists and artistic communities to create\, connect and make memories. The purpose of Mermaid Arts Centre is driven by a fundamental belief in the power of shared experience and connection in combatting loneliness and isolation among people\, and in the right to freedom of artistic expression and creation for all. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJohn Scott is a Dublin born choreographer\, performer\, founder and Artistic Director of Irish Modern Dance Theatre\, a founding board member of the Dancer from the Dance Festival and a member of Aosdána. He studied and performed at the Irish National College of Dance/Dublin City Ballet from 1982 to 1985 in works by Anton Dolin\, Anna Sokolow\, Pearl Gaden and Babil Gandara. \n\n\n\nJohn founded Irish Modern Dance Theatre in 1991 which is one of the most original and responsive dance companies working in Ireland today. A Dublin-based ensemble\, Irish Modern Dance Theatre features work by John and by international guest choreographers who create distinctive dance works with diverse casts\, mixing virtuosic Irish and international dancers with African and Middle Eastern refugees and torture survivors. \n\n\n\nJohn’s choreographic works include Divine Madness\, Inventions\, Cloud Study\, Everything Now\, Lear\, Fall and Recover\, Actions and Dances for Inside and Outside\, the latter  a cycle of dances\, large and small\, created for our times and presented in a range of venues including the Complex\, Dublin\, and for Culture Night and  Dance Limerick  with the work nationally and internationally recognised for its intelligence\, honesty and humanity. \n\n\n\nJohn’s work has appeared in the  Dublin Dance Festival\, Galway International Arts Festival\, Kilkenny Arts Festival\,  Dublin Fringe Festival and internationally at the John F Kennedy Center\, Washington  DC\, New York Live Arts\, La MaMa\, Danspace Project at St Mark’s Church\, PS  122\, New York and Dance Base\, Edinburgh\, Sounded Bodies Festival and Queer  Zagreb\, Croatia\, Les Hivernales\, Avignon\, Tanzmesse Dusseldorf\, Forum Cultural  Mundial\, Brazil. \n\n\n\nHe danced in Oona Doherty’s Hard to be Soft\, Meredith Monk’s Quarry (Spoleto Festival) and for Yoshiko Chuma\, Sarah Rudner\, Anna Sokolow and Thomas Lehmen. He has collaborated with Pan Pan on Beckett’s QUAD. \n\n\n\nJohn was awarded African Refugee Network’s Culture Award for his work with Refugees and Survivors of Torture and is a subject of Sadlers Wells’ 52 Portraits by Jonathan Burrows\, Matteo Fargion and Hugo Glendinning. He has taught dance and choreography at the Irish World Academy\, University of Limerick; The Body in Performance\, Drama Department\, UCD; Drama Department NUIG; Drexel University\, Philidelphia; University of Colorado at Boulder\, USA and San Jose State University\, CA\, USA. \n\n\n\nJohn was a founding board member of Dublin Dance Festival and Dance Ireland. \n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/hyperactive/
LOCATION:Mermaid Arts Centre\, Main Street\, Bray\, Wicklow\, A98 N5P1\, Ireland
CATEGORIES:Dance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-16-121213.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260925T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260925T190000
DTSTAMP:20260925T144542Z
CREATED:20260917T135900Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T144542Z
UID:10000765-1790344800-1790362800@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nAs part of the Palestinian Cultural Days Dublin three-day festival\, acclaimed Palestinian artist\, rapper\, actor and screenwriter Tamer Nafar will perform live and take part in a discussion and Q&A with Irish-Palestinian singer and songwriter Róisín El Cherif. Nafar\, a founding member of DAM\, the first Palestinian hip-hop group\, is known for work exploring identity\, culture and social issues. The evening combines live music\, conversation and cultural exchange and is presented as part of Min Al Mai Lal Mai | From Water to Water. A key event is a talk by British-Palestinian writer and lawyer Dr Selma Dabbagh\, author of Out of It\, moderated by Dr Rita Sakr\, Saturday 26 September\, 2pm\,  The Digital Hub. \n\n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nBook here \n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nTamer Nafar\, Palestinian rapper\, actor\, screenwriterDr. Selma Dabbagh\, British-Palestinian writer and lawyer.Dr. Rita Sakr\, Associate Professor of Postcolonial and Global Literatures\, Maynooth UniversityDr. Ahmed Mokhallalati\, Former Head of the Plastic Surgery Department at Al Shifa HospitalDr. Eman Abboud\, Lecturer\, Trinity College DublinLeen Marrouf\, Palestinian singerAziz Abushark\, Palestinian/Irish musicianAlaa Al Qaisi\, Palestinian translator\, writer\, and researcher \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nPalestinian Cultural Days Dublin (PCD) is excited to announce its second annual cultural festival\, under the theme “Min El Mai Lal Mai” – From Water to Water. We look forward to welcoming you to Palestinian Cultural Days Dublin 2026 and sharing three days of Palestinian culture\, art\, music\, food\, literature\, education and community. \n\n\n\n\n\nFestival Schedule\n\n\n\nFriday September 25 — Opening Day \n\n\n\nThe festival opening begins at 5pm\, featuring: \n\n\n\n“Min El Mai Lal Mai” Exhibition \n\n\n\nFood by Yaffa Cafe \n\n\n\nLive Screen Printing by Dublin Print Collective \n\n\n\nMusic featuring singing by Leen Marrouf and qanun by Aziz Abushark \n\n\n\nPoetry reading by Alaa Al Qaisi \n\n\n\nAnimated Palestine films \n\n\n\nSaturday September 26 — Educational & Dabkeh Workshops \n\n\n\n2pm — Dr. Selma DabbaghOut of It\, moderated by Dr. Rita Sakr \n\n\n\n3.30pm — Dr. Ahmed MokhallalatiFormer Head of the Plastic Surgery Department at Al Shifa HospitalHealing Under Fire: When Medicine Becomes the Target \n\n\n\n5.30pm — Dr. Eman AbboudFractured Geographies: Palestine’s Divided Realities \n\n\n\n7pm — Dabkeh WorkshopLimited places available. Please email pcddublin@gmail.com to reserve your spot. \n\n\n\nSunday September 27 — Tatreez Workshop \n\n\n\n1pm — Tatreez Workshop \n\n\n\nLimited places available. Please email pcddublin@gmail.com to reserve your spot. \n\n\n\nThis event is presented by Palestinian Cultural Days Dublin (PCD). \n\n\n\nPalestinian Cultural Days Dublin \n\n\n\nPalestinian Culture Days Dublin (PCD.Dublin) is a dynamic initiative founded by a collective of activists\, artists\, and intellectuals from both Palestinian and Irish communities. Our mission is to foster cultural exchange\, understanding\, and collaboration between Palestine and Ireland through diverse artistic and cultural disciplines. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/min-el-mai-lal-mai-from-water-to-water/
LOCATION:Digital Days at the Digital Hub\, Thomas Street - Roe Lane\, Dublin 8\, D08 TCV4
CATEGORIES:Film Screening,Music,Poetry,Talk,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-17-145658.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260923T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260923T190000
DTSTAMP:20260925T144325Z
CREATED:20260916T112152Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T144325Z
UID:10000741-1790186400-1790190000@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Radio Show with Dublin South FM – Irish Arts + Human Rights Special Festival Broadcast
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nJoin Mary Moynihan\, Freda Manweiler and Ciara Hayes\, as they take you behind the scenes of the Eighth Annual International Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival\, running nationwide from 9 to the 18 October 2026. In this special festival  broadcast\, we deliver a comprehensive festival roadmap showcasing the extraordinary line-up of live theatre\, dance\, visual art exhibitions\, film screenings\, workshops\, music and panel discussions  happening in Dublin and across the island of Ireland. \n\n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nTune in to Dublin South FM 93.9\, or listen online at www.dublinsouthfm.ie \n\n\n\nListen back to past episodes here \n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nMary 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 \n\n\n\nCiara Hayes\, Producer\, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality \n\n\n\nFreda Manweiler\, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nTune in for a special festival edition of the Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Radio Show! \n\n\n\nJoin hosts Mary Moynihan and Freda Manweiler in conversation with Ciara Hayes\, producer\, as they take you behind the scenes of the Eighth Annual International Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival\, running nationwide from 9 to the 18 October 2026. \n\n\n\nIn this special festival  broadcast\, we deliver a comprehensive festival roadmap showcasing the extraordinary line-up of live theatre\, dance\, visual art exhibitions\, film screenings\, workshops\, music and panel discussions popping up across multiple venues in Dublin\, across Ireland\, and in Northern Ireland. \n\n\n\nFeaturing chat with Mary\, Freda and Ciara\,  this special episode highlights how creativity and active citizenship intersect to spark dialogue on equality\, diversity\, and social justice. Whether you’re looking to attend an in-person event or connect online\, tune in on Dublin South FM (or catch us on podcast) to plan your festival experience and celebrate the transformative power of the arts! \n\n\n\nCatch the Broadcast: The Smashing Times Arts + Human Rights Radio show is broadcast every Wednesday from 6-7pm on Dublin South FM. The Irish Arts + Human Rights Special Festival edition (radio show) is broadcast on Dublin South FM on Wednesday 16 September 2026\, and repeated on Wednesday 23 September 2026\, 6-7pm. The Radio show is also available as a special festival podcast available online: Link \n\n\n\nLearn More: Discover the full festival line-up and event schedule at smashingtimes.ie. \n\n\n\nThe Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Radio show is broadcast every Wednesday 6-7pm with Dublin South FM with each episode available as a podcast. The show is hosted by Mary Moynihan\, writer\, poet\, creator of art and photography and Artistic Director\, Smashing Times along with occasional co-host Freda Manweiler\, Producer\, Smashing Times.  Enjoy an engaging hour of in-depth discussions focused on all things arts\, culture and human rights\, exploring political and cultural happenings in the world today and the work of artists\,  arts organisations and civil society groups who advocate for arts\, culture\, equality\, human rights\, diversity\, democracy and peace. Tune in to Dublin South FM 93.9\, or listen online at www.dublinsouthfm.ie. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMary Moynihan\, MA\, she/her\, is an author of novels\, poetry\, films and plays\, 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\, poetry 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 international Arts and Human Rights festival. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFreda Manweiler has worked with Smashing Times since 1999. She is highly skilled in project management\, coordination and implementation. She has extensive experience working at a European level developing and delivering a range of European Initiatives\, collaborating with over 50 cultural\, educational and civil society organisations from over 22 European Countries. Promoting European Values through working on activities and projects that promote human rights\, gender equality\, positive mental health\, remembrance and civic engagement. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCiara Hayes is a graduate of University College Cork with an MA in Arts Management and Creative Producing. She also holds a teaching diploma from the London College of Music in Drama and Communication\, and a BA Joint Hons in Drama and Theatre Studies with German. She has a background in theatre and worked for several years as a drama teacher\, later becoming a teacher of social skills for children on the autism spectrum. Since completing her Masters in 2020\, Ciara has worked as a producer and festival administrator for Half Moon Festival (Cork\, 2020) and festival producer for the annual Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival (Dublin\, 2020 – present). She works at Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality as the festival producer\, based in Cork City\, and also works at UCC as a part-time lecturer on the MA Arts Management & Cultural Producing. Ciara is experienced in facilitating workshops to promote community integration and equality. She has worked as a coordinator of education and training programmes for many years\, employing creative workshop methods to engage a diverse group of participants in a broad range of issues including human rights\, communication and equality. \n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/smashing-times-arts-and-human-rights-radio-show-with-dublin-south-fm/2026-09-23/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Interview
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Smashing-Times-Radio-Show-Logo-OFFICIAL.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality":MAILTO:info@smashingtimes.ie
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260918T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260918T180000
DTSTAMP:20260921T131846Z
CREATED:20260914T094559Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260921T131846Z
UID:10000720-1789725600-1789754400@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Culture Night at Smashing Times Visual Art Gallery
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nMary Moynihan\, Writer\, Poet and Creator of Art and Photography; Artistic Director\, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality; Arts Curator\, Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival \n\n\n\nFreda Manweiler\, Producer\, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality\, MC for the evening \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nFrom the Forest to the Ocean is a powerful solo exhibition featuring the work of Irish artist Mary Moynihan. Bringing together photography\, poetry\, and film\, this multidisciplinary exhibition draws inspiration from the physical landscapes of nature and the deep interconnectedness of life — from forests to the ocean. \n\n\n\nConcept \n\n\n\nThe artworks map physical landscapes and seascapes to landscapes of the soul and are rooted in reflections on nature\, journeys of interconnectedness\, and the art of letting go\, exploring the boundaries between the natural world and the human spirit. The work creates a synergy between the evocative beauty and fragility of the photographic landscapes and seascapes of counties Dublin\, Wicklow\, Kerry\, and France\, combined with the emotional impact of poetical texts in written and in a poem-film format. \n\n\n\nInspirations \n\n\n\nMary Moynihan is a writer\, poet and creator of art and photography.  Mary’s work is rooted in reflections on nature and the interconnectedness of the human spirit and the natural world around us. Our personal well-being is inseparable from the well-being of our planet — on physical\, emotional\, spiritual\, and intuitive levels. Nature and creativity inspire us to look after ourselves\, each other\, and the planet we live on and to search for more sustainable ways of living.  Visitors are invited to step into a space of reflection and self-expression\, exploring the delicate boundaries between the natural world of landscapes and seascapes and the human spirit. The work evokes a gentle yet profound invitation: to breathe\, to reconnect with the rhythms of life and love\, and to re-wild both the landscape and the human soul. \n\n\n\nThis stunningly beautiful exhibition nurtures a dialogue between inner and outer worlds\, reminding us that nature\, creativity\, and humanity are deeply intertwined. The artworks linger in the mind and heart\, offering a lasting sense of connection and prompting reflection long after leaving the gallery. \n\n\n\nMary Moynihan (she/her) is an award-winning writer\, poet\, theatre and filmmaker and a creator of art and photography. Mary is Artistic Director of Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality\, and Artistic Curator for the annual Dublin Arts and Human Rights festival.  \n\n\n\nArtist Talk for Culture Night\n\n\n\nMary Moynihan: Ancestral Voices and Human Rights – From the Forest to the Ocean \n\n\n\nGuided Exhibition Tour\, Artist Talk + Poetry Reading \n\n\n\nFriday 18 September\, 4-5pm \n\n\n\nSmashing Times Visual Art Gallery and Centre for the Arts and Human Rights\, 30 Sandycove Road\, \n\n\n\nSandycove\, Dublin A96V9P1 \n\n\n\nAdmission Free. No booking required.  \n\n\n\nJoin us for an engaging guided tour\, artist talk and poetry reading exploring the imagery and stories behind the extraordinary exhibition From the Forest to the Ocean. Hear the stories embedded within the exhibition and reflect on nature\, spirituality and peace. Artist Mary Moynihan shares insights into her creative journey as audiences gain a deeper understanding of how the work evolves and responds to contemporary contexts.  This is a unique opportunity to hear directly from the artist\, ask questions\, and connect with the work on display.  Interwoven throughout the talk\, the artist presents live readings of her original poetry offering a poetical reflection on nature\, spirituality and our shared responsibility to care for one another and the earth. the Forest to the Ocean is a multidisciplinary installation drawing inspiration from the physical landscapes and seascapes of nature and the deep interconnectedness of life — from forests to the ocean. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMary Moynihan\, MA\, she/her\, is an award-winning author of novels\, poetry\, films and plays\, 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. \n\n\n\nAfter 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 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 \n\n\n\nIn 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. \n\n\n\nSmashing Times \n\n\n\nMary 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. \n\n\n\nArts and Human Rights Festival \n\n\n\nMary 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. \n\n\n\nAwards \n\n\n\nMary’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.    \n\n\n\nMary 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. \n\n\n\nAs 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;  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. \n\n\n\nMary’s film work includes the hour-long documentary Stories From the Shadows (co-directed with Mark Quinn); the short film Tell Them Our Names\,  (directed by Mary\, co-written with Paul Kennedy) inspired by women’s stories of WWII and selected for the London Eye International Film Festival and Kerry Film Festival; the creative documentary Women in an Equal Europe; the short film Courageous Women\, inspired by powerful women’s stories from the 1916 to 1923 decade of commemorations period in Irish history; In Time\, a poem-film created in response to the changing landscape of our world today in a time of pandemic (written by Mary Moynihan\, co-directed with Mark Quinn); and 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. \n\n\n\nMary 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. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/culture-night-at-smashing-times-visual-art-gallery/
LOCATION:Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Sandycove\, Dublin\, A96V9P1\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Sandycove\, Dublin\, A96V9P1
CATEGORIES:Exhibition,Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Escape.-Image-by-Mary-Moynihan-2023.-Yeats-Sisters-HEIC.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality":MAILTO:info@smashingtimes.ie
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260916T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260916T190000
DTSTAMP:20260925T144325Z
CREATED:20260916T112152Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T144325Z
UID:10000740-1789581600-1789585200@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Radio Show with Dublin South FM – Irish Arts + Human Rights Special Festival Broadcast
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nJoin Mary Moynihan\, Freda Manweiler and Ciara Hayes\, as they take you behind the scenes of the Eighth Annual International Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival\, running nationwide from 9 to the 18 October 2026. In this special festival  broadcast\, we deliver a comprehensive festival roadmap showcasing the extraordinary line-up of live theatre\, dance\, visual art exhibitions\, film screenings\, workshops\, music and panel discussions  happening in Dublin and across the island of Ireland. \n\n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nTune in to Dublin South FM 93.9\, or listen online at www.dublinsouthfm.ie \n\n\n\nListen back to past episodes here \n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nMary 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 \n\n\n\nCiara Hayes\, Producer\, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality \n\n\n\nFreda Manweiler\, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nTune in for a special festival edition of the Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Radio Show! \n\n\n\nJoin hosts Mary Moynihan and Freda Manweiler in conversation with Ciara Hayes\, producer\, as they take you behind the scenes of the Eighth Annual International Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival\, running nationwide from 9 to the 18 October 2026. \n\n\n\nIn this special festival  broadcast\, we deliver a comprehensive festival roadmap showcasing the extraordinary line-up of live theatre\, dance\, visual art exhibitions\, film screenings\, workshops\, music and panel discussions popping up across multiple venues in Dublin\, across Ireland\, and in Northern Ireland. \n\n\n\nFeaturing chat with Mary\, Freda and Ciara\,  this special episode highlights how creativity and active citizenship intersect to spark dialogue on equality\, diversity\, and social justice. Whether you’re looking to attend an in-person event or connect online\, tune in on Dublin South FM (or catch us on podcast) to plan your festival experience and celebrate the transformative power of the arts! \n\n\n\nCatch the Broadcast: The Smashing Times Arts + Human Rights Radio show is broadcast every Wednesday from 6-7pm on Dublin South FM. The Irish Arts + Human Rights Special Festival edition (radio show) is broadcast on Dublin South FM on Wednesday 16 September 2026\, and repeated on Wednesday 23 September 2026\, 6-7pm. The Radio show is also available as a special festival podcast available online: Link \n\n\n\nLearn More: Discover the full festival line-up and event schedule at smashingtimes.ie. \n\n\n\nThe Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Radio show is broadcast every Wednesday 6-7pm with Dublin South FM with each episode available as a podcast. The show is hosted by Mary Moynihan\, writer\, poet\, creator of art and photography and Artistic Director\, Smashing Times along with occasional co-host Freda Manweiler\, Producer\, Smashing Times.  Enjoy an engaging hour of in-depth discussions focused on all things arts\, culture and human rights\, exploring political and cultural happenings in the world today and the work of artists\,  arts organisations and civil society groups who advocate for arts\, culture\, equality\, human rights\, diversity\, democracy and peace. Tune in to Dublin South FM 93.9\, or listen online at www.dublinsouthfm.ie. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMary Moynihan\, MA\, she/her\, is an author of novels\, poetry\, films and plays\, 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\, poetry 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 international Arts and Human Rights festival. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFreda Manweiler has worked with Smashing Times since 1999. She is highly skilled in project management\, coordination and implementation. She has extensive experience working at a European level developing and delivering a range of European Initiatives\, collaborating with over 50 cultural\, educational and civil society organisations from over 22 European Countries. Promoting European Values through working on activities and projects that promote human rights\, gender equality\, positive mental health\, remembrance and civic engagement. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCiara Hayes is a graduate of University College Cork with an MA in Arts Management and Creative Producing. She also holds a teaching diploma from the London College of Music in Drama and Communication\, and a BA Joint Hons in Drama and Theatre Studies with German. She has a background in theatre and worked for several years as a drama teacher\, later becoming a teacher of social skills for children on the autism spectrum. Since completing her Masters in 2020\, Ciara has worked as a producer and festival administrator for Half Moon Festival (Cork\, 2020) and festival producer for the annual Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival (Dublin\, 2020 – present). She works at Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality as the festival producer\, based in Cork City\, and also works at UCC as a part-time lecturer on the MA Arts Management & Cultural Producing. Ciara is experienced in facilitating workshops to promote community integration and equality. She has worked as a coordinator of education and training programmes for many years\, employing creative workshop methods to engage a diverse group of participants in a broad range of issues including human rights\, communication and equality. \n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/smashing-times-arts-and-human-rights-radio-show-with-dublin-south-fm/2026-09-16/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Interview
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Smashing-Times-Radio-Show-Logo-OFFICIAL.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality":MAILTO:info@smashingtimes.ie
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260719T213000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260719T233000
DTSTAMP:20260706T162325Z
CREATED:20260623T153044Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T162325Z
UID:10000710-1784496600-1784503800@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival:     Traditional Irish Music Session
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nNo Booking Necessary \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nJoin us for live music at Frank’s Bar & Bistro at the Kerry Coast Hotel\, Cahersiveen. Tucked away in the heart of Cahersiveen\, Frank’s Bar & Bistro is a cosy old-style restaurant and pub at Kerry Coast Hotel\, where old-world charm meets modern Irish hospitality. Step inside and discover warm woodwork\, eclectic décor and inviting vintage-style spaces — the perfect setting for breakfast\, lunch\, dinner\, drinks and a warm local atmosphere. Whether you are staying in town\, passing through on the Ring of Kerry\, planning a meal before live music\, or looking for a relaxed place to eat in Cahersiveen\, Frank’s brings together good food\, friendly service and plenty of character. \nPresented for the annual Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival. \nInformation at 087 2214245 or admin@smashingtimes.ie \n  \n  \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/traditional-irish-music-session/2026-07-19/
LOCATION:Frank’s Bar & Bistro\, Kerry Coast Hotel\, Cahersiveen\, Co Kerry\, Kerry Coast Hotel\, Cahersiveen\, Kerry\, V23RV07\, Ireland
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-23-163003.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260719T160000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260719T170000
DTSTAMP:20260707T133858Z
CREATED:20260622T161951Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260707T133858Z
UID:10000703-1784476800-1784480400@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival: The Standing Stone on Glanleam - Ancestral Voices and Human Rights Talk and Poetry Reading
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nMary Moynihan\, writer\, director\, creator of art and photography \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nJoin artist Mary Moynihan for a thought-provoking talk on her poem The Standing Stone at Glanleam\, exploring ancestral voices and how they continue to speak to us in the context of human rights. The talk takes place at the Atlantic Villa\, Knightstown. This event offers a unique opportunity to enjoy poetry inspired by local history and the connections between place\, memory\, ancestry\, and human rights. Join us for a conversation on how memories and voices of those who came before us can still inspire and shape our lives today. \n\n\n\nAttendees are kindly asked to park on the road outside the property. \n\n\n\nPresented for the annual Kerry Arts + Human Rights Festival 18-19 July 2026 \nInformation at 087 2214245 or admin@smashingtimes.ie \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMary Moynihan\, MA\, she/her\, is an award-winning author of novels\, plays\, poetry and films\, originally from Dublin\, Ireland. Mary has an honours BA in Drama and Theatre Studies from Trinity College Dublin and an honours Masters in Film Production from TU Dublin.  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 inter-disciplinary 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. \n\n\n\nAfter raising four children\, now all adults\, and following her recovery from serious illness\, 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 series Amergin and the Warriors of Zen. In her adult fiction\, Mary’s characters are clever\, fearless\, vulnerable\,  crazy\, and strong\, 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. \n\n\n\nMary pens a series of articles and Creative Musings on Arts\, Creativity\, Leadership and Self-Esteem which appears in the Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality newsletter and on Mary’s website marymoynihan.ie \n\n\n\nIn her free time Mary loves to spend time with her four adult children\, hang out with friends and 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 GAA Gaelic football and hurling teams. \n  \n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/the-standing-stone-on-glanleam-ancestral-voices-human-rights/
LOCATION:Atlantic Villa\, Valentia Island\, Co Kerry\, Knightstown\, Valentia Island\, Kerry\, V23VR62\, Ireland
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/28.-Standing-Stone-on-Valentia-jpeg-1.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality":MAILTO:info@smashingtimes.ie
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260719T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260719T150000
DTSTAMP:20260706T154132Z
CREATED:20260609T135032Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T154132Z
UID:10000700-1784469600-1784473200@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival: Kingdom Voices Walking Tour and Storytelling Session
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \nEnjoy a guided storytelling walk recalling stories of Munster’s remarkable changemakers  who stood up for the rights of others and shaped our history through courage\, creativity and compassion. This unique ‘human rights’ walking trail starts indoors in the O’Connell Room at The Barracks Heritage Centre where we hear about the life stories of Kerry changemakers whose actions contributed to human dignity\, peace and justice.  We then have a guided walk (weather permitting) through the town of Cahersiveen to the Daniel O’Connell Memorial Church graveyard to hear about the life story of remarkable Kerry people who stood up peacefully for the rights of others during World War II\, offering a rich reflection on the storytelling heritage of this beautiful area.  During the session take the opportunity to add the name of your favourite changemaker\, past or present. The tour begins in The Barracks Heritage Centre when you can enjoy the vibrant exhibitions on display. After the tour\, you can stroll through the town of Cahersiveen to enjoy the many wonderful shops\, cafes and restaurants and to continue the conversations. Whether you’re a visitor or a local\, this unforgettable walk offers a fresh perspective on captivating stories of Kerry. \n  \nEnjoy stories of Munster changemakers including Mary Elmes (1908-2002)\, Cork City\, Cork; Janie McCarthy (1885-1964)\, Killarney\, Kerry; and Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty (1898 – 1963)\, Killarney and Cahersiveen\, Kerry. \n  \nPresented for the annual Kerry Arts + Human Rights Festival. \nFunded by Kerry County Council and Failte Ireland. \n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/kingdom-voices-walking-tour-and-storytelling-session-2/
LOCATION:Old Barracks Heritage Centre\, Cahersiveen\, Co Kerry\, Cahersiveen\, Kerry\, V23VR62\, Ireland
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-29-155415.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality":MAILTO:info@smashingtimes.ie
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260719T120000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260719T130000
DTSTAMP:20260707T143712Z
CREATED:20260622T135811Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260707T143712Z
UID:10000701-1784462400-1784466000@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival: Eternal Rebels Guided Storytelling Tour and Talk celebrating Women Changemakers in Irish History
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nMary Moynihan\, writer\, director\, creator of art and photography \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nJoin artist Mary Moynihan for a guided storytelling tour and artist talk exploring the stories from the exhibition Eternal Rebels: Irish Women Changemakers. This thought-provoking exhibition combines photography\, poetry\, and storytelling to celebrate the lives of 13 remarkable women from Irish history who championed equality and the empowerment of others. Through a series of 13 storyboard artworks displayed throughout The Barracks Heritage Centre\, the exhibition brings these inspiring changemakers and their lasting legacies to life. During the tour\, Mary shares the stories behind the artworks\, offering insights into her creative process and the historical significance of the women featured. This unique curated tour and talk is an opportunity to discover inspiring figures from Ireland’s past and to explore how their courage and vision continue to resonate today. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMary Moynihan\, MA\, she/her\, is an award-winning author of novels\, plays\, poetry and films\, originally from Dublin\, Ireland. Mary has an honours BA in Drama and Theatre Studies from Trinity College Dublin and an honours Masters in Film Production from TU Dublin.  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 inter-disciplinary 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. \n\n\n\nAfter raising four children\, now all adults\, and following her recovery from serious illness\, 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 series Amergin and the Warriors of Zen. In her adult fiction\, Mary’s characters are clever\, fearless\, vulnerable\,  crazy\, and strong\, 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. \n\n\n\nMary pens a series of articles and Creative Musings on Arts\, Creativity\, Leadership and Self-Esteem which appears in the Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality newsletter and on Mary’s website marymoynihan.ie \n\n\n\nIn her free time Mary loves to spend time with her four adult children\, hang out with friends and 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 GAA Gaelic football and hurling teams. \n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/art-of-rights-eternal-rebels-guided-tour-and-artist-talk-2/
LOCATION:Old Barracks Heritage Centre\, Cahersiveen\, Co Kerry\, Cahersiveen\, Kerry\, V23VR62\, Ireland
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/eternalrebels-new-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality":MAILTO:info@smashingtimes.ie
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260719T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260719T160000
DTSTAMP:20260706T145235Z
CREATED:20260623T150921Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T145235Z
UID:10000708-1784455200-1784476800@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival: Eighth Wonder of the World - Transatlantic Cable Station Immersive Exhibition
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nReceive a discount when you mention the Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival. Book here. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nOver 150 years ago\, the first successful transatlantic telegraph cable was laid between Valentia Island in Ireland and Heart’s Content in Newfoundland\, Canada. This extraordinary achievement connected Europe and North America\, transforming communication forever. Known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World\,” the cable reduced communication time from weeks to minutes and marked the beginning of global connectivity. The story of the Transatlantic Cable is one of endurance\, innovation\, and human brilliance. Experience it through an immersive exhibition at the Valentia Cable Station. Hear from entrepreneur Cyrus Field and the Knight of Kerry as they recount their adventure. Try sending your own Morse code message\, learn how the first cables were laid\, and explore how modern underwater communications have evolved. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/eighth-wonder-transatlantic-cable/2026-07-19/
LOCATION:Translantic Cable Station\, Knightstown\, Valentia Island\, Co Kerry\, Knightstown\, Valentia Island\, Kerry\, V23 H685\, Ireland
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/images-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260719T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260719T160000
DTSTAMP:20260706T144915Z
CREATED:20260623T145904Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T144915Z
UID:10000705-1784455200-1784476800@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival:Valentia Island Lighthouse Experience
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nReceive a discount when you mention the Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival. Book here. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nA must visit on the Skellig Coast of the Wild Atlantic Way. \n\n\n\nEmbrace the rugged and exposed elements of the south west coast of the island of Ireland and peek into what life was like for lighthouse keepers and their families on Valentia Island keeping watch over the North Atlantic. \n\n\n\nLocated in one of the most scenic areas on the edge of Europe\, facing into the prevailing weather\, Valentia Island Lighthouse is home to the most westerly harbour light on the island of Ireland\, guiding vessels through the northern entrance to Valentia Harbour. \n\n\n\nExplore the 17th century artillery fort located at Cromwell Point and the 19th century lighthouse building soaking up the stories and science against a background of dramatic scenery of the Skellig Coast on the Wild Atlantic Way. \nPresented for the annual Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival.  \nInformation at 066 9476985 \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/lighthouse-experience/2026-07-19/
LOCATION:Valentia Island Lighthouse\, Cromwell Point\, Valentia Island\, Co Kerry\, Cromwell Point\, Glanleam\, Valentia Island\, Kerry\, V23 P680\, Ireland
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-23-155301.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260718T220000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260718T233000
DTSTAMP:20260706T162325Z
CREATED:20260623T153044Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T162325Z
UID:10000709-1784412000-1784417400@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival:     Traditional Irish Music Session
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nNo Booking Necessary \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nJoin us for live music at Frank’s Bar & Bistro at the Kerry Coast Hotel\, Cahersiveen. Tucked away in the heart of Cahersiveen\, Frank’s Bar & Bistro is a cosy old-style restaurant and pub at Kerry Coast Hotel\, where old-world charm meets modern Irish hospitality. Step inside and discover warm woodwork\, eclectic décor and inviting vintage-style spaces — the perfect setting for breakfast\, lunch\, dinner\, drinks and a warm local atmosphere. Whether you are staying in town\, passing through on the Ring of Kerry\, planning a meal before live music\, or looking for a relaxed place to eat in Cahersiveen\, Frank’s brings together good food\, friendly service and plenty of character. \nPresented for the annual Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival. \nInformation at 087 2214245 or admin@smashingtimes.ie \n  \n  \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/traditional-irish-music-session/2026-07-18/
LOCATION:Frank’s Bar & Bistro\, Kerry Coast Hotel\, Cahersiveen\, Co Kerry\, Kerry Coast Hotel\, Cahersiveen\, Kerry\, V23RV07\, Ireland
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-23-163003.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260718T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260718T210000
DTSTAMP:20260706T152531Z
CREATED:20260514T142558Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T152531Z
UID:10000688-1784401200-1784408400@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival: Tintreach Live - Launch with Creative Readings and Artist Talks
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nJoin us as we celebrate the launch of Edition VII of Tintreach: The Smashing Times Arts and Literary Journal\, a unique publication in the Irish Arts scene. Published quarterly online\, Tintreach is edited by writer Féilim James and features creative works from across the artistic spectrum\, combining up-and-coming voices with those of more established artists. Edition VII features work by artists from Uíbh Ráthach in County Kerry\, Ireland. The artists featured in Tintreach will present a selection of readings and discuss their work.  Meet and greet with the artists and with Féilim James\, Writer and Editor of Tintreach: The Smashing Times Arts and Literary Journal. Your MC for the evening is Mary Moynihan\, Writer\, Poet and Creator of Art and Photography and Artistic Director\, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality. \n\n\n\nThis creative event takes place on Saturday 18 July 2026 at 7pm in The Barracks Heritage Centre\, Cahersiveen\, county Kerry\, with creative readings\, artist talks\, fun\, and chat. Presented for the Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival\, this special evening  celebrates artistic practice\, the Irish language\, community engagement\, and the richness of artistic expression from Uíbh Ráthach/The Iveragh Peninsula. Audiences are invited to meet the artists from the Iveragh peninsula who are published in Edition VII of Tintreach\, hear about their creative process\, and celebrate the publication of this unique bilingual journal. \n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nImplemented by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality in partnership with The Barracks Heritage Centre\, Cahersiveen\, and ACARD Community Development Limited\, Cahersiveen. Supported by Cumas Ceantar  Creative Places Uíbh Ráthaigh\, The Arts Council and the the Ciste Beag Ealaíon – Micro Arts Fund 2026\, Kerry County Council\, and Failte Ireland.  \n\n\n\nPresented for the annual Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival.  \nInformation at 087 2214245 or admin@smashingtimes.ie \n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/tintreach-live-readings-rhythms-and-revelations-public-launch-creative-readings-and-artist-talks/
LOCATION:Old Barracks Heritage Centre\, Cahersiveen\, Co Kerry\, Cahersiveen\, Kerry\, V23VR62\, Ireland
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Tintreach-online-logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260718T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260718T170000
DTSTAMP:20260707T142642Z
CREATED:20260529T154112Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260707T142642Z
UID:10000695-1784386800-1784394000@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival: Sustainable Event Management Workshop
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nJoin us for a ‘Sustainable Event Management’ training workshop and talk to explore eco-friendly practices for organising a community-based arts event or festival. This event takes place on Saturday 18 July 2026\, from 3-5pm at the O’Connell Room in The Barracks Heritage Centre\, Cahersiveen\, County Kerry. Places limited to 20 on a first-come\, first-served basis. Learn about practices for running sustainable events along side tips on budgeting and marketing. Enjoy artworks from the curated exhibition Landscapes of the Soul and explore the deep relationship between people\, land and sea\, linking nature\, community and human rights. This event is a unique sustainable event management workshop that celebrates the beauty of the local environment and our connection to nature while opening conversations around sustainability\, belonging\, heritage and care for our shared world. Facilitated by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality. Presented as part of The Art of Nature – Protecting our Forests and Oceans\, a project using creative methodologies and digital technologies in the Cahersiveen area to promote biodiversity and environmental awareness with a focus on oceans and forests\, using creativity to celebrate the beauty of trees and oceans\, the importance of biodiversity and our deep connections to nature. \n\n\n\nThe Art of Nature is implemented by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality in partnership with Acard and The Barracks Heritage Centre\, Cahersiveen\, supported by South Kerry Development Partnership CLG\, Leader Programme 2023–2027. \n\n\n\nThe Art of Nature: Protecting Our Forests and Oceans\n\n\n\n Creative Approaches to the Environment\, Sustainability\, and Social Justice \nSmashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality presents The Art of Nature: Protecting Our Forests and Oceans\, a unique project using the arts\, creative methodologies\, and digital technologies in the Cahersiveen and South Kerry area to celebrate the beauty of forests and oceans\, the importance of biodiversity\, and our deep connections to nature. The project uses the arts and creativity to promote practical awareness-raising and training in relation to environmental justice\, with a focus on biodiversity\, sustainability\, and human rights. \nThe Art of Nature runs from August 2025 to July 2026 and is implemented by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality in partnership with Acard and The Old Barracks Heritage Centre\, Cahersiveen\, supported by South Kerry Development Partnership CLG\, Leader Programme 2023–2027. The focus is on sustainable development for the rural environment. A Project Information and Biodiversity Leaflet will be distributed to share information on biodiversity\, connections between the forests and the ocean\, and the magic of local biodiverse green spaces and ways to protect those spaces into the future. \nThis project aims to work with local communities in the Cahersiveen area to raise awareness and identify practical measures to be implemented to build the health and resilience of biodiversity in our areas\, contributing to broader environmental efforts\, both locally and globally. The aim is to use creative processes and digital technologies alongside skills development to build local capacity to promote biodiversity and sustainability linked to social justice and to identify key steps local communities can take to ensure the long-term sustainability of the country and to protect and nurture the natural environment. \nThe project beautifully intertwines live performance and creative science-based workshops with environmental themes\, to promote biodiversity and sustainability linked to social justice. Artists working on the project include Mary Moynihan\, a writer\, poet\, and creator of art and photography; Ciara Hayes\, Arts Facilitator and Producer; and Freda Manweiler\, Arts Facilitator and Producer. Activities include 10 environmental performing art roadshows featuring a promenade show called The Art of Trees followed by a town-hall style meet-up or discussion forum and 10 science-based creative art workshops conducted with five schools\, five community groups and the general public. \nThe Earth naturally captures more than half of the CO2 released into the atmosphere\, with its forests and oceans playing a critical role as carbon sinks. However\, this role is being compromised by deforestation and ocean acidification – two issues that are squarely on the agenda for negotiations in relation to climate justice. Cahersiveen and the surrounding areas of the South Kerry region are rich in natural assets. However\, the natural environment including the oceans\, forests\, trees and plants are experiencing increased pressure in relation to biodiversity.  Join The Art of Nature as we work together to support the environment and protect biodiversity into the future. \n  \nPAST EVENTS \nThe Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan \nLive performance and post-show discussion reflecting on trees and forests\, the importance of biodiversity and our connections to nature. Each show is followed by a townhall-style community meet-up (post show discussion) to discuss creative ways to protect the environment and human rights. The guest speaker is Elis Martinelli from Sea Synergy Marine Awareness Centre\, Cahersiveen\, Co Kerry. \nThe Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan is a live\, immersive\, environmental performance blending theatre\, poetry\, and music to celebrate the beauty of trees and forests\, the importance of biodiversity\, and our deep connections to nature. Enjoy a magical performance\, as we regale you with storytelling\, poetry and music reflecting on trees and forests\, the importance of biodiversity and our deep connections to nature. \n  \nThe show was presented for ten performances including: \n\nTech Amergin Arts and Education Centre\, Waterville\, County Kerry V23 A243\n\nFriday 17 April 2026\, 8pm \n\nSt John the Baptist Church\, School Road\, Valentia Island\, County Kerry V23 TY72\n\nSaturday 18 April 2026\, 7pm \nTo date over twenty Science-based Creative Art Workshops for Sustainability\, Biodiversity and Environmental Justice and live performances have taken place with schools\, communities\, and the general public to promote biodiversity\, sustainability\, social justice\, and green spaces in South Kerry. \nOpen Call: Schools\, youth\, community groups and the general public can attend live performances\, environmental talks\, science-based creative art workshops and a sustainable event management workshop. If you wish to get involved\, please get in touch. If you are already involved in an environmental project\, feature your activities in our monthly Smashing Times newsletter and on the Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Radio Show. \nContact Freda on 087 2214245 or email admin@smashingtimes.ie. \nClick here to view the project’s web page. \n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/the-art-of-nature-environmental-training/
LOCATION:Old Barracks Heritage Centre\, Cahersiveen\, Co Kerry\, Cahersiveen\, Kerry\, V23VR62\, Ireland
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Art-of-Trees-17-Oct-2024-DB8_4860-c-Declan-Brennan-web.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality":MAILTO:info@smashingtimes.ie
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260718T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260718T150000
DTSTAMP:20260706T151208Z
CREATED:20260529T145749Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T151208Z
UID:10000692-1784383200-1784386800@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival: Kingdom Voices Guided Storytelling Walk: Changemakers Who Stood Up for the Rights of Others during World War II
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nEnjoy a guided storytelling walk recalling stories of Munster’s remarkable changemakers  who stood up for the rights of others and shaped our history through courage\, creativity and compassion. This unique ‘human rights’ walking trail starts indoors in the O’Connell Room at The Barracks Heritage Centre where we hear about the life stories of Kerry changemakers whose actions contributed to human dignity\, peace and justice.  We then have a guided walk (weather permitting) through the town of Cahersiveen to the Daniel O’Connell Memorial Church graveyard to hear about the life story of remarkable Kerry people who stood up peacefully for the rights of others during World War II\, offering a rich reflection on the storytelling heritage of this beautiful area.  During the session take the opportunity to add the name of your favourite changemaker\, past or present. The tour begins in The Barracks Heritage Centre when you can enjoy the vibrant exhibitions on display. After the tour\, you can stroll through the town of Cahersiveen to enjoy the many wonderful shops\, cafes and restaurants and to continue the conversations. Whether you’re a visitor or a local\, this unforgettable walk offers a fresh perspective on captivating stories of Kerry. \n\n\n\nEnjoy stories of Munster changemakers including Mary Elmes (1908-2002)\, Cork City\, Cork; Janie McCarthy (1885-1964)\, Killarney\, Kerry; and Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty (1898 – 1963)\, Killarney and Cahersiveen\, Kerry. \n\n\n\nPresented for the annual Kerry Arts + Human Rights Festival \nInformation at 087 2214245 or admin@smashingtimes.ie \n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/kingdom-voices-walking-tour-and-storytelling-session/
LOCATION:Old Barracks Heritage Centre\, Cahersiveen\, Co Kerry\, Cahersiveen\, Kerry\, V23VR62\, Ireland
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-29-155415.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality":MAILTO:info@smashingtimes.ie
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260718T120000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260718T130000
DTSTAMP:20260706T151048Z
CREATED:20260529T150450Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T151048Z
UID:10000693-1784376000-1784379600@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival: Eternal Rebels Guided Storytelling Tour and Talk celebrating Women Changemakers in Irish History
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nMary Moynihan\, writer\, director\, creator of art and photography \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nJoin artist Mary Moynihan for a guided storytelling tour and artist talk exploring the stories from the exhibition Eternal Rebels: Irish Women Changemakers. This thought-provoking exhibition combines photography\, poetry\, and storytelling to celebrate the lives of 13 remarkable women from Irish history who championed equality and the empowerment of others. Through a series of 13 storyboard artworks displayed throughout The Barracks Heritage Centre\, the exhibition brings these inspiring changemakers and their lasting legacies to life. During the tour\, Mary shares the stories behind the artworks\, offering insights into her creative process and the historical significance of the women featured. This unique curated tour and talk is an opportunity to discover inspiring figures from Ireland’s past and to explore how their courage and vision continue to resonate today. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMary Moynihan\, MA\, she/her\, is an award-winning author of novels\, plays\, poetry and films\, originally from Dublin\, Ireland. Mary has an honours BA in Drama and Theatre Studies from Trinity College Dublin and an honours Masters in Film Production from TU Dublin.  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 inter-disciplinary 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. \n\n\n\nAfter raising four children\, now all adults\, and following her recovery from serious illness\, 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 series Amergin and the Warriors of Zen. In her adult fiction\, Mary’s characters are clever\, fearless\, vulnerable\,  crazy\, and strong\, 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. \n\n\n\nMary pens a series of articles and Creative Musings on Arts\, Creativity\, Leadership and Self-Esteem which appears in the Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality newsletter and on Mary’s website marymoynihan.ie \n\n\n\nIn her free time Mary loves to spend time with her four adult children\, hang out with friends and 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 GAA Gaelic football and hurling teams. \n  \n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/art-of-rights-eternal-rebels-guided-tour-and-artist-talk/
LOCATION:Old Barracks Heritage Centre\, Cahersiveen\, Co Kerry\, Cahersiveen\, Kerry\, V23VR62\, Ireland
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/eternalrebels.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality":MAILTO:info@smashingtimes.ie
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260718T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260718T120000
DTSTAMP:20260706T150929Z
CREATED:20260529T145039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T150929Z
UID:10000691-1784372400-1784376000@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival Launch and Talk on The Importance of Human Rights
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nJoin us for the launch of the inaugural Kerry Arts and Human Rights festival celebrating creative spaces for arts and rights where storytelling\, human rights and fun connect. The launch features a talk on The Importance of Human Rights Today. In a world facing growing inequality\, conflict\, and social change\, human rights remain the foundation of dignity\, justice\, and equality for all. Join us for an inspiring talk exploring why protecting human rights matters now more than ever—and how each of us can help build a more inclusive and compassionate society. Open to all interested in using the arts to promote human rights\, diversity\, and equality for all. Join us in celebrating stories of people from Kerry and the wider Munster region\, past and present\, who champion peaceful human rights. \n\n\n\nPresented for the annual Kerry Arts + Human Rights Festival 18-19 July 2026 \nInformation at 087 2214245 or admin@smashingtimes.ie \n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/kerry-arts-and-human-rights-festival-launch/
LOCATION:Old Barracks Heritage Centre\, Cahersiveen\, Co Kerry\, Cahersiveen\, Kerry\, V23VR62\, Ireland
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/vitaly-gariev-vbU5pCh5CNo-unsplash.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality":MAILTO:info@smashingtimes.ie
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260718T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260718T160000
DTSTAMP:20260706T145235Z
CREATED:20260623T150921Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T145235Z
UID:10000707-1784368800-1784390400@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival: Eighth Wonder of the World - Transatlantic Cable Station Immersive Exhibition
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nReceive a discount when you mention the Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival. Book here. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nOver 150 years ago\, the first successful transatlantic telegraph cable was laid between Valentia Island in Ireland and Heart’s Content in Newfoundland\, Canada. This extraordinary achievement connected Europe and North America\, transforming communication forever. Known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World\,” the cable reduced communication time from weeks to minutes and marked the beginning of global connectivity. The story of the Transatlantic Cable is one of endurance\, innovation\, and human brilliance. Experience it through an immersive exhibition at the Valentia Cable Station. Hear from entrepreneur Cyrus Field and the Knight of Kerry as they recount their adventure. Try sending your own Morse code message\, learn how the first cables were laid\, and explore how modern underwater communications have evolved. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/eighth-wonder-transatlantic-cable/2026-07-18/
LOCATION:Translantic Cable Station\, Knightstown\, Valentia Island\, Co Kerry\, Knightstown\, Valentia Island\, Kerry\, V23 H685\, Ireland
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/images-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260718T100000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260718T160000
DTSTAMP:20260706T144915Z
CREATED:20260623T145904Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T144915Z
UID:10000704-1784368800-1784390400@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival:Valentia Island Lighthouse Experience
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nReceive a discount when you mention the Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival. Book here. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nA must visit on the Skellig Coast of the Wild Atlantic Way. \n\n\n\nEmbrace the rugged and exposed elements of the south west coast of the island of Ireland and peek into what life was like for lighthouse keepers and their families on Valentia Island keeping watch over the North Atlantic. \n\n\n\nLocated in one of the most scenic areas on the edge of Europe\, facing into the prevailing weather\, Valentia Island Lighthouse is home to the most westerly harbour light on the island of Ireland\, guiding vessels through the northern entrance to Valentia Harbour. \n\n\n\nExplore the 17th century artillery fort located at Cromwell Point and the 19th century lighthouse building soaking up the stories and science against a background of dramatic scenery of the Skellig Coast on the Wild Atlantic Way. \nPresented for the annual Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival.  \nInformation at 066 9476985 \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/lighthouse-experience/2026-07-18/
LOCATION:Valentia Island Lighthouse\, Cromwell Point\, Valentia Island\, Co Kerry\, Cromwell Point\, Glanleam\, Valentia Island\, Kerry\, V23 P680\, Ireland
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-23-155301.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260606T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260606T160000
DTSTAMP:20260529T105024Z
CREATED:20260514T135034Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260529T105024Z
UID:10000687-1780754400-1780761600@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Tintreach Creative Writing Workshop
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nEnjoy a Tintreach Creative Writing Workshop conducted to support and facilitate collaboration between artists\, creative practitioners and local communities in Uíbh Ráthach\, fostering a vibrant cultural hub. The Tintreach Creative Writing Workshop takes place at The Barracks Heritage Centre\, Cahersiveen\, Saturday 6 June 2026\, 2-4pm and explores writing skills\, sparks creativity and builds creative connections\, listening to what artists want as well as offering information  on the forthcoming open submission call for Tintreach: The Smashing Times Arts and Literary Journal.  Edition VII of Tintreach: The Smashing Times Arts and Literary Journal is a special bi-lingual edition featuring  the work of six artists from Uíbh Ráthach\, the Iveragh Peninsula\, County Kerry.  This special edition of Tintreach\, edited by writer Féilim James\, celebrates artistic practice\, the Irish language\, and community engagement\, with a focus on art\, place\, community\, the Irish language\,  nature and belonging.Tintreach: The Smashing Times Arts and Literary Journal will be published at a public launch on 18 July 2026\, at The Barracks Heritage Centre\, Cahersiveen as part of the Kerry Arts and Human Rights festival. \n\n\n\nSubmissions open until Sunday\, 14 June 2026\, details here \n\n\n\n\n\nCreative Connections\n\n\n\nImplemented by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality in partnership with The Barracks Heritage Centre\, Cahersiveen\, and ACARD Community Development Limited\, Cahersiveen. Supported by Cumas Ceantar  Creative Places Uíbh Ráthaigh\, The Arts Council and the the Ciste Beag Ealaíon – Micro Arts Fund 2026\, Kerry County Council\, and Failte Ireland. Key artists and creatives include Féilim James (Editor and Writer)\, Mary Moynihan (Writer\, Poet and Visual Artist)\, Freda Manweiler (Producer)\, and Ciara Hayes (Producer). \n\n\n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/tintreach-creative-writing-workshop/
LOCATION:Old Barracks Heritage Centre\, Cahersiveen\, Co Kerry\, Cahersiveen\, Kerry\, V23VR62\, Ireland
CATEGORIES:Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Creative-Writing-Workshop.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality":MAILTO:info@smashingtimes.ie
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260528T120000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260528T140000
DTSTAMP:20260514T112539Z
CREATED:20260508T111728Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260514T112539Z
UID:10000686-1779969600-1779976800@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Belonging: A Smashing Times Poetry Day Ireland Celebration
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nMary Moynihan\, award-winning author of novels\, poetry\, films and plays\, and a creator of art and photography \n\n\n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nSmashing Times are delighted to present Belonging\, an open poetry session and artist talk taking place on Thursday 28 May\, 12am-2pm\, at the Smashing Times Visual Art Gallery\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Dublin\, as part of the Poetry Day Ireland celebrations.   Belonging features poetry readings by writer and poet Mary Moynihan and invited guest artists\, on themes of home\, nature and belonging\, and a curated artist talk by Mary Moynihan on the poems that inspired the artworks in her powerful multidisciplinary exhibition From the Forest to the Ocean\, currently on display at the Smashing Times Visual Art Gallery. Bringing together photography\, poetry\, and film\, this multidisciplinary exhibition draws inspiration from the physical landscapes of nature and the deep interconnectedness of life — from forests to the ocean.  \n\n\n\nBelonging is a session of poetry\, fun and chat taking place onsite at the Smashing Times Visual Art Gallery. All welcome. If you wish to read a poem on the day\, please get in touch with Ciara at admin@smashingtimes.ie. Poetry Day Ireland is an annual island-wide celebration of poetry organised by Poetry Ireland\, taking place on Thursday 28 May 28 2026\, with the theme ‘Home’.  Presented as part of the European project WE AREurope\, exploring shared European values of human dignity\, freedom\, democracy\, equality\, diversity\, human rights\, gender equality\, and peace. Supported by Erasmus+. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMary 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. \n\n\n\nAfter raising four children\, now adults\, Mary dedicated her time to writing and creating art and photography. 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. \n\n\n\nMary 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 \n\n\n\nMary is an interdisciplinary artist and  regularly creates artworks that fuse photographic imagery\, poetical texts and film\, many of which are inspired by landscapes and seascapes especially of the seas and oceans around Ireland. 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. \n  \n\n\n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/belonging-a-smashing-times-poetry-day-ireland-celebration/
LOCATION:Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality\, Visual Art Gallery and Centre for the Arts and Human Rights\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Dublin A96V9P1\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Sandycove\, Dublin\, A96V9P1
CATEGORIES:Performance,Poetry
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/13-copy.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality":MAILTO:info@smashingtimes.ie
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260526T093000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260528T140000
DTSTAMP:20260514T112051Z
CREATED:20260508T104144Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260514T112051Z
UID:10000685-1779787800-1779976800@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Belonging: Three-Day Creative Arts Workshop
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nSmashing Times never want ticket price to be a barrier to participation. Email admin@smashingtimes.ie to book a free place. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nMary Moynihan\, award-winning author of novels\, poetry\, films and plays\, and a creator of art and photography \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nEnjoy a three-day Creative Arts Workshop to meet with other women; to explore themes of nature\, belonging and a shared European identity and to take part in an open ‘Poetry Day’ at the Smashing Times Visual Art Gallery to celebrate Poetry Day Ireland. The workshop runs on Tuesday 26 May\, 9.30-12.30\, Wednesday 27 May 11-2pm and Thursday 28 May 11-2pm (3 hours per day)\, with the third day presented as an Open Poetry Session and Artist talk titled Belonging and open to the public.  \n\n\n\nGuided by methods and artworks on display from Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality\, Dublin\, Ireland and Théâtre & Réconciliation\, Brussels\, Belgium\, participants share reflections on identity\, migration and belonging\, engage in poetical expression in celebration of Poetry Day Ireland\, and create a space for shared experiences and diverse voices to connect. On days one and two\, the workshop involves drama games and exercises\, discussion and chat. Wear practical clothing for active participation. No experience necessary.  On the third and final day\, we present Belonging\, an open session of poetry readings and artist talk by Mary Moynihan\, for the Poetry Day Ireland celebrations.   Workshop participants attend the open poetry event and can become involved as a ‘Welcome Guide’ inviting people into the space or can read a poem (to be confirmed as part of the workshop process) or simply attend and enjoy the celebrations. See further details on the public event below. \n\n\n\nAs part of the workshop participants have the opportunity to meet with international theatre and arts practitioner Frédérique Lecomte\, founder\, CEO and artistic director of Théâtre et Réconciliation located in Brussels\, Belgium. Frédérique is an award-winning internationally recognised artist and creator who has developed her own theatrical techniques for over 40 years. She has worked with vulnerable populations both in conflict zones (the Great Lakes region of Africa) and in Belgium. Her Théâtre et Réconciliation method\, named after the theatre company\, she founded\, brings together creative and methodological tools for developing theatrical productions quickly\, enabling her to achieve results in a short space of time\, thanks in particular to her unique technique of live staging. For her work\, she received the 2018 Woman of Peace Award in Belgium. Frédérique Lecomte has given numerous training courses\, masterclasses and lectures at universities across Europe and around the world. \n\n\n\nThe three-day workshop is facilitated by artist Mary Moynihan\, a writer\, poet and creator of art and photography. Mary is a professional artist and Artistic Director of Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and Artistic Curator for the annual international Irish Arts and Human Rights festival. \n\n\n\nPresented as part of the European project WE AREurope\, exploring shared European values of human dignity\, freedom\, democracy\, equality\, diversity\, human rights\, gender equality\, and peace. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMary 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. \n\n\n\nAfter raising four children\, now adults\, Mary dedicated her time to writing and creating art and photography. 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. \n\n\n\nMary 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 \n\n\n\nMary is an interdisciplinary artist and  regularly creates artworks that fuse photographic imagery\, poetical texts and film\, many of which are inspired by landscapes and seascapes especially of the seas and oceans around Ireland. 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. \n  \n\n\n\n\n\nWE AREurope: Theatre\, Identity and European Values\n\n\n\nThe WE AREurope – Women Empowering\, Allying\, and Reinventing Europe on Stage project – funded by Erasmus+\, is a collaborative initiative between Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality\, Dublin\, Ireland and Théâtre & Réconciliation\, Brussels\, Belgium that uses theatre and creative arts to support the inclusion and empowerment of women from migrant communities across Europe. The project raises awareness of shared European values\, identifies recommendations and modes of action to facilitate the inclusion of women from migrant and ethnic minority communities in Europe\, and promotes learning opportunities for all citizens and generations through creativity\, the arts and culture. Read more about the project here. \n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/belonging-three-day-creative-arts-workshop-2/
LOCATION:Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality\, Visual Art Gallery and Centre for the Arts and Human Rights\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Dublin A96V9P1\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Sandycove\, Dublin\, A96V9P1
CATEGORIES:Multidisciplinary,Poetry,Theatre,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/weareeurope-feat.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality":MAILTO:info@smashingtimes.ie
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260418T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260418T200000
DTSTAMP:20260414T155705Z
CREATED:20260408T103509Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260414T155705Z
UID:10000684-1776538800-1776542400@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:The Art of Trees
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\n087 2214245 or email freda@smashingtimes.ie. Booking Essential. \n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nMary Moynihan\, Writer \n\n\n\nElizabeth Moynihan\, Director \n\n\n\nAoife Kavanagh\, Actor \n\n\n\nAnna Fitzgerald\, Actor \n\n\n\nCiara Hayes\, Producer \n\n\n\nFreda Manweiler\, Producer \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nThe Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan is a live\, immersive\, environmental performance blending theatre\, poetry\, and music to celebrate and reflect on the beauty of trees and forests\, the importance of biodiversity\, and our deep connections to nature. Each show is followed by a town-hall style community meet-up to discuss creative ways to protect the environment and human rights. The guest speaker is environmental expert Elis Martinelli from Sea Synergy Marine Awareness Centre. The shows are presented for The Art of Nature: Protecting our Forests and Oceans\, implemented by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality in partnership with Acard and The Barracks Heritage Centre\, Cahersiveen\, supported by South Kerry Development Partnership CLG\, Leader Programme 2023-2027. \n\n\n\nEnjoy a magical performance\, as we regale you with storytelling\, poetry and music reflecting on trees and forests\, the importance of biodiversity and our connections to nature. Join us as we celebrate the beauty of trees\, nature\, biodiversity and the interconnectedness of the world around us. Brigid of Kildare\, patron saint of Ireland has returned. 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. \n\n\n\nListen 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 Art of Trees invites us to explore why tree cover in Ireland has fallen so low and to reflect on the role trees play in our ecosystem.  What can be done to save our sacred trees and ancient woods and take action in the fight against climate change? The show is a theatrically staged fusion of theatre\, poetry\, story\, and music and is a dazzling storytelling performance suitable for all ages that is fun\, magical and sparking. \n  \n  \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMary Moynihan MA \n\n\n\nWriter of Novels\, Poetry\, Films\, Plays \n\n\n\nCreator of Art and Photography \n\n\n\nCreative Reflections on Arts\, Creativity\, Equality\, Leadership and Self-Esteem \n\n\n\nMary 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. \n\n\n\nAfter 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. \n\n\n\nMary 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 \n\n\n\nIn 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. \n\n\n\nSmashing Times \n\n\n\nMary 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. \n\n\n\nMary 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. \n\n\n\nAwards \n\n\n\nMary’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.    \n\n\n\nWriter of Novels\, Poetry\, Films and Plays \n\n\n\nMary 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. \n\n\n\nMary 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. \n\n\n\nPlays 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 \n\n\n\nMary 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. \n\n\n\nMary’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. \n\n\n\nKeep in touch with Mary on: \n\n\n\nTel: + 00 353 (0) 87 7438722 \n\n\n\nEmail: marymoynihanarts@gmail.com \n\n\n\nWebsite: MaryMoynihan.ie \n\n\n\nFollow Mary on Facebook\, Instagram and LinkedIn \n  \n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAnna Fitzgerald is a creative writer\, performer\, drama teacher and accountant! She attended the Audrey Meredith School of Drama and completed the Irish Board of Speech and Drama Grade Exams\, Associate and the Licentiate Teaching Diplomas. In 2023\, she founded ‘Drama at the Harold’ and ‘Drama at Glasthule’. She is a member of Shifting Stages\, a newly founded collective of mothers and theatre makers\, dedicated to supporting each other’s practices. The collective evolved from ‘Waking the Feminists’ (WTF) movement in 2015 where artists questioned the role of women in Theatre in Ireland and ‘Mother Artist Makers’ (MAM) a collective of mothers in Irish theatre who advocate for career supports for creative practitioners with caring responsibilities and to promote family friendly arts practices.  She is working on her Irish Goddess collection of stories since developing the concept for her professional diploma in Innovation\, Creativity and Leadership in UCD in 2019. She performed original pieces from the Goddess Series during Culture Night 2023 and 2025 in the DLR Mill Theatre and the Lab\, Dublin City Arts Offices\, Foley Street.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAoife Kavanagh is an actor based in Dublin and Kildare working throughout film and theatre. She graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 2025 which a First Class Honours Degree in Drama and Theatre. Her love for performance has developed over many years\, from starting speech and drama classes at six years old\, as well as training in ballet and various other forms of dance. Her performance credits include Better Out Than In Campaign (Belong To Youth Services\, 2025)\, Evoe (Samuel Beckett Theatre\, 2025)\, CHAOS (Samuel Beckett Theatre\, 2024)\, Pinstripe (Samuel Beckett Theatre\, 2024)\, Until Death (Virgin Media\, 2022) and Hall of Healing (Kill Musical & Dramatic Society\, 2022). Aoife also has experience in stage management and costume design. Her costume credits include costume designer of No Exit (Samuel Beckett Theatre\, 2025)\, The Contest (Samuel Beckett Theatre\, 2024) and assistant costume on Uncanny Valley (Samuel Beckett Theatre\, 2023). Her stage management credits include Sell By Date (Samuel Beckett Theatre\, 2025)\, Anna (Samuel Beckett Theatre\, 2024) and This Too Shall Pass (Samuel Beckett Theatre\, 2023). \n\n\n\n\n\nThe Art of Nature: Protecting our Forests and Oceans\n\n\n\nCreative Approaches to the Environment\, Sustainability and Social Justice \n\n\n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/the-art-of-trees-9/
LOCATION:St John the Baptist Church\, Valentia Island\, Co Kerry\, Knightstown\, Valentia Island\, Kerry\, Ireland
CATEGORIES:Performance,Theatre
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/The-Art-of-Trees-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality":MAILTO:info@smashingtimes.ie
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260417T200000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20260417T210000
DTSTAMP:20260408T104806Z
CREATED:20260408T095629Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260408T104806Z
UID:10000683-1776456000-1776459600@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:The Art of Trees
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nCall 066 9478956. Admission Free. Booking Essential. \n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nMary Moynihan\, Writer \n\n\n\nElizabeth Moynihan\, Director \n\n\n\nAoife Kavanagh\, Actor \n\n\n\nAnna Fitzgerald\, Actor \n\n\n\nCiara Hayes\, Producer \n\n\n\nFreda Manweiler\, Producer \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nThe Art of Trees by Mary Moynihan is a live\, immersive\, environmental performance blending theatre\, poetry\, and music to celebrate and reflect on the beauty of trees and forests\, the importance of biodiversity\, and our deep connections to nature. Each show is followed by a town-hall style community meet-up to discuss creative ways to protect the environment and human rights. The guest speaker is environmental expert Elis Martinelli from Sea Synergy Marine Awareness Centre. The shows are presented for The Art of Nature: Protecting our Forests and Oceans\, implemented by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality in partnership with Acard and The Barracks Heritage Centre\, Cahersiveen\, supported by South Kerry Development Partnership CLG\, Leader Programme 2023-2027. \n\n\n\nEnjoy a magical performance\, as we regale you with storytelling\, poetry and music reflecting on trees and forests\, the importance of biodiversity and our connections to nature. Join us as we celebrate the beauty of trees\, nature\, biodiversity and the interconnectedness of the world around us. Brigid of Kildare\, patron saint of Ireland has returned. 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. \n\n\n\nListen 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 Art of Trees invites us to explore why tree cover in Ireland has fallen so low and to reflect on the role trees play in our ecosystem.  What can be done to save our sacred trees and ancient woods and take action in the fight against climate change? The show is a theatrically staged fusion of theatre\, poetry\, story\, and music and is a dazzling storytelling performance suitable for all ages that is fun\, magical and sparking. \n  \n\n\n\nArtist Biographies:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMary Moynihan MA \n\n\n\nWriter of Novels\, Poetry\, Films\, Plays \n\n\n\nCreator of Art and Photography \n\n\n\nCreative Reflections on Arts\, Creativity\, Equality\, Leadership and Self-Esteem \n\n\n\nMary 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. \n\n\n\nAfter 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. \n\n\n\nMary 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 \n\n\n\nIn 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. \n\n\n\nSmashing Times \n\n\n\nMary 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. \n\n\n\nMary 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. \n\n\n\nAwards \n\n\n\nMary’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.    \n\n\n\nWriter of Novels\, Poetry\, Films and Plays \n\n\n\nMary 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. \n\n\n\nMary 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. \n\n\n\nPlays 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 \n\n\n\nMary 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. \n\n\n\nMary’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. \n\n\n\nKeep in touch with Mary on: \n\n\n\nTel: + 00 353 (0) 87 7438722 \n\n\n\nEmail: marymoynihanarts@gmail.com \n\n\n\nWebsite: MaryMoynihan.ie \n\n\n\nFollow Mary on Facebook\, Instagram and LinkedIn \n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAnna Fitzgerald is a creative writer\, performer\, drama teacher and accountant! She attended the Audrey Meredith School of Drama and completed the Irish Board of Speech and Drama Grade Exams\, Associate and the Licentiate Teaching Diplomas. In 2023\, she founded ‘Drama at the Harold’ and ‘Drama at Glasthule’. She is a member of Shifting Stages\, a newly founded collective of mothers and theatre makers\, dedicated to supporting each other’s practices. The collective evolved from ‘Waking the Feminists’ (WTF) movement in 2015 where artists questioned the role of women in Theatre in Ireland and ‘Mother Artist Makers’ (MAM) a collective of mothers in Irish theatre who advocate for career supports for creative practitioners with caring responsibilities and to promote family friendly arts practices.  She is working on her Irish Goddess collection of stories since developing the concept for her professional diploma in Innovation\, Creativity and Leadership in UCD in 2019. She performed original pieces from the Goddess Series during Culture Night 2023 and 2025 in the DLR Mill Theatre and the Lab\, Dublin City Arts Offices\, Foley Street.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAoife Kavanagh is an actor based in Dublin and Kildare working throughout film and theatre. She graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 2025 which a First Class Honours Degree in Drama and Theatre. Her love for performance has developed over many years\, from starting speech and drama classes at six years old\, as well as training in ballet and various other forms of dance. Her performance credits include Better Out Than In Campaign (Belong To Youth Services\, 2025)\, Evoe (Samuel Beckett Theatre\, 2025)\, CHAOS (Samuel Beckett Theatre\, 2024)\, Pinstripe (Samuel Beckett Theatre\, 2024)\, Until Death (Virgin Media\, 2022) and Hall of Healing (Kill Musical & Dramatic Society\, 2022). Aoife also has experience in stage management and costume design. Her costume credits include costume designer of No Exit (Samuel Beckett Theatre\, 2025)\, The Contest (Samuel Beckett Theatre\, 2024) and assistant costume on Uncanny Valley (Samuel Beckett Theatre\, 2023). Her stage management credits include Sell By Date (Samuel Beckett Theatre\, 2025)\, Anna (Samuel Beckett Theatre\, 2024) and This Too Shall Pass (Samuel Beckett Theatre\, 2023). \n\n\n\n\n\nThe Art of Nature: Protecting our Forests and Oceans\n\n\n\nCreative Approaches to the Environment\, Sustainability and Social Justice \n \n\n\n\nSmashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality presents The Art of Nature: Protecting our Forests and Oceans\, a unique project using the arts\, creative methodologies and digital technologies in the Cahersiveen and South Kerry area to celebrate the beauty of forests and oceans\, the importance of biodiversity and our deep connections to nature. The project uses the arts and creativity to promote practical awareness-raising and training in relation to environmental justice\, with a focus on biodiversity\, sustainability and human rights.  \n\n\n\nThe Art of Nature: Protecting our Forests and Oceans is implemented by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality in partnership with Acard and The Barracks Heritage Centre\, Cahersiveen\, supported by South Kerry Development Partnership CLG\, Leader Programme 2023-2027. The focus is on sustainable development for the rural environment.  Activities take place with schools\, communities and the general public to promote biodiversity\, sustainability\, social justice and green spaces in South Kerry. The project beautifully intertwines live performance and creative science-based workshops with environmental themes\, to promote biodiversity and sustainability linked to social justice.  Artists working on the project include Mary Moynihan\, a writer\, poet and creator of art and photography\, Ciara Hayes\, Arts Facilitator and Producer; Freda Manweiler\, Facilitator and Producer; and Elizabeth Moynihan\, Director. \n\n\n\nActivities \n\n\n\nCreative Art Workshops: Science-based creative art workshops take place with schools and communities to promote biodiversity\, sustainability and links to social justice. \n\n\n\nLive Performances and Talks: Activities consist of two public environmental-themed performances and post-show panel discussions. See below for details. \n\n\n\nTraining: In addition to the performances and panel discussions\, a series of science-based creative art workshops take place with schools and communities to promote biodiversity\, sustainability\, and environmental justice.  A Sustainable Event Management Training Workshop\, open to the public\, takes place to promote sustainable event management and eco-friendly practises for organising a community-based arts event or festival. Places limited to 20\, on a first-come\, first-served basis.  Contact Freda at Smashing Times on 087 2214245\, for further details. \n  \n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/the-art-of-trees-8/
LOCATION:Tech Amergin Arts and Education Centre\, Spunkane\, Waterville\, Co Kerry
CATEGORIES:Performance,Theatre
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/The-Art-of-Trees-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality":MAILTO:info@smashingtimes.ie
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20251025T080000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20251025T170000
DTSTAMP:20250926T104317Z
CREATED:20250912T114247Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250926T104317Z
UID:10000626-1761379200-1761411600@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Crafting Stories Together – Creative Multilingual workshops for families with children 3 to 6 years old
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\n \n\n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nFree admission\, book here \n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nMargot A. Jones\, puppeteer\, performer and facilitator \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nCan you whisper\, rustle\, or growl? How about colour\, create\, and stick things together? If so\, this workshop is for you! Discover the magic of storytelling\, bring the story to life with sound and movement and craft your own imaginative art to take home. Perfect for kids and grown-ups who love to get creative and have fun! In these series each session is different but connected to an overall theme. Come to as many workshops as you like! \n\n\n\nLanguage: English + Irish + Bring your own! While the workshops will be guided in English\, we encourage families to embrace their home languages. This fosters meaningful connections between parents and children\, creating a truly inclusive environment. \n\n\n\nLanguage Explorers workshops promote a human rights agenda by creating inclusive\, accessible artistic spaces that respect and celebrate every child’s right to participate in cultural life\, as outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Article 12). The programme empowers children and families to express their linguistic and cultural identities\, fostering pride in their mother tongues and ensuring that minority and migrant voices are heard and valued. \n\n\n\nBy actively engaging parents and children from diverse backgrounds\, including those living in Direct Provision and socio-economically disadvantaged areas\, the workshops address the right to equality\, cultural participation\, and freedom of expression. The methodology places the child’s voice at the centre\, ensuring they are not only participants but active co-creators\, aligning with a rights-based approach to arts education and community engagement. \n\n\n\nLanguage Explorers is Mother Tongues’ award-winning programme\, designed for children aged 3 to 6 and their families.Facilitated by our specially trained multilingual artists\, the workshops provide a welcoming space for families from all linguistic and cultural backgrounds. \n\n\n\nEach workshop is an invitation to connect with your family language(s)\, through storytelling\, play\, visual arts\, music and movement. \n\n\n\nOur artists create a space full of imagination and creativity\, in which speaking and listening to languages is fun and something to be proud of. Families come together in high-quality artistic activities while sharing and exploring the diversity of languages in the room – an experience equally inspiring for multilingual families as for those who are curious about other languages and cultures. Workshops are delivered in English\, but families are warmly encouraged to bring any and all languages they speak. Whether your child is fluent\, just learning\, non-speaking\, or uses a different way to communicate\, this space is for you. \n\n\n\nMother Tongues\, established in 2017\, is a leading organisation working at the intersection of the arts\, language and cultural diversity in Ireland. Its mission is to unlock the creative potential of multilingualism through high-quality\, inclusive arts experiences that promote social cohesion\, celebrate linguistic and cultural diversity and foster a sense of belonging for children\, families and communities. Since 2022\, our Language Explorers programme has engaged 18 plurilingual artists and reached over 2\,500 children and parents. By facilitating high-quality\, inclusive arts experiences\, we nurture children’s creativity and language skills\, strengthen family bonds and enhance community wellbeing. \n  \n  \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMargot A. Jones is a puppeteer\, performer and facilitator living in Co\, Wicklow.Born and schooled in Tyrone\, she initially trained in in Ireland\, the USA and Vietnam\, where she earned a PhD in traditional puppetry. During this time she was influenced by Grotowski and Boal and by work at Peter Schumann’s Bread and Puppet Theatre. On her return to Ireland she worked with various companies including Puca Puppets\, and toured to various venues with Irish language work for young audiences. \n\n\n\nAn insatiable curiosity has led her to extend her work into such areas as early years development\, therapeutic theatre\, visual arts practice and community gardening. She is fascinated by differences in perception and experience. Working in communities\, hospitals\, care settings\, museums and schools she pursues this interest through specific facilitative work. \n\n\n\nMargot’s recent work includes: shadow-puppet performance of Gilgamesh (Cashel Arts Festival 2004)\, studio artist at Signal Arts Centre (2023)\, puppetry workshops (Lexicon 2024)\, language explorers workshops (Mother Tongues 2024)\, Shared Island-Civic Society Cross Border Arts Project (2024-25)\, participative research in elder care settings (Age and Opportunity 2024-25). She is currently devising a new performance piece which incorporates traditional Irish ballads and aspects of puppetry. \n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/crafting-stories-together-creative-multilingual-workshops-for-families-with-children-3-to-6-years-old-4/2025-10-25/
LOCATION:Rua Red\, South Dublin Arts Centre\, County Hall\, Belgard Square North\, Dublin 24\, D24 KV8N\, Ireland
CATEGORIES:Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/https___cdn.evbuc_.com_images_418598099_202126013769_1_original.jpeg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20251022T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20251022T190000
DTSTAMP:20250926T103450Z
CREATED:20250917T102011Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250926T103450Z
UID:10000675-1761156000-1761159600@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Radio Show – Special Festival Broadcast
DESCRIPTION:Min El Mai Lal Mai – From Water to Water\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThree-Day Palestinian Cultural Day Festival (25–27 September 2026)\, celebrating Palestinian culture through art\, music\, food\, education and community events  \n\n\n \n\n\n\nFeature artists interviewed on the show include Shreya Gupta\, writer; Noah Sex\, visual artist\, and Rowan Tate\, writer. Shreya\, Noah and Rowan are all also Voices for Peace artists. \n\n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nNo Booking Necessary\, listen on Dublin South FM 93.9\, or listen online at www.dublinsouthfm.ie \n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nMary 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 \n\n\n\nFreda Manweiler\, Company Manager and Producer\, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality \n\n\n\nCiara Hayes\, Producer\, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality \n\n\n\nGuest Speakers and Feature Artist Interviews to be announced – Watch this space! \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nEnjoy two special broadcasts of the Arts and Human Rights radio show for the seventh annual Irish Arts and Human Rights festival featuring interviews\, chat and discussion on all things arts and human rights. The show features interviews with guest speakers and artists from Ireland and across the world celebrating all the action from this year’s Irish Arts and Human Rights festival taking place in Ireland from 10 to 19 October 2025. \n\n\n\nDates and Times:            Radio show broadcast 1 October\, repeated 8 October 2025\, 6-7pm \n\n\n\n                                        Radio show broadcast 15 October\, repeated 22 October 2025\, 6-7pm \n\n\n\nThe Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Radio show is broadcast every Wednesday 6-7pm with Dublin South FM with each episode available as a podcast. The show is hosted by Mary Moynihan\, writer\, poet\, creator of art and photography and Artistic Director\, Smashing Times along with co-host Freda Manweiler\, Producer\, Smashing Times.  Enjoy an engaging hour of in-depth discussions focused on all things arts\, culture and human rights\, exploring political and cultural happenings in the world today and the work of artists\,  arts organisations and civil society groups who advocate for arts\, culture\, equality\, human rights\, diversity\, democracy and peace. Tune in to Dublin South FM 93.9\, or listen online at www.dublinsouthfm.ie. \n\n\n\n Listen to past shows here \n\n\n\nThe show is hosted by Mary Moynihan and Freda Manweiler. \n  \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMary Moynihan\, MA\, she/her\, is an author of novels\, poetry\, films and plays\, 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\, poetry 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 international Arts and Human Rights festival. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFreda Manweiler has worked with Smashing Times since 1999. She is highly skilled in project management\, coordination and implementation. She has extensive experience working at a European level developing and delivering a range of European Initiatives\, collaborating with over 50 cultural\, educational and civil society organisations from over 22 European Countries. Promoting European Values through working on activities and projects that promote human rights\, gender equality\, positive mental health\, remembrance and civic engagement. \n\n\n\n\n\nAnother Title\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nOrganisations Involved / Partner Organisation(s):\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/smashing-times-arts-and-human-rights-radio-show-special-festival-broadcast/2025-10-22/
LOCATION:Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Smashing-Times-Radio-Show-Logo-OFFICIAL.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Smashing Times":MAILTO:info@smashingtimes.ie
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