Events day to put Glen River Park in spotlight

Cork’s Glen River Park will be brought to life with a host of events this Saturday as part of the Gleann a’ Phúca Creative Climate Action project.

Activities will include a picnic, a dance performance, film and animation screenings, and the launch of the FuaimMná audio trail celebrating the women of the Glen River Park.

The Gleann a’ Phúca project, which has received funding from Cork City Council, the Local Authority Water programme, Local Creative Youth Partnership, and a Spark Award from the Creative Climate Action Fund, was instigated and led by Cork-based artist Julie Forrester.

‘Gleann a’ Phúca’, which refers to the fact that the area was once known as ‘Glen of the Spooks’, stemmed from Ms Forrester’s pandemic Glen Diaries and evolved into a multi-disciplinary research project involving a team of artists who each created proposals seeking to explore the park.

The project also aimed to celebrate, protect, and improve the water quality of the Glen River as it runs its course across the northside of the city.

Saturday’s showcase commences at 1.30pm with a discursive picnic.

Other highlights include the official launch of the FuaimMná SoundWomen trail at 5pm.

Created by native Cork writer and producer Ann Dalton, FuaimMná raises the voices and stories of the women of the park, both past and present, with a QR-coded bronze plaque audio trail.

A dance performance titled ‘Through the Valley She Runs’ by UCC creative dance artist in residence in The Glen, Helga Deasy, will take place in the park at 6.15pm.

Gleann a’ Phúca teamed up with UCC Creative to commission the work in partnership with Dance Cork Firkin Crane, and was supported by UCC Environmental Research Institute.

“It has been a rollercoaster year during which we reached out and sought engagement with the community to share our appreciation of the Glen River Park,” said Gleann a’ Phúca creative lead Ms Forrester.

“We have heard extraordinary tales of connection with the natural world, from the mythic past to the present.

“Now we would like to share with you our findings from this time.”