Uncovering our hidden histories

Damer House Gallery was proud to present Stories in the Making: Arts, Community & Unearthing Our Histories, a one-day seminar taking place on June 7 at the Black Mills, Roscrea. This thought-provoking event brought together artists, curators, and community members to explore how art can illuminate overlooked stories and reclaim silenced voices.

Opening the seminar was author and curator Catherine Marshall and artist Sinead Fahey of KCAT Studios, who discussed their shared experiences in engaging communities through art. This conversation examined who gets access to the arts, why certain communities feel excluded, and how we can build more inclusive and representative cultural spaces.

The seminar continued with textile artist and educator Jackie Carter, who shared the personal journey of her grandmother Agnes through her artwork - a “critical fabulation” blending memory, imagination, and history. Carter’s work seeks to recover the lives of women too often reduced to gravestone inscriptions like Devoted Wife and Mother. Her piece was recently featured in the Seanchas; Lore Exhibition at Damer House Gallery, which also travelled to Florence in 2024.

The afternoon concluded with film screening of two works by acclaimed artists Therry Rudin and Patricia Hurl. Valise, created with Roscrea’s Active Retirement Group, honours everyday stories at risk of being forgotten. It was followed by the Last of the Summer Wine, a touching tribute to the memories and lives of Roscrea’s senior residents. Both films invited us to reflect on community, change, and the importance of preserving our collective past.

This free event invited everyone to join a vital conversation about art, identity, and memory. Damer House Gallery gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Creative Ireland and Tipperary Arts Office and thank the OPW for the use of the Black Mills.