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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261012T150000
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SUMMARY:Theatre for a Shared Humanity: Arts and Human Rights Participative 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\nParticipants explore movement\, improvisation\, collaborative performance-making and socially engaged artistic methodologies while considering shared European values including human dignity\, gender equality\, human rights\, diversity\, democracy and peace. \n\n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nFrederique Lecomte\, Artistic Director\, Theatre & Reconciliation \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nJoin us for a ‘One Night Stand’! This is an inspiring afternoon and evening of theatre\, creativity\, and dialogue with internationally acclaimed theatre-maker Frédérique Lecomte\, founder and Artistic Director of Théâtre & Réconciliation. This practical theatre workshop (3–6pm) that Frédérique Lecomte joyfully refers to as a ‘one night stand’ where theatre is made in a short space of time and where participants explore movement\, improvisation\, collaborative performance-making\, and socially engaged artistic methodologies in a supportive and accessible environment is open to women and female-identifying people only. \n\n\n\nThemes explored include the concept of a shared European identity and European values of human dignity\, gender equality\, human rights\, diversity\, democracy and peace.  The workshop culminates in a live improvised public performance (7.30–9.30pm)\, presented by the participants themselves and open to all audiences. The workshop is open to theatre and art students and practitioners\, youth and community groups\, members of civil society organisations and individual members of the public who are interested in discovering more about the work.  No prior experience is necessary. Active participation is required. Please wear practical clothing for participation in games and exercises. \n\n\n\nPresented by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality as part of the 2026 Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival\, this unique event offers participants the opportunity to engage directly with one of Europe’s leading socially engaged theatre practitioners. Frédérique Lecomte is the founder and director of  Théâtre & Réconciliation\,  an award-winning Belgian theatre company dedicated to social engagement\, artistic innovation\, and community empowerment. Through original theatrical creation\, the company works with diverse communities in both conflict zones and peaceful settings\, using theatre as a powerful tool for dialogue\, transformation\, and shared humanity. \n\n\n\nThis is a rare opportunity to work closely with an internationally recognised artist while exploring themes of European identity and shared values\, including human rights\, gender equality\, diversity\, democracy\, and peace. \n\n\n\nThe improvised public performance is followed by a panel discussion and Q&A featuring Frédérique Lecomte of Théâtre & Réconciliation and Mary Moynihan of Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality. Together\, they will discuss the We Are Europe project\, Frédérique Lecomte’s award-winning artistic practice\, and the role of the arts in fostering inclusion\, reconciliation\, and social change across Europe. \n\n\n\nThis event is presented as part of WE ARE Europe\, a collaborative European initiative between Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality\, Ireland\, and Théâtre & Réconciliation\, Belgium\, supported by Erasmus+. The project promotes transnational collaboration\, shared creative methodologies\, and inclusive arts practice across Europe. \n\n\n\nThe event is also part of Erasmus Days\, an international six-day celebration of the Erasmus+ programme. Find out more here \n\n\n\nThéâtre & Réconciliation \n\n\n\nTheatre & Reconciliation is a Belgian non-profit organisation. Founded in 1994 by director Frédérique Lecomte\, it aims to perpetuate a particular dramatic practice that aims to work\, through theatre\, with marginalized or vulnerable populations. Rehearsals mix professional and amateur actors to create a joyful\, political and unbridled theatre that dares to say out loud what everyone thinks low\, that gives a voice to those who are deprived of it\, that transforms actors and spectators. The Theatre & Reconciliation method aims at the autonomy  of vulnerable people\, reconstruction\, conflict resolution and reconciliation.  The spectator receives the stories of people\, the little stories like the Great Story\, the show brings those who are far away close to us\, overcomes fears\, thwarts clichés and amuses himself with stereotypes. \n\n\n\n“I create on the difficulty to put together people who\, normally\, hate each other\, kill each other\, take revenge\, suspect each other\, consider each other as part of an inferior humanity. There\, I act\, I combine\, I mix; there\, I tip the limits of fear\, fear of the other\, fear of oneself.” \n\n\n\nExpertise: Through the presentation of performances of high artistic standards\, the organization impacts reflection and change on audience members. Theatre & Reconciliation has created productions with actors from vulnerable and marginalised communities including those from conflict zones\, diasporas\, prisoners\, torture victims\, drug addicts and asylum seekers\, using theatre as a means of reconciliation and giving confidence and a voice to those who have none. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFrédérique LeComte is the founder and main facilitator of the Theatre and Reconciliation method. She is a sociologist\, writer and stage director from Belgium. She is an expert in rebuilding traumatised and conflicted communities\, organising theatre workshops and performances both with and for the community in war areas all over the world. In these areas\, Frédérique creates a safe space where everyone is free to speak – victims of torture\, torturers\, people displaced and prisoners alike. She aims to use theatre to discuss issues such as justice\, trauma\, elections\, land and ethnic conflicts. In Belgium\, she works with prisoners\, psychiatric patients\, diasporas\, illegal migrants and asylum seekers. Frédérique also offers training and conferences about Theatre and Reconciliation for NGOs\, associations and individuals. \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\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/theatre-for-a-shared-humanity-arts-and-human-rights/
LOCATION:Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Sandycove\, Dublin\, A96V9P1\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Sandycove\, Dublin\, A96V9P1
CATEGORIES:Theatre,Workshop
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ORGANIZER;CN="Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality":MAILTO:info@smashingtimes.ie
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261011T200000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261011T210000
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CREATED:20260916T135842Z
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SUMMARY:Cloud Study – Live Dance Performance by Irish Modern Dance Theatre
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\nUsing clouds as a metaphor for travel\, memory\, storms and home\, the performance explores movement\, communication and identity through English\, Arabic and Yorùbá. \n\n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nBook here \n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nMufutau Yusuf\, dancer \n\n\n\nSalma Ataya\, dancer \n\n\n\nJohn Scott\, Artistic Director\, Irish Modern Dance Theatre \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nCloud Study by John Scott\, with music by Ryan Vail\, is part dance\, part dream\, made for two compelling dancers. Mufutau Yusuf\, an Irish dancer born in Nigeria and Salma Ataya\, a Palestinian/ Irish dancer\, use the idea of clouds as a traveling dreamy mass that float above everything\, witnessing\, dissolving\, and carrying storms. The dancers are running to somewhere or to something\, speaking English\, Arabic and Yorùbá\, communicating with their bodies\, hand signs and dance\, chasing dreams\, memories and home. \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\nFestival Racconti di Altre Danze\, Livorno\, Italy \n\n\n\nRacconti di Altre Danze was born in the February/May 2017 season\, a festival with a clearly contemporary focus\, dedicated to artistic realities both resident in the Livorno area and included in the national and international contemporary dance scene. In this new space\, choreographers and dancers have the opportunity to showcase their artistic and research journey to our city. Tales of Other Dances marked the beginning of a different approach to the promotion and dissemination of performance and entertainment activities that explore contemporary body languages\, engaging with the present\, and making the vision of contemporary dance in Livorno independent\, authoritative\, and contextualized. \n\n\n\nIn subsequent editions\, RAD broadened its vision of signature dance by inviting\, in addition to local artists by birth or adoption\, artists from the national and international scene\, who engaged with the city through both performances and actions and practices aimed at citizens. From this perspective\, the idea of ​​giving places an unusual presence\, redeveloping them through the presence of site-specific creations\, has become increasingly evident\, returning spaces to the city with a renewed perception\, making it possible to create new venues for culture and art. The festival has chosen to address the relationship between the different arts on the level of adjacency and proximity\, producing suggestions and shared aesthetics and creative processes that abandon the idea of ​​interdisciplinary teaching of performance\, to contribute to the growth of that creative humus that encourages dialogue with the now\, convinced that it is not enough to see dance; a reflection is necessary that accompanies the audience along the path traced by contemporary art. \n\n\n\nThus was born the Poetic Observatory\, a small group of interested observers\, poets\, and professionals in other arts\, who support the works of the festival’s guest choreographers throughout their development\, seeking to create a sentimental\, almost live\, chronicle\, to create a genuine perspective that supports the community acting for the community that enjoys it. In this place of elective affinities\, a protected territory has been created where dance can be shared with the community. \n\n\n\nThe collaboration between artists\, cultural associations\, and companies that work through the languages ​​of the body and dance\, who\, with different approaches and methods of intervention\, engage transversally with the cultural fabric of the city\, has established a network of relationships and exchanges with musicians and visual artists\, allowing the Festival to transcend the confines of spectacle and enter the very cultural connective tissue of the city. \n\n\n\nArtist Biographies:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSalma Ataya is a performer and choreographer. Growing up in Ramallah\, she was first introduced to dance through Dabkeh (Palestinian traditional dance) and afterwards discovered contemporary dance through workshops delivered by international guest artists organised by Saryyet Ramallah Ramallah and the Ramallah Contemporary Dance Festival. Salma took part in local and international performances from 2012 to 2016. She has worked with Les ballets C de la B\, KVS\, A.M. Qattan Foundation\, performing and touring in Belgium. Soon after that she came to Ireland to study at the University of Limerick and in 2017 graduated with a MA in Contemporary Dance Performance. After that Salma worked with John Scott’s Irish Modern Dance Theatre\, Catherine Young Dance\, Séverine Chavrier\, Théâtre d’Orléans\, Paris\, Justine Doswell and Mary Nunan. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMufutau Yusuf is a Nigeria-born Irish choreographer\, performer\, and teacher based in Ireland and Brussels. His acclaimed works\, including Òwe and Impasse\, have toured across Ireland\, Europe\, the US\, and Nigeria.  In 2025\, Mufutau was elected to membership of Aosdána\, a body which honours artists whose work has made an outstanding contribution to the Arts in Ireland. He has worked with artists and companies such as Wim Vandekeybus/Ultima Vez\, Liz Roche Company\, Irish Modern Dance Theatre and Emma Martin/United Fall. Mufutau is a resident choreographer with Luail\, Ireland’s National Dance Company and shares his practice through teaching and improvisation internationally.  \n\n\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. He 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\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/cloud-study/
LOCATION:Festival Racconti di Altre Danze\, Livorno\, Italy
CATEGORIES:Dance
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261011T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261011T210000
DTSTAMP:20260929T093441Z
CREATED:20260915T142745Z
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SUMMARY:In Conversation: Voices of Peace – The Gathering: Interactive Event with Poetry\, Storytelling and Curated 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\nFeaturing poetry\, storytelling\, curated artist talks and audience Q&A\, the event explores creative journeys\, artistic practice and the role of the arts in promoting equality\, human rights and diversity. \n\n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nJessica Rodrigues\, Multidisciplinary Artist \n\n\n\nGillian Lambe\, Visual Artist \n\n\n\nViktoriia Yevsiukova\, Visual Artist \n\n\n\nHina Khan\, Visual Artist \n\n\n\nFeilim James\, Write and Poet\, Editor of Tintreach: The Smashing Times Arts and Literary Journal \n\n\n\nMary Moynihan\, Writer\, Poet\, Creator of Art and Photography \n\n\n\nAmna Walayat\, Visual Artist \n\n\n\nIqra Iqbal\, Visual Artist \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nVoices of Peace – The Gathering is an interactive event bringing together artists and audiences for discussion\, reflection\, and an exploration of shared perspectives on peace\, equality and human rights through contemporary artistic expression. Join us for an entertaining in-conversation event titled Voices of Peace – The Gathering featuring discussion\, poetry\, storytelling\, and curated artist talks\, with artists presenting on their artistic practice and artworks on display at the Smashing Times Visual Art Gallery\, followed by and a Q and A session with the audience. Voices of Peace – The Gathering takes place on Sunday 11 October\, 7-9pm at the Smashing Times Visual Art Gallery\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Sandycove\, Dublin A96V9P1. \n\n\n\nThis event features creative presentations by Voices of Peace Artists as they reflect on their creative journeys\, the inspirations behind their work\, and the theme of Voices of Peace\, exploring the role of the arts in promoting equality\, human rights\, and diversity worldwide.  \n\n\n\nVoices of Peace Artists are creators whose work highlights or touches on themes of peace\, equality and human rights through powerful artistic expression\, sparking dialogue and new visions for the future.  The Voices of Peace Visual Art Exhibition is currently on display at the Smashing Times Visual Art Gallery where our event takes place\, supported by dlr County Council Universal Grants Scheme. \n\n\n\nThe evening is facilitated by writer and poet Mary Moynihan who presents on her work with a poetry reading and talk about the origins of the Voices of Peace programme. Guest artists on the night include Jessica Rodriques\, multidisciplinary artist; Gillian Lambe\, visual artist;  Hina Khan\, Visual Artist; Viktoriia Yevsiukova\, visual artist; Amna Walayat\, Visual Artist; Iqra Iqbal\, Visual Artist\, and Féilim James\, writer\, poet and editor of Tintreach: The Smashing Times Arts and Literary Journal. Tintreach: The Smashing Times Arts and Literary Journal\, is an arts and literary journal that publishes creative work from across the artistic spectrum.  The journal is edited by Féilim James\, a writer and poet\, and produced by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality. \n\n\n\nThis event is supported by the Dlr Universal Grants Scheme. \n\n\n\nHistory of the Voices of Peace Programme\n\n\n\nThe Voices of Peace Artist programme began in 2025 as part of the annual international Irish Arts and Human Rights festival.   In 2025\, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and the Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival issued an open call for submissions to Tintreach: The Smashing Times Arts and Literary Journal. This edition was themed Voices of Peace. From this open call\, four artists were selected to have their work featured in the July edition of Tintreach and to become the Voices of Peace Artists at the annual international Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival which ran from the 10 to the 19 October 2025. \n\n\n\nThe inaugural 2025 Voices of Peace Artists were Shreya Gupta\, a poet\, short story writer\, and neurodivergent woman; Jessica Rodrigues\, a multidisciplinary artist; Rowan Tate\, a Romanian poet and essayist and Noah Sex\, a visual artist. \n\n\n\nThe 2025 Voices of Peace Artists had their work featured in the July 2025 edition of Tintreach: The Smashing Times Arts and Literary Journal. They attended the Irish Arts and Human Rights festival launch on 10 October 2025; appeared at the Voices for Peace Artist Talk on Saturday 11 October 2025 and were interviewed about their work on the Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Radio Show on Dublin South FM. \n\n\n\nThe four selected Voices of Peace Artists in 2025 were: \n\n\n\n\nShreya Gupta – Poet\, short story writer\, and neurodivergent woman whose work aims to spark dialogues on under-represented concerns and human relationships with the worlds we inhabit.\n\n\n\nJessica Rodrigues – Multidisciplinary artist exploring dreamscapes\, inner worlds\, and symbolic imagery through fine art and custom tattoos.\n\n\n\nRowan Tate – Romanian poet and essayist whose writing probes identity\, memory\, and the ways we construct reality.\n\n\n\nNoah Sex – Third-level Fine Art student from Dublin\, studying at NCAD\, whose emerging practice reflects a bold new voice in contemporary art.\n\n\n\n\nVoices of Peace Artists Biographies \n\n\n\nShreya Gupta\, a Dubliner\, is a poet\, short story writer\, and neurodivergent woman. Originally from India\, she has called Ireland home for five years now. She works in the tech industry by day and stretches her evenings finishing her second year of Oxford’s cross-genre creative writing diploma\, specialising in poetry and autofiction. She is interested in contextualising human lives and connections within their sociopolitical systems\, technological advancements\, and psychological mindscapes. Inspired by women writers who challenge the status quo\, her work aims to spark dialogues on under-represented concerns and human relationships with the worlds we inhabit. Visit her Instagram profile here. \n\n\n\nJessica Rodrigues is a multidisciplinary artist exploring dreamscapes\, inner worlds\, and symbolic imagery through fine art and custom tattoos. Her work blends tactile intimacy with public-facing art\, translating personal iconography into evocative visual narratives. Click here for her Instagram profile and here for her website. \n\n\n\nRowan Tate is a Romanian poet and essayist whose work probes identity\, memory\, and the ways we construct reality. Inspired by the rawness of history and the narratives often left unheard\, her poetry examines the fragile intersections of truth and storytelling\, with her writing appearing in The Stinging Fly\, The Shore\, Josephine Quarterly\, Meniscus\, and elsewhere. \n\n\n\nNoah Sex is a third-level student from Dublin\, studying Fine Art in the National College of Art and Design (NCAD). His achievements include the Royal Hibernian Academy Access Grant 2025 and the Sights of Polykites Exhibition\, NCAD Gallery\, 2024. Visit his Instagram profile here. \n\n\n\nVoices of Peace 2025 Artists featured in Edition Three of Tintreach: The Smashing Times Arts and Literary Journal \n\n\n\nThe third edition of Tintreach: The Smashing Times Arts and Literary Journal showcases the works the 2025 Voices of Peace artists. The journal highlights the work of Featured Artist Shreya Gupta\, in addition to Jessica Rodrigues\, Rowan Tate\, and Noah Sex. The theme is Voices of Peace. The introduction by editor Féilim James lists a number of actions the Irish government could take to put pressure on Israel to stop the genocide in Gaza\, before giving his thoughts on the role of artists in responding to atrocities. Following this are three poems by Featured Artist Shreya Gupta\, which address the intersection of war\, economic hardship\, religious and ethnic conflict\, and the struggle for peace. Shreya also gives an in-depth Featured Artist Interview where she outlines her creative process with regard to the three poems\, her influences\, what peace means to her\, and more. This is followed by two colourful and striking paintings by Jessica Rodrigues\, which frame peace not just as an absence of conflict\, but as resilience transformed. Two poems by Rowan Tate then explore how political violence is processed by those who bear its brunt. Finally\, two paintings by Noah Sex grapple with the psychology of war and the compassion it prevents us from accessing until it is too late. Click here to read Tintreach Edition Three \n\n\n\nVoices of Peace 2025 Artists featured on the Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Radio Show \n\n\n\nThe Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Radio show podcast (original broadcast dates 3 and 10 September 2025) features an a feature artist interview with the Voices of Peace artist Jessica Rodrigues and  lively chat and debate by co-hosts Mary Moynihan and Freda Manweiler on the opening of the new Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality at 30 Sandycove Road\, Dublin\, A96V9P1. The new venue features a visual art gallery and event space and the inaugural exhibition is Landscapes of the Soul which runs from Friday 5 September to Sunday 28 September 2025\, Wednesday to Sunday 1-6pm daily. Landscapes of the Soul is a stunning multi-disciplinary exhibition by artist Mary Moynihan featuring beautiful visual art\, photography\, poetry and film mapping physical landscapes of nature to landscapes of the soul\, reflecting on ways to hold on to the courage to be who we truly are and to let ourselves shine.     \n\n\n\nThe feature artist interview on the radio show is with the Voices of Peace artist Jessica Rodrigues. Jessica is a multidisciplinary artist exploring dreamscapes\, inner worlds\, and symbolic imagery through fine art and custom tattoos. Jessica’s work blends tactile intimacy with public-facing art\, translating personal iconography into evocative visual narratives. Enjoy a fascinating interview with Jessica as she talks about her work as a multidisciplinary artist in the areas of fine art and custom tatoos and how the ‘magic happens’\, discussing her creative approaches to Glitter tatoos\, studio Ghibli tatoos and Capybara. Two of Jesscia’s artworks were selected through an open call and are showcased in the July edition of  Tintreach: The Smashing Times Arts and Literary Journal\, edited by Féilim James\, poet and writer\, out now at \n\n\n\nhttps://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/OFFICIAL-Tintreach-Edition-Three-July-2025.pdf \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.    Tune in to Dublin South FM 93.9\, or listen online at www.dublinsouthfm.ie. \n\n\n\nListen to past shows here \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJessica Rodrigues is a Brazilian-Irish multimedia artist based in Dublin\, creating strange worlds shaped by dreams\, nature\, memories\, and old tales. Working across fine art\, tattoos\, videos\, and murals\, the artist employs a surrealist language infused with magical realism to create visual stories that blur the limits between reality and myth. \n\n\n\nJessica spent eleven years as a tattoo artist\, a period that permanently shaped her understanding of narrative. In that role\, stories were entrusted and inscribed\, a collaborative act that demanded integrity and a focus on the body as the first site for a visual tale. This experience remains the quiet anchor for all her work. \n\n\n\nJessica now builds worlds across painting\, murals\, and video\, drawing from a well of dreams and old folklore to create images that feel both familiar and strangely new. The curiosity that guided her hand on skin now guides her interdisciplinary practice. It is a practice of genuine exploration\, evidenced by an Artist in the Community Scheme grant for collaborative public work and features in 10 group exhibitions\, including the group show Voice of Dreams for Visionary Arts. \n\n\n\nJessica’s work has been featured in Tintreach: The Smashing Times Arts and Literary Journal \n\n\n\nSee Jessica’s Instagram @artbyjroiz \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGillian Lambe is a visual artist whose practice explores how we experience\, carry and remember the people and places that shape us and how this can influence our sense of belonging. \n\n\n\nShe is especially drawn to the tension between opposing states: connection and separation\, containment and openness\, permanence and change. \n\n\n\nShe uses colour and gesture\, texture and form to research and explore these themes. She gives space to the viewers to bring their own memories\, associations and experiences to the work and to find their own points of connection within it. \n\n\n\nOriginally from Cavan\, Gillian is currently based in Dublin. She has studied drawing\, sculpture and ceramics at NCAD (CEAD) and works across different materials to explore emotion\, connection and environment within her work. \n\n\n\nCurrent and recent exhibitions include the 3rd Annual Exhibition\, An Chéad Tine Art Gallery 3rd\, Kilkenny (selected by Maurice Quillinan)\, ‘Threshold’ The Market House\, Dunleer\, The Easter Competition\, Glebe Gallery (OPW)\, Donegal\, ‘Chrysalis’ & ‘Emerging Perspectives’\, Reynold’s Gallery\, Dublin\, ‘Beyond Words: Art & the Unknown’\, Herman’s Auctioneer’s Modern & Contemporary\, Dublin\, Smashing Times Gallery ‘Solstice Light’\, Dublin and Signal Arts Centre Members show in Wicklow. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nViktoriia was  born in 2005 in Kharkiv\, Ukraine. Viktoriia  studied at the Kharkiv Professional Higher Art College of Kharkiv Regional Council\, earning a Professional Junior Bachelor degree (2020–2024)\, and continued her studies at the Cavan Institute (QQI Level 5 in Art\, Craft and Design\, 2024–2025). Viktoriia’s work explores inner tension and quiet disquiet\, capturing fleeting moments of stillness and anticipation. \n\n\n\nViktoriia was selected for the Cavan Arts Awards 2025 and has exhibited in the Summer Showcase Exhibition 2025 in Bailieborough and an exhibition for Culture Night 2025. Viktoriia currently lives and works in Cavan\, County Cavan. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHina Khan was born in born in Pakistan in 1980 and completed an MFA\, majoring in Miniature Painting from Pakistan. Hina 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 f presented by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and funded by The Arts Council. \n\n\n\nHina 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\nAmna is a Cork-based Pakistani born visual artist and Associate Member of Sample-Studios\, Art Nomads\, Smashing Times and Angelica Network. She has recently been awarded the Cork County Council Creative Producer Residency\, The Arts Council Agility Award and has been invited to exhibit her new work in IMMA\, having exhibited her work recently in IMMA online and in Cork County Council’s online exhibition space. In addition to her active practice\, she has worked as Programme Organizer with the Pakistan National Council of the Arts; Curator with Alhamra Arts Council and PhD studio-based researcher with PURAF\, University of the Punjab (2004-2007). She recently established the Ireland-Pakistan Arts Exchange (IPAE) to bring both art communities together through creating opportunities for networking and exchange. She is a recipient of Arts Council Ireland Visual Artist Bursary Award\, Professional Development Award 2020 and Dilkusha Award 2020. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIqra is a multidisciplinary artist currently undertaking a Master’s in Art and the Contemporary World at the National College of Art and Design (NCAD)\, Dublin. Working primarily with acrylic painting and neo-miniature as a visual language\, she also experiments with glass and other materials. \n\n\n\nHer practice explores identity\, displacement\, belonging and coexistence\, with particular interest in how people carry cultural histories while forming new relationships with the places and communities they inhabit. Drawing on her experience of moving between cultural spaces\, she questions inherited systems of thought and the cultural frameworks that shape how we understand ourselves\, others and difference. \n\n\n\nThrough symbolism\, pattern\, architectural forms and inherited visual languages\, Iqra explores the process of unlearning and reconsidering ideas that can appear fixed or universal. Rather than rejecting cultural inheritance\, her work seeks to question and reinterpret it\, opening possibilities for alternative ways of seeing\, knowing and belonging. \n\n\n\nHer recent work considers peace through coexistence\, equality and the possibility of sharing space while allowing difference and individuality to remain visible. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFéilim James is a novelist\, poet\, and playwright from Dublin\, Ireland. In 2024\, his poem ‘Dream of an Atrocity’ was shortlisted for the New Irish Writing: Best Poetry category at the Irish Book Awards. He has been funded by the Arts Council of Ireland on three occasions\, including for his novel\, Flower of Ash. Dublin City Arts Office granted him an Arts Bursary in 2021 to finish his poetry collection\, I was a river\, lost. He is the editor of Tintreach: The Smashing Times Arts and Literary Journal. \n\n\n\nFéilim’s fiction\, non-fiction\, and poetry have appeared in the Irish Independent’s New Irish Writing\, Acumen\, The Honest Ulsterman (upcoming)\, Abridged\, The High Window\, The Fiction Pool\, Icarus\, TOWER\, The Galway Review\, A New Ulster\, Trinity Journal of Literary Translation\, Pendemic\, Rant and Rave\, Vox Galvia\, the Smashing Times Newsletter\, and Tales From the Forest. He has had four plays and two short films produced. Féilim’s work has been performed or exhibited in locations such as Áras an Uachtaráin\, Dublin (the residency of the President of Ireland); Dublin Castle; the European Court of Human Rights\, Strasbourg; and Jean Monnet House\, Paris\, for an event by the European Observatory on Memories. \n\n\n\nFéilim’s play Sole Flower\, Spidered Soul (2023)\, about the relationship between James and Lucia Joyce\, had its premiere run in the Pumphouse\, Dublin Port\, in October 2023\, as part of Smashing Times’ Dublin Arts and Human Rights Festival. Its director was Patrick Joseph Byrnes\, who again directed when it had its second run\, this time in The New Theatre\, Dublin in June 2024\, as part of Bloomsday Festival. In 2025\, Sole Flower\, Spidered Soul was added to the archive of the Zurich James Joyce Foundation. Féilim’s play At Summer’s End (2019)\, about Ettie Steinberg\, a real-life Jewish-Irish woman facing the horrors of the Holocaust\, has been toured by Smashing Times to places such as Paris\, Northern Ireland\, and Áras an Uachtaráin\, the residency of the President of Ireland. \n\n\n\nFéilim’s Irish language writing\, under the surname Ó Brádaigh\, has won seven Oireachtas na Gaeilge literary awards\, including one for a collection of poetry. These awards are the most prestigious in Irish language literature. His work through Irish has appeared in Comhar\, Feasta\, Trinity Journal of Literary Translation\, Comhar Óg\, Tuathal\, and An Scríbhneoir Óg. Additionally\, he has twice been selected for Fóras na Gaeilge’s Tutor Scheme. \n\n\n\nFéilim graduated from the BA in English Literature and Psychology in Trinity College\, Dublin in 2017. In 2020\, he completed the MA in Writing in the University of Galway\, studying under the likes of Mike McCormack and Arnold Thomas Fanning\, and receiving a first-class honour. Visit his website here. \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\, 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\, visual art and photography presented in galleries and online. \n\n\n\nMary established and became Artistic Director of Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and is Artistic Curator for the annual international Irish 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 dedicates her time to writing and creating photography and art (oils on canvas). Mary is a multidisciplinary artist and  regularly creates artworks that fuse painting\, photographic imagery\, poetical texts and film many of which are inspired by landscapes and seascapes especially of the seas and oceans around Ireland\, and a reflection on what it is to be human. Mary regularly shares stories from historical memory through her artistic practice particularly in relation to stories of people who stand up for the rights of others. \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\, a GSK Ireland Impact Award\, a Dublin Bus Community Spirit Award\, a National Lottery Good Cause Award\, an  Arts Council Agility Award and an Arts Council Project Award. Mary was awarded a Project Award from The Arts Council to write a new work titled The Feeling Soul\, inspired by stories of women poets from ancient and modern 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/in-conversation-voices-of-peace-the-gathering/
LOCATION:Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Sandycove\, Dublin\, A96V9P1\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Sandycove\, Dublin\, A96V9P1
CATEGORIES:Talk
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ORGANIZER;CN="Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality":MAILTO:info@smashingtimes.ie
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261011T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261011T180000
DTSTAMP:20260925T150217Z
CREATED:20260917T115014Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T150217Z
UID:10000764-1791730800-1791741600@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Workshop on Feminist Utopias – Imagining Alternative Futures
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\nEkaterina Schalmann\, theatre artist\, drama teacher and researcher\, and Evdokia Romanova (aka Dunia)\, an intersectional Feminist\, Community Artist\, and Human Rights Activist invite participants to imagine alternative feminist futures centred on care\, solidarity\, equality\, ecological and social justice and collective liberation\, using creative practices to question existing systems and rehearse more just futures. Presented by FemLink\, a Queer\, Feminist\, Migrant Collective\, based in Vienna\, Austria \n\n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nTickets free\, but recommended donation of €15/€20 on the day \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nEkaterina Schalmann\, Theatre Artist\, Drama Teacher\, Researcher \n\n\n\nEvdokia Romanova (aka Dunia)\, Intersectional Feminist\, Community Artist\, and Human Rights Activist \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nIn a world marked by the rise of authoritarianism\, catastrophic climate change\, ongoing wars\, political violence\, and multiple intersecting crises\, it can become increasingly difficult to imagine a future beyond survival. We are constantly confronted with narratives of collapse\, uncertainty\, and fear. These realities can disconnect us from one another\, fragment our communities\, and make it difficult to believe that other ways of living are possible. Yet\, in moments of crisis\, the ability to imagine becomes a radical and necessary community practice. \n\n\n\nWhat if we allowed ourselves to dream? What might our futures look like if we placed care\, solidarity\, equality\, pleasure\, ecological and social justice\, and collective liberation at their centre? \n\n\n\nThe workshop Feminist Utopias places these questions at the forefront. Through applied theatre\, embodied practices\, and other interactive and creative formats\, participants are invited to step into alternative feminist futures and explore the worlds that could exist beyond the present. Rather than understanding utopia as a perfect or fixed destination\, we approach it as a creative process\, a time travel to explore a shared rehearsal for the possible. Feminist utopics offers permission to challenge what we have been taught to consider inevitable. They enable us to question dominant systems of power and to imagine societies organised around different values. \n\n\n\nTogether\, we will experiment with the so-called unrealistic realities\, magical characters\, queer relationships\, far away spaces\, and forms of collective life we are yet to discover. Through play and performance\, we will ask not only what kind of world do we want? But what would become possible if gendered hierarchies\, patriarchal structures\, racism\, exploitation\, and extractive relationships with the Earth no longer defined our everyday lives? The workshop is an invitation to reimagine\, rewrite\, and rehearse the contemporary world. It is a space for collective dreaming\, but also for critical reflection: to recognise that imagining another future is itself a political act. \n\n\n\nWe invite you to bring your experiences\, questions\, desires\, contradictions\, and wildest visions. Together\, we will create fragments of feminist futures and develop our own proposals for worlds that have not yet come into being. \n\n\n\nThe workshop promotes a human rights agenda by creating a participatory space to imagine societies grounded in equality\, dignity\, freedom\, care\, solidarity\, and collective liberation. The workshop also understands the right to participate\, to express oneself\, to be heard\, and to collectively shape visions of the future as essential dimensions of human rights. Its inclusive and creative methodology encourages participants to bring diverse experiences\, identities\, desires\, and perspectives into a shared process of reflection and dialogue. \n\n\n\nAll in all\, the workshop frames imagination as a form of civic and political participation: a way to challenge what is presented as inevitable and to rehearse more just\, inclusive\, feminist\, and sustainable futures. \n\n\n\nThis event is presented by FemLink Collective AT \n\n\n\nFemLink is a queer feminist migrant collective dedicated to challenging oppression and discrimination. We create inclusive\, horizontal spaces—virtual\, physical\, and public—where diverse identities come together to heal\, connect\, and foster solidarity.  Rooted in creativity and care\, we envision a future where queer\, feminist\, migrant\, and curious individuals can move from othering to belonging\, bridging communities and empowering each other to simply be. We are active in exploring the fields of collective care\, craftivism and feminist resistance. \n\n\n\nFemLink are a visiting collective attending the Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival 2026. They are based in Vienna\, Austria. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies:\n\n\n\nEkaterina Schalmann works at the intersection of art\, activism\, and community organising. Since 2020\, she is a participatory theater artist and co-directs the theater collective Resilient Revolt. At Theater of the Oppressed Vienna she works as a drama teacher in schools and as a researcher in applied theater projects. She studied political economy\, international relations and social ecology in Germany\, the UK and Austria. \n\n\n\nEvdokia Romanova (aka Dunia) is an intersectional feminist\, community artist\, and human rights activist. Her practice brings together artivism\, theatre\, collective care\, and social justice\, exploring how creative and participatory practices can become tools for resistance\, connection\, and social change. She has worked extensively on sexual and reproductive health and rights\, queer feminist resistance\, and the sustainability of radical activist communities. Her artistic practice is particularly rooted in theatre-based approaches. Dunia currently coordinates the Women in Development Europe network (WIDE Austria) and is a co-founder of the FemLink collective. \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/workshop-on-feminist-utopias-2/
LOCATION:Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Sandycove\, Dublin\, A96V9P1\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Sandycove\, Dublin\, A96V9P1
CATEGORIES:Workshop
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261010T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261010T210000
DTSTAMP:20260929T092447Z
CREATED:20260917T095602Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260929T092447Z
UID:10000760-1791658800-1791666000@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Poetry Night with Emmet O’Brien\, Acclaimed Poet and Spoken Word artist
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 event celebrates rhythm\, language and connection and offers audiences an energising evening of contemporary Irish spoken word. O’Brien is known for performances including The North Side and Dirty Dublin\, as well as appearances at festivals such as Electric Picnic\, Body & Soul and All Together Now. His wider creative practice includes mental-health murals in Temple Bar and poetry workshops in Mountjoy Prison. \n\n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nNo Booking Necessary \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nEmmet O’Brien\, Poet and Spoken Word Artist \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nJoin us for a night sharing the work of Emmet O’Brien\, acclaimed poet and spoken word artist. The event will include a performance by Emmet\, as well as an informal chat about his work. \n\n\n\nAcording to the Void Platform and Magazine \n\n\n\n’finding the words to describe the work and performance of Emmet O’Brien is no easy task. . . . from the North side of Dublin (he) is a beautiful amalgamation of talent and story. Labelling a creative such as Emmet as a poet almost doesn’t do the artist justice for what impact and accomplishments he has made and achieved in his creative career thus far. Emmet O’Brien is a Filídh\, a filídh is a legendary olden Irish term which translates to a . . creative who was worshipped for their skills and their art and someone who has undoubtedly left a stamp in the world they roam. ‘[1] \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n[1] https://void.ie/emmet-obrien-the-filidh/ \n\n\n\nSmashing Times Arts & Human Rights Radio Show on Dublin South FM \n\n\n\nListen to an interview with Emmet O’Brien\, acclaimed poet and spoken word artist on the Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Radio Show. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA celebrated voice in Ireland’s spoken word scene\, Emmet O’Brien is known for his viral performances such as The North Side and Dirty Dublin\, as well as several acclaimed books. His work has taken him to stages across Europe and festivals including Electric Picnic\, Body + Soul and All Together Now. With projects ranging from mental health murals in Temple Bar to poetry workshops in Mountjoy Prison\, O’Brien presents an unforgettable evening of spoken word\, poetry and performance\, a celebration of rhythm\, language and connection. This event is an experience of the best of Irish spoken word poetry leaving audiences energised\, moved and uplifted. \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/poetry-night-with-emmet-obrien/
LOCATION:Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Sandycove\, Dublin\, A96V9P1\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Sandycove\, Dublin\, A96V9P1
CATEGORIES:Poetry,Spoken Word
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-17-105508.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality":MAILTO:info@smashingtimes.ie
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261010T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261010T170000
DTSTAMP:20260925T145426Z
CREATED:20260917T104423Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T145426Z
UID:10000762-1791644400-1791651600@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Open Wide the Doors: The Power of Conscience and Endurance – Mahvash Sabet\, The Songbird of Iran
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\nMahvash Sabet is an internationally recognised  Iranian Poet\, Writer\, and former Educator and an Iranian prisoner of conscience and member of the Bahá’í community. Sabet’s memoir documents her imprisonment and explores the extraordinary capacity of individuals to retain their conscience\, dignity\, compassion and humanity under conditions of persecution. The event uses her testimony to reflect on human rights\, freedom of belief\, endurance and the power of the human spirit. The guest speaker is Roja Fazaeli\, Established Professor of Law and Islamic Studies\,  Irish Centre for Human Rights\, University of Galway. \n\n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nBook here \n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nMahvash Sabet\, Poet\, Writer and former educator \n\n\n\nRoja Fazaeli\, Established Professor of Law and Islamic Studies\, Irish Centre for Human Rights\, University of Galway \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nIn March 2008\, Mahvash Sabet was summoned by Iran’s Intelligence Bureau in Mashhad to discuss the burial arrangements for a member of the Bahá’í community. She told her husband that she would be home in Tehran that evening. Instead\, she would spend the next ten years in prison. \n\n\n\nSabet was one of the seven members of the Yárán-i-Irán\, the group that served as the informal leadership of Iran’s persecuted Bahá’í community. In the months that followed her arrest\, the other members were also detained. \n\n\n\nIn its 2024 report\, ‘The Boot on My Neck’\, Human Rights Watch described the systematic and systemic persecution of Bahá’í women\, children and men in Iran as amounting to the crime against humanity of persecution. \n\n\n\nSabet’s memoir\, Open Wide the Doors\, documents her first ten months in captivity\, offering an extraordinary account of life behind Iran’s prison walls. Yet this is more than a story of imprisonment. Sabet writes with remarkable compassion about her fellow prisoners\, including thieves and prostitutes\, as well as the guards and interrogators who hold power over her. \n\n\n\nMahvash Sabet was described by Irish poet Michael Longley as the Songbird of Iran and the beautiful\, uplifting voice of this songbird rings out throughout Open Wide the Doors. Here her testimony reveals a profound understanding of human nature and an unshakeable belief in the resilience of the human spirit. Even when freedom is taken away\, she shows that an individual can refuse to surrender their conscience\, dignity or capacity for compassion. \n\n\n\nThis event will share extracts and reflections from Open Wide the Doors\, using Sabet’s experience to explore questions of human rights and\, more deeply\, the extraordinary courage required to maintain one’s humanity under conditions designed to destroy it. \n\n\n\nAt a time when the voices of those imprisoned for their beliefs and convictions remain at risk of being silenced\, Mahvash Sabet’s story offers both a witness and a challenge. It reminds us that even behind prison walls\, the human conscience cannot be imprisoned. \n\n\n\nAs the Financial Times wrote of Open Wide the Doors\, Sabet’s testimony “reinforces the power of individual conscience and endurance as the only way forward.” \n\n\n\nThe entire event is based on the memoir of a prisoner of conscience in Iran and offers an opportunity to learn about Mahvash Sabet’s experiences as a prisoner and as a human being and to explore important issues regarding human rights. \n\n\n\nThis event is presented by the Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs \n\n\n\nPart of the work of the Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs is a commitment to promoting human rights\, equality\, and the dignity of every person. This work is rooted in a central Bahá’í belief: that the welfare of every part of humanity is inextricably bound up with the welfare of the whole. Because\, as Nobel Laureate Dr Shirin Ebadi has put it: “Discrimination and injustice can spread like a virus in society. Injustice to you is the first step of injustice to me.” \n\n\n\nThrough initiatives such as Open Wide the Doors: The Power of Conscience and Endurance and the Our Story Is One exhibition – which commemorates the ten Bahá’í women executed in Shiraz in 1983 and has to date been staged in Dublin\, Cork\, Ennis\, and Kilkenny – the Office seeks to foster greater awareness of human rights and the importance of standing against injustice wherever it occurs. \n\n\n\nArtist & Speaker Biographies:\n\n\n\n\n\nMahvash Sabet\n\n\n\n\n\nMahvash Sabet is an internationally recognised poet\, writer and former educator. She is a prisoner of conscience in Iran\, condemned for being a follower of the Bahá’í Faith. Over the past twenty years\, she has been incarcerated in four Iranian prisons\, arrested on three separate occasions and held for thirty months without trial. She has twice been given ten-year sentences because of her beliefs\, the first time in 2008 and most recently in 2022. In May 2025\, there was a call at the European Parliament for her unconditional release\, on humanitarian grounds. It has\, until now\, been ignored. \n\n\n\nBorn in Ardestan on 4 February 1952\, Mahvash grew up in the provincial town of Zavareh\, where she was first exposed to fanaticism and prejudice against the Bahá’í Faith as a child. When she was about ten years old\, her family moved from the provinces to the capital\, enabling her to continue her education in Tehran. A bright student with a flair for poetry\, she later received a bachelor’s degree in social sciences at Reyhan University\, and embarked on a teaching career soon after her marriage to Siyávash Sabet on 21 May 1973. After several years\, she became the principal of 21 Farvardín\, a prestigious school in District 13 of Tehran\, and later directed the school of Tehran’s Air Force Base personnel. She was also invited to serve on the National Literacy Committee of Iran\, as a respected education professional.  \n\n\n\nBut everything changed\, for Mahvash and many others\, when the Islamic Republic came to power in 1979. It changed catastrophically for the 350\,000 Bahá’ís\, members of the largest religious minority in the country.  \n\n\n\nThe Songbird of Iran \n\n\n\nMahvash has been repeatedly targeted by Iranian authorities under false charges like espionage and propaganda against the state. After her arrest in  2008\, she was sentenced to 20 years in prison. During her time in the notorious Evin Prison\,  she wrote verses on small scraps of paper that were smuggled out and published as Prison Poems. \n\n\n\nIn 2017\, she was named the PEN International Writer of Courage and was released after a reduced 10-year term.  Amidst a wider crackdown on the community\, she was re-arrested in July 2022 and given another 10-year prison sentence following an unfair trial. \n\n\n\nIn 2017\,  Mahvash was chosen as the winner of the PEN Pinter Prize for a Writer of Courage by fellow poet Michael Longley (1939-2025).  Mahvash was described by Irish poet Michael Longley as the Songbird of Iran.  Mahvash is an Honorary Member of English PEN. According to English Pen\, Mahvash began writing poetry in prison\, and a collection of her prison poems was translated into English and published in 2013. Two more volumes of poems رها (A Tale of Love – More Prison Poems) and حکایت عاشقی (Love Story) were published in 2019 and 2021. \n\n\n\nMahvash Sabet is now internationally recognized for her work as an Iranian poet\, former educator\, and prominent human rights defender and as one of the Bahá’í Seven\, a group of community leaders who served on an informal committee called the Yaran-i-Iran (Friends of Iran) to manage the affairs of the heavily persecuted Bahá’í minority in Iran. \n\n\n\nSabet has faced severe health complications exacerbated by torture and harsh prison conditions. Following an open-heart surgery\, she was placed under medical furlough/house arrest in Tehran to recover\, though she remains under constant threat of being sent back to prison. Numerous organisations have called for her unconditional release. \n\n\n\nHer deeply moving prison memoir\, Open Wide the Doors – A Memoir of Faith\, Hope and Freedom in Iran\, details her journey of endurance\, hope\, and unwavering faith.  The book is described as a courageous memoir from a prize-winning poet and prisoner of conscience in Iran.  \n\n\n\nMahvash Sabet \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRoja Fazaeli\,  Trinity College DublinFennell Photography 2022\n\n\n\n\n\nRoja Fazaeli is an Established Professor of Law and Islamic Studies at the Irish Centre for Human Rights\, University of Galway. Professor Fazaeli has published widely on the subjects of women’s rights in Iran\, the relationship between human rights and religion\, women’s religious authorities and Islamic feminisms. \n\n\n\nAs a recipient of a European Research Council Consolidator Grant\, she is the principal investigator of a five-year project (2023-2028) on Building Conceptual and Methodological Expertise for the Study of Gender\, Agency\, and Authority in Islam (BILQIS). \n\n\n\nProfessor Fazaeli is a member of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions-funded project investigating the nature of hate in society (NETHATE). She additionally serves as the chairperson of the board of directors of the Immigrant Council of Ireland. Roja is also a member of the board of directors for Front Line Defenders\, Scholars at Risk Europe and Iran Academia\, as well as being a member of the editorial board of Religion and Human Rights. \n\n\n\nBefore joining University of Galway\, Roja was Professor in Islamic Civilisations at Trinity College Dublin\, where she was a Fellow of the College\, and served as the Warden of Trinity Hall\, a residential learning community of more than 900 students. \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/open-wide-the-doors-the-power-of-conscience-and-endurance/
LOCATION:National Bahá’í Centre\, 24 Burlington Road\, Dublin\, D04 FP93
CATEGORIES:Memoir,Reading
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Open-Wide-the-Doors-Bahai-Information-Office.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261010T150000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261010T160000
DTSTAMP:20260925T145241Z
CREATED:20260914T103825Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T145241Z
UID:10000722-1791644400-1791648000@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Memorial Monologues: The Path of Memory by Mary Moynihan – Live Performances
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\nSharing the story of  Teresa Magueyal (1958 – 2023)\, a woman searcher of disappeared people and a human rights defender from Mexico\, accompanied by poetry and music. Followed by a talk on  stories of peaceful human rights defenders and the promotion of equality and human rights. Presented by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and Front Line Defenders. \n\n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nMary Moynihan\, writer\, poet\, creator of art and photography.  Artistic Director\, Smashing Times International Centre for Arts and Equality\, Artistic Curator\, Dublin International Arts and Human Rights festival. Writer of Memorial Monologues: The Path of Memory Parts 1 and II \n\n\n\nLaura O’Leary\, International Events and Promotions Coordinator\, developer and coordinator of Memorial Monologues for Front Line Defenders\, Human Rights Curator\, Irish Arts and Human Rights festival \n\n\n\nConor Fortune\, Head of Communications and Events\, Front Line Defenders \n\n\n\nCiara Hayes\, Producer and Performer\, Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality \n\n\n\nSebastien Luthers\, musician \n\n\n\nÉanna Ó Brádaigh\, Production Stage Manager and MC \n\n\n\nDr Eric Weitz\, Director \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nMemorial Monologues: The Path of Memory Parts I and II by Mary Moynihan were commissioned by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and Frontline Defenders and feature a series of powerful monologues adapted from the words and stories of brave and inspirational human rights defenders from around the world who were murdered because of their peaceful work defending the rights of others.  Each year since 2024\, Smashing Times and Front Line Defenders have presented a variation of the show at the physical Memorial to Human Rights Defenders in the Iveagh Gardens\, Dublin\, designed by Grafton Architects. \n\n\n\nOur presentation for 2026 feature 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\, and  directed by Dr Eric Weitz.   \n\n\n\nThe monologue to be performed tells the story of  Teresa Magueyal (1958 – 2023)\, a woman searcher of disappeared people and a human rights defender from Mexico\, accompanied by poetry readings and a workshop talk on stories of peaceful human rights defenders\, encouraging discussion on active citizenship\, social inclusion\, and equality. The sessions empower participants to consider how they can make positive social change and build connections across Dublin. \n\n\n\nThis unique event is presented for two performances only. The first is a live indoor performance  on Friday 9 October 2026\, 7pm\, at the Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Centre\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Dublin\, for the launch of the annual international Irish Arts and Human Rights festival.  The second performance and talk takes place on Saturday 10 October\, 3pm\, outdoors at the Iveagh Gardens Dublin\, weather permitting. \n\n\n\nThe show was commissioned by Smashing Times and Front Line Defenders and scripted by Mary Moynihan to pay tribute to the many brave and inspirational human rights defenders around the world who have been silence and killed because of their peaceful work defending the rights of others.  \n\n\n\nIveagh Gardens are located on Clonmel Street\, off Harcourt Street in Dublin 2. Access is by Clonmel Street\, Hatch Street\, and to the rear of the National Concert Hall on Earlsfort Terrace. Please note that there is no wheelchair access through the Concert Hall gate entrance.  Iveagh Gardens was awarded a Green Flag 2022-2023 which is an international bench marking standard for parks and green spaces. Come and join us as we pay tribute to the many brave and inspirational human rights defenders around the world who have been silence and killed because of their peaceful work defending the rights of others.  \n\n\n\nHistory of Memorial Monologues: The Path of Memory Parts I and II  \n\n\n\nMemorial Monologues: The Path of Memory Parts I and II by Mary Moynihan were originally commissioned by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and Frontline Defenders in 2023 for the annual international Irish Arts and Human Rights festival.  The script features a series of nine powerful monologues adapted from the words and stories 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\nThe full script features monologues on each on the following human rights defenders: \n\n\n\nPart I \n\n\n\n\nLasantha Wickramatunga\, journalist\, Sri Lanka\n\n\n\nNatalya Estemirova\, journalist and human rights defender\, Chechnya\n\n\n\nRaed Fares\, journalist and activist\, Syria\n\n\n\nBety Cariño\, activist and women’s rights defender\, Mexico\n\n\n\n\nPart II \n\n\n\n\nFannyAnn Eddy (1974-2004)\, LGBTIQ+ activist\, Sierra Leone\n\n\n\nDaphne Caruana\, (1964-2017)\, journalist\, columnist and blogger\, Malta\n\n\n\nRosemary Nelson\, (1958-1999)\, human rights lawyer\, Northern Ireland\n\n\n\nMarielle Franco (1979-2018)\, human rights activist and elected council woman\, Brazil\n\n\n\nTeresa Magueyal (1958 – 2023)\, woman searcher of disappeared people and a human rights defender\, Mexico\n\n\n\n\nSix of these defenders — Natalya Estemirova\, Chechnya; Lasantha Wickramatunga\, Sri Lanka\, Raed Fares\, Syria\, Daphne Caruana Galizia\, Malta\, Rosemary Nelson\, Northern Ireland and Marielle Franco\, Brazil — are  remembered on plaques in the physical Memorial to Human Rights Defenders in the Iveagh Gardens\, Dublin\, designed by Grafton Architects. The memorial is an Ogham garden\, with five standing stones etched with ancient Irish Ogham script\, each representing a native Irish tree. The space is enclosed by a crafted metal screen\, on which are plaques\, bearing the words of the human rights defenders. The physical memorial provides a contemplative space to commemorate those silenced for their courage. The memorial was launched by Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney\, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Mary Lawlor and former Front Line Defenders Executive Director Andrew Anderson. \n\n\n\nThe Iveagh Gardens memorial connects directly to the International Human Rights Defenders Memorial (hrdmemorial.org)\, initiated by Ireland-based Front Line Defenders\, which documents over 300 killings of human rights defenders worldwide every year — preserving truth and striving for justice. These  killings are bravely documented year after year by organisations across the world to preserve the truth and one day\, achieve justice. https://hrdmemorial.org/ \n\n\n\nHuman Rights Defenders listed at the Memorial Monument in Iveagh Gardens are: \n\n\n\nCao Shunli \n\n\n\nNatalya Estemirova \n\n\n\nAnna Politkovskaya \n\n\n\nMarielle Franco \n\n\n\nBety Cariňo \n\n\n\nRosemary Nelson \n\n\n\nBerta Caceres \n\n\n\nRazan al-Najjar \n\n\n\nXulhaz Mannan \n\n\n\nRaed Fares \n\n\n\nLasantha Wickrematunga \n\n\n\nPascal Kabungulu \n\n\n\nAbdul Karim Al-Khaiwani \n\n\n\nDaphne Caruana \n\n\n\nMemorial Monologues: The Path of Memory Part I was commissioned and premiered at the fifth annual Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival in 2023 and was performed again in 2024. Part I featured four monologues: Lasantha Wickramatunga\, journalist\, Sri Lanka; Natalya Estemirova\, journalist and human rights defender\, Chechnya; Raed Fares\, journalist and activist\, Syria and Bety Cariño\, activist and women’s rights defender\, Mexico.   Part I was performed at the Iveagh Gardens Dublin on 19\, 20\, 21\, 22 October 2023\, and 18\, 19\, 20 October 2024\, 1pm daily. \n\n\n\nPart II tells the stories of FannyAnn Eddy (1974-2004)\, LGBTIQ+ activist\, Sierra Leone; Daphne Caruana\, (1964-2017)\, journalist\, columnist and blogger\, Malta; Rosemary Nelson\, (1958-1999)\, human rights lawyer\, Northern Ireland; Marielle Franco (1979-2018)\, human rights activist and elected council woman\, Brazil; and Teresa Magueyal (1958 – 2023)\, woman searcher of disappeared people and a human rights defender\, Mexico. Part II was performed at the Iveagh Gardens Dublin on 10\, 11 and 12 October 2025\, 1 and 3pm daily. \n\n\n\nThe show is scripted to be presented either indoors or outdoors. As an outdoor show\, it is presented as a promenade\, ‘walk-in-the-park’ performance blending theatre\, poetry\, and song. This unique show brings audiences through the Iveagh Gardens (Dublin’s secret garden\, located close to St Stephen’s Green) to the Human Rights Defenders Memorial monument. The memorial provides a physical space in the heart of Dublin city to recognise and commemorate the lives of the many brave and inspirational human rights defenders around the world who have been killed because of their peaceful work defending the rights of others. Leading audiences through Dublin’s hidden garden\, the performance creates a moving encounter with memory\, loss\, resilience\, and the unbreakable spirit of those who stood for justice. \n\n\n\nThe show was commissioned by Smashing Times and Front Line Defenders and scripted by Mary Moynihan to pay tribute to the many brave and inspirational human rights defenders around the world who have been silence and killed because of their peaceful work defending the rights of others.  \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\nConor Fortune joined Front Line Defenders in September 2022. As Head of Communications and Events\, he oversees the organisation’s global communications strategy\, with a focus on supporting the public profiles of human rights defenders. Prior to this\, Conor spent 11 years at Amnesty International’s International Secretariat\, where he served as deputy director of crisis response and deputy head of news and media\, and he has also held communications roles at Human Rights Watch and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. A journalist by training\, he has an M.A. in international relations/peace studies\, is fluent in Spanish and speaks some French and Portuguese. \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\n\n\n\n\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/memorial-monologues-the-path-of-memory-by-mary-moynihan/
LOCATION:Iveagh Gardens\, St Stephen's Green\, Dublin 2\, D02 HX65
CATEGORIES:Performance,Poetry,Theatre
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Memorial-Ivy-3.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261010T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261010T150000
DTSTAMP:20260925T145320Z
CREATED:20260915T122702Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T145320Z
UID:10000727-1791640800-1791644400@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:March and Rally for Justice & in Remembrance - Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign\, Northern Ireland
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\nFeaturing speakers\, music and chants and bringing people together in solidarity and remembrance. \n\n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nNo Booking Necessary \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nJoin the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign as they march from the Bishop Street Courthouse to Guildhall Square on Saturday 10 October 2026. The march is organised to demand sanctions against the Israeli government in response to the murder of over 73\,000 Palestinian men\, women\, and children. There will be speakers\, music and chants at the march\, and attendees are encouraged to bring family\, friends\, and to make as much noise as possible for those whose voices are being silenced in Palestine. \n\n\n\nIreland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign \n\n\n\nThe Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign exists to mobilize people in Ireland to support the political\, civil and human rights of all Palestinians\, and to work for their national and democratic rights including the Right of Return for Palestinian refugees and their descendants. The IPSC was set up in 2001 by Irish human rights and community activists\, academics\, trade unionists\, journalists\, and Palestinians living in Ireland. \n\n\n\nWe are an independent\, broad-based and multi-faceted\, non-party political organisation\, run by volunteers all committed to helping achieve freedom\, justice\, equality and return for the Palestinian people. \n\n\n\nThe IPSC is a member-based organisation\, funded entirely by membership fees\, standing orders\, donations\, and the sale of solidarity items in our shop. We are run by our highly active and committed volunteer members. \n\n\n\nThe IPSC campaigns for freedom for the Palestinian people\, through raising public awareness about Israel’s settler-colonial regime of apartheid and genocide\, and promoting Boycott\, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) as the best means by which people in Ireland can help to bring these crimes to an end\, similar to how Apartheid in South Africa was finally toppled. \n\n\n\nWorking as part of the Palestinian-led global BDS Movement\, the IPSC aims to end Irish state\, institutional and business complicity with Israeli apartheid and genocide. To this end we mobilise people on the streets and online\, and lobby politicians at the local\, national and international level. We also host commemorations\, public talks\, film screenings\, cultural events\, information stalls\, and other awareness-raising events. \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/march-and-rally-for-justice-in-remembrance-irish-palestine-solidarity-campaign-northern-ireland/
LOCATION:Court House\, Bishop St\, Derry\, BT48 6PY\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:March
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/1000219461.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261010T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261010T140000
DTSTAMP:20260925T145123Z
CREATED:20260915T121418Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T145123Z
UID:10000726-1791637200-1791640800@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:National Demonstration for Palestine – Irish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign National March
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\nParticipants are invited to bring family and friends\, and to make as much noise as possible for those whose voices are being silenced in Palestine. \n\n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nFree Admission\, No Booking Necessary \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nJoin the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign as they march from the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin 1 to the Dáil on Saturday 10 October 2026 at 1pm. The disability access point is the corner of D’Olier Street and College Green. The march is organised to demand sanctions against the Israeli government in response to the murder of over 73\,000 Palestinian men\, women\, and children. \n\n\n\nThere will be speakers\, music and chants at the march\, and attendees are encouraged to bring family\, friends\, and to make as much noise as possible for those whose voices are being silenced in Palestine. \n\n\n\nIreland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign \n\n\n\nThe Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) exists to mobilize people in Ireland to support the political\, civil and human rights of all Palestinians\, and to work for their national and democratic rights including the Right of Return for Palestinian refugees and their descendants. \n\n\n\nThe Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) was set up in 2001 by Irish human rights and community activists\, academics\, trade unionists\, journalists\, and Palestinians living in Ireland. \n\n\n\nThe Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) are an independent\, broad-based and multi-faceted\, non-party political organisation\, run by volunteers all committed to helping achieve freedom\, justice\, equality and return for the Palestinian people. \n\n\n\nThe Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC)  is a member-based organisation\, funded entirely by membership fees\, standing orders\, donations\, and the sale of solidarity items in our shop. We are run by our highly active and committed volunteer members. \n\n\n\nThe IPSC campaigns for freedom for the Palestinian people\, through raising public awareness about Israel’s settler-colonial regime of apartheid and genocide\, and promoting Boycott\, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) as the best means by which people in Ireland can help to bring these crimes to an end\, similar to how Apartheid in South Africa was finally toppled. \n\n\n\nWorking as part of the Palestinian-led global BDS Movement\, the IPSC aims to end Irish state\, institutional and business complicity with Israeli apartheid and genocide. To this end we mobilise people on the streets and online\, and lobby politicians at the local\, national and international level. We also host commemorations\, public talks\, film screenings\, cultural events\, information stalls\, and other awareness-raising events. \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/national-demonstration-for-palestine-irish-palestinian-solidarity-campaign-national-march/
LOCATION:Garden of Remembrance\, Parnell Square E\, Rotunda\, Dublin\, D01 A0F8
CATEGORIES:March
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/3yearsgenocide.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261010T120000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261010T140000
DTSTAMP:20260925T145035Z
CREATED:20260831T141027Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T145035Z
UID:10000713-1791633600-1791640800@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Songs of Empowerment Workshop by Fighting Words for Teenagers 13-17Songs of Empowerment
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\nTeenagers will draw on protest-song traditions to create their own songs relevant to their generation. \n\n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nAdmission free\, book here. \n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nColm Quearney\, songwriter\, musician\, workshop facilitator\, Development and Outreach Officer with Fighting Words \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nSongs of Empowerment is a workshop conducted by Colm Quearney\, a workshop facilitator and Development and Outreach Officer with Fighting Words. At this workshop\, participants have the opportunity to look at the history of songs that empower and will draw on these themes to create their own songs relevant to today’s generation. The workshop takes place on Saturday 10 October 2026  from 12 noon to 2pm  and is conducted onsite at Fighting Words\, Behan Square\, 12-16 Russell Street Dublin. \n\n\n\nSongs and music have played a powerful role in human rights movements\, giving a universal voice\, crossing barriers and promoting unity and equality. At this workshop\, teenagers will look at the history of protest songs\, and draw on these themes to create their own songs relevant to today’s (their) generation. No previous song writing experience is required. However\, feel free to bring along any instruments or lyrical ideas you might have. \n\n\n\nThis event is presented by Fighting Words  \n\n\n\nFighting Words provides free programmes and mentoring in creative writing and related arts to as many children\, young adults and adults with additional needs as we can reach. Click on the link below to find out more about our people\, our mission and our policies.www.fightingwords.ie \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nColm Quearney grew up in\, and still lives in\, Dublin. As a songwriter and musician Colm has released five original albums of music and has contributed to original albums with bands and artists including Lir\, Dragonfly DC\, Square Pegs\, Colm Mac Con Iomaire\, Pugwash\, Thomas Walsh\, The Pale and Bronagh Gallagher. \n\n\n\nAs a writer Colm has written a musical for teenagers that was produced twice by the Gaiety School of Acting. Composed and written a radio musical series for RTÉjr in 2024\, and written a play that was performed at The Gate Theatre\, Dublin 2025. \n\n\n\nBetween 2011 and 2018 Colm worked as head of the song writing department at BIMM Dublin (British & Irish Modern Music Institute). Colm now works for Fighting Words as Development and Outreach Officer. \n\n\n\nwww.colmquearney.com \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\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/songs-of-empowerment/
LOCATION:Fighting Words\, Behan Square\, 12-16 Russell Street\, Dublin 1\, D01 WD53
CATEGORIES:Songwriting,Workshop
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ORGANIZER;CN="Fighting Words":MAILTO:info@fightingwords.ie
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261010T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261010T120000
DTSTAMP:20260925T145021Z
CREATED:20260915T115608Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T145021Z
UID:10000724-1791628200-1791633600@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:Stories by the Sea – Guided Walk on Stories of Irish Changemakers in 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\nThe walk combines spectacular sea views of Dublin Bay with captivating stories of remarkable Irish changemakers including Roger Casement and the extraordinary humanitarian\, Dr Kathleen Lynn\,  people who shaped our history through courage\, creativity\, and compassion. The tour begins and ends at the Smashing Times Visual Art Gallery\, where participants can enjoy a vibrant exhibition and continue the conversations. \n\n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nNo Booking Necessary \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 an unforgettable storytelling walk along the beautiful coastline overlooking Scotsman’s Bay\, where the sea becomes the backdrop for stories of remarkable Irish changemakers who shaped our history through courage\, creativity\, and compassion. Our guided coastal walk stretches from the iconic Forty Foot Bathing area in Sandycove along the seacoast to the Roger Casement statue in Dun Laoghaire and back again\, beginning and ending at the Smashing Times Visual Art Gallery at 30 Sandycove Road\, Dublin. \n\n\n\nEnjoy one of Dublin’s most beautiful seascapes blending dramatic coastal views and spectacular scenery with captivating stories.  Along the way\, we hear stories of Irish changemakers from Ireland and local characters  associated with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown\, including Roger Casement and the extraordinary humanitarian\, Dr Kathleen Lynn\, reflecting on the different ways people have stood up peacefully for the rights and dignity of others. \n\n\n\nWe reflect on the story of sea swimming\, from the restored Dún Laoghaire Baths to the famous Forty-Foot bathing area\, and consider the importance of the coast as a place of creativity\,  culture and well-being. The tour begins and ends at the Smashing Times Visual Art Gallery\, where participants can enjoy a vibrant exhibition and continue the conversations. After the tour and gallery visit\, you can stroll through the urban village of Sandycove and Glasthule\, enjoying the many wonderful shops\, cafés and restaurants. \n\n\n\nCoastal + Urban Guided Walks: Information for all walks and tours\n\n\n\nWe offer three guided walking trails. \n\n\n\nTwo coastal walks begin and end at theSmashing Times Visual Art Gallery\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Dublin\, A96V9P1 taking participants along the seacoast from Sandycove to Dún Laoghaire and back. Walk One: Stories by the Sea – Guided Walk on Stories of Irish Changemakers  in History shares stories of Irish Human Rights Defenders in the past\, while Walk Two: Art by the Sea – Stories of Irish Artists\, Writers and Visionaries explores the lives and work of Irish artists. Both walks feature stories of people connected to the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown area and bring together arts\, nature and human rights\, while inviting participants to enjoy the beauty of the coastal landscape. \n\n\n\nWalk Three: Walking Through Women’s History 1916–1923 –  Guided Walk through Rathmines and Ranelagh featuring stories of Irish women in history is an urban walking trail beginning outside Swan Leisure Centre\, Rathmines Square\, 161 Rathmines Road Lower\, Dublin\, D06 E6P3\, and ending at the Holy Trinity Church\, Rathmines.  The tour explores the stories and experiences of women during the revolutionary period of 1916–1923\, highlighting their roles\, contributions and often overlooked voices in Irish history. \n\n\n\nPrices \n\n\n\nAdults Age 18+:                            15 Euro \n\n\n\nChildren Ages 4-17:                      5 Euro \n\n\n\nInfants 0-3:                                    Free \n\n\n\nOverview \n\n\n\nDuration:                                       1.15 hrs \n\n\n\nGroup Size:                                   Maximum 25 people per tour \n\n\n\nMeeting Points \n\n\n\n\nWalk One: Stories by the Sea – Guided Walk on Stories of Irish Changemakers in History\n\n\n\n\nBegin and end indoors at Smashing Times Visual Art Gallery\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Dublin\, A96V9P1 \n\n\n\n\nWalk Two: Art by the Sea – Stories of Irish Artists\, Writers and Visionaries \n\n\n\n\nBegin and end indoors at Smashing Times Visual Art Gallery\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Dublin\, A96V9P1 \n\n\n\n\nWalk Three: Walking Through Women’s History 1916–1923 –  Guided Walk through Rathmines and Ranelagh featuring stories of Irish women in history\n\n\n\n\nMeeting Point:  Outside Swan Leisure Centre\, Rathmines Square\, 161 Rathmines Road Lower\, Dublin\, D06 E6P3\, and ending at the Holy Trinity Church\, Rathmines.   \n\n\n\nWhat’s included \n\n\n\n\nFully guided walking tour by experienced local guides.\n\n\n\nFascinating stories\, interesting information and fun facts\n\n\n\nStunning coastal views\n\n\n\nStories of History\, Folklore\, Changemakers and Artists\n\n\n\nInformation on Local bars and restaurants\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nCheck-in details: Please arrive 15 minutes early to check in\, we aim to depart promptly from the designated departure point.  \n\n\n\nSpecial Requirements:  We aim to tour in all weathers so please wear appropriate clothing.  Moderate fitness is required as the tour includes some small tracks and uneven footing. Under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult. As this is an outdoor walking tour there are limited access to bathrooms.  \n\n\n\nAccessibility: The tour is open to all. We endeavour to make the tours wheelchair accessible. Due to the historic areas on the tour\, wheelchairs\, buggys\, and pushchairs may be limited in some places.  Moderate fitness required due to the nature walk as it includes walking and uneven ground in places. Limited bathroom access whilst on the tour. \n\n\n\nDisclaimer: Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and all associated partners and personnel accept no responsibility for any injury\, loss\, damage\, accident\, or other incident arising during or in connection with participation in any company events either indoor or outdoor including the walking trails. Participants take part at their own risk and are responsible for taking reasonable care of their own health\, safety\, clothing\, footwear\, and personal belongings. Participants should follow the guidance of tour facilitators and be aware that outdoor conditions and terrain may be uneven\, wet\, slippery\, or otherwise challenging. \n\n\n\nCancellations \n\n\n\nWhilst we aim to do the tour in all weather\, tour may be restricted or cancelled in certain weather conditions. Customers will receive a full refund or credit with 24-hoursnotice of cancellation. Customers will also receive a full refund or credit in case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Contact us by phone to cancel or inquire about a cancellation. No-shows will be charged the full price. \n\n\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\nVenue Information:
URL:https://smashingtimes.ie/event/stories-by-the-sea-guided-walk-on-stories-of-irish-changemakers-in-history/
LOCATION:Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Sandycove\, Dublin\, A96V9P1\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Sandycove\, Dublin\, A96V9P1
CATEGORIES:Walking Tour
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Stories-by-the-sea.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality":MAILTO:info@smashingtimes.ie
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261010T090000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261010T140000
DTSTAMP:20260925T145007Z
CREATED:20260831T150328Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260925T145007Z
UID:10000717-1791622800-1791640800@smashingtimes.ie
SUMMARY:The Weight of Return – Multidisciplinary Art Piece featuring Installation and Live Monologue Performance
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 work commemorates approximately 120\,000 internally displaced people in the highlands of West Papua and uses art to explore displacement\, conflict\, cultural identity and the struggle to return home. Presented by Costan Fakrian Raharusun\, Artist and Teacher and Samuel Yohanes Glenn\, Artist and Cultural Craftsman. \n\n\n\nBook Your Place\n\n\n\nAdmission free\, no booking necessary \n\n\n\nArtists\n\n\n\nCostan Fakrian Raharusun\, Artist and Teacher \n\n\n\nSamuel Yohanes Glenn\, Artist \n\n\n\nFull Event Details\n\n\n\nPeace Bridges International and Udeido Collective present this multidisciplinary art piece featuring an installation and live monologue performance as part of the Irish Arts and Human Rights Festival. The installation and monologue commemorate the 120\,000 internally displaced people in the highlands of West Papua. They have been displaced due to the ongoing conflict between the independence movement and Indonesian government. The government does not allow humanitarian aid into the region and has refused to engage in peace talks. These international displace people have no clean water\, no food\, no shelter\, no healthcare\, no education and many have died while waiting to return home. \n\n\n\nThe installation is freely available to view on Saturday 10 October 2026\, from 9am-2pm\, with the live monologue performance taking place at 12pm. \n\n\n\nThis event is presented by Peace Bridges International and the Udeido Collective \n\n\n\nUdeido Collective was founded in Yogyakarta in 2018 as a platform for young artists from across Papua to initiate an artistic movement in their homeland. Udeido Collective’s works visually articulate the situation of the West Papuan people. Their practice touches on the use of conceptual elements from socio-cultural construction that exist in their own society. Reconstruction of these elements is placed as a method for analysing and discussing social issues within society caused by prolonged social-political conflict.  Udeido takes its name from the ude leaf\, which is used on the island to treat wounds\, and aims to heal and reconstruct the collective memory of the Papuan people. \n\n\n\nHuman rights defenders are at the heart of all we do at Peace Bridges International.  We provide protection\, support and recognition to local human rights defenders who work in areas of repression and conflict and have requested our support.  We believe that lasting transformation of conflicts cannot come from outside\, but must be based on the capacity and desires of local people. We avoid imposing\, interfering or getting directly involved in the work of the people we accompany. Our work is effective because we take an integrated approach\, combining a presence alongside human rights defenders on the ground with an extensive network of international support. \n\n\n\nFounded in 1981\, PBI has many years of experience working alongside human rights defenders\, opening and protecting space for peace\, conflict transformation and the defence of human rights in 14 countries. We are a life-saving international presence in areas of conflict and repression\, and a powerful global advocacy network protecting those on the ground. We have worked in Nicaragua\, El Salvador\, Sri Lanka\, North America\, Haiti\, Nepal and the Balkans as well as our current field projects in Colombia\, Guatemala\, Honduras\, Indonesia\, Kenya\, Mexico and Nepal. \n\n\n\nSpeaker Biographies:\n\n\n\n\n\nCostan Fakrian Raharusun is an artist and teacher\, working a lot with painting\, sculpture\, installations and also theatrical production. He is also an art teacher who challenges the national education system by stressing the importance of indigenous knowledge. To support the preservation of West Papuan art and culture\, he is introducing Mambesak\, Black Brothers\, senior West Papuan artists\, etc in his teaching curriculum. Through his art\, he depicts the current situation experienced by West Papuan’s\, from present injustice to preservation of culture and identity. He is part of the West Papuan art collective\, Udeido Collective and one of the founders of Labirin Art\, an art collective in Fakfak. \n\n\n\nSamuel Yohanes Glenn is active in refining and revisiting the “sounds of Papua” that breathes life into his work. ‘Amidst the wave of modernization\, I have taken on a crucial role as a craftsman and preserver of Papuan cultural artifacts—objects that might be fading from the interest of my generation\, but find their soul once again in my hands. I am not merely making art; I am preserving memories and keeping the spirit of Papua alive\, even when I am far from home.’ \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/the-weight-of-return/
LOCATION:Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Sandycove\, Dublin\, A96V9P1\, 30 Sandycove Road\, Sandycove\, Dublin\, A96V9P1
CATEGORIES:Installation,Multidisciplinary,Performance
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://smashingtimes.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/IDP-1-jenny-duncan.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261009T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Dublin:20261009T210000
DTSTAMP:20261009T104906Z
CREATED:20260914T101022Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261009T104906Z
UID:10000721-1791572400-1791579600@smashingtimes.ie
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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