INSPIORÁIDEACH  LIATROIM

Inspirational Leitrim: A Celebration of Leitrim’s Heritage, Culture, Music, and Landscape

Introduction

Inspirational Leitrim is an ambitious multimedia project designed to promote the unique heritage, culture, music, landscape, and people of Leitrim and the surrounding areas. By merging the arts of photography, video, traditional Irish music and song, this project offers an evocative, immersive experience that brings to life the stories, history, and natural beauty of the region. The centerpiece of Inspirational Leitrim will be a series of live concert performances, where musicians, singers, and dancers will respond to decades of photographic history, telling the story of Leitrim through music and song.

The performances will revolve around carefully curated themes showcasing Leitrim’s cultural and natural heritage, with a particular emphasis on the county’s musical and artistic traditions. Many of the photographs in the project come from David Knight’s extensive 40-year photography archive of County Leitrim, a priceless collection that has captured the essence of the area and its people across decades.

Leitrim VideoRooney - Planxty Mac Clancy by Mossie Martin https://www.mossiemartin.com/

Thematic Structure of the Performances

The live performances will be organized around key themes related to Leitrim’s culture, landscape and people. These themes will guide the structure of the concerts, providing a sense of flow and continuity while highlighting the depth and variety of the region's traditions. Each performance will feature an audiovisual photography presentation that serves as a visual backdrop, creating a dynamic and engaging atmosphere for the live music.

The music and songs, performed by traditional musicians and singers from Leitrim and surrounding areas, will be closely tied to the images projected on screen. Rather than simply accompanying the photography, the music will emerge as a direct response to the images. The performers will interpret the imagery musically and orally, complimenting the performance by recounting the context of the images, breathing new life into the history, stories and characters captured in each picture. In this way, Inspirational Leitrim offers a holistic experience where visual art, music and storytelling converge.

Leitrim’s Heritage and Ancient Sites

One of the key themes of Inspirational Leitrim will be Leitrim’s unique cultural and historical heritage, which stretches back over two millennia to the Neolithic period. The project will highlight significant historical locations around the county, both well-known and lesser-known, that have played a vital role in shaping Leitrim’s identity.

Photographs of these sites, many of which date back over 2,000 years, will serve as a portal into the county’s ancient past. These will include images of ancient burial mounds, stone circles, and other remnants of Leitrim's prehistoric and early medieval past. Accompanying these images will be performances of slow melodies and local songs that reflect the haunting atmosphere and timeless nature of these sacred places. The music will evoke a sense of connection with the ancestors and the land, deepening the audience’s appreciation of the significance of these historical sites.

Leitrim’s Landscape and Musical Legacy

The majestic landscape of Leitrim, with its rolling mountains, serene lakes, and rugged hills, will also feature prominently in the performances. Photographs of Leitrim’s natural beauty will be paired with traditional music and songs that are rooted in the landscape itself. The musical performances will be drawn from the rich repertoire of tunes and airs that have been passed down through generations, many of which were inspired by the land and the people who lived on it.

In particular, North Leitrim’s lakes and mountains will play a central role in this section of the performance. The region’s distinctive geographical features have inspired countless musicians and composers over the years, and the music performed here will reflect that deep connection. The photographs will capture the beauty and serenity of the landscape, while the music will provide an emotional counterpart, creating an immersive experience that speaks to the heart of Leitrim’s natural heritage.

Tributes to Late Musicians and Composers

Leitrim has a rich musical tradition, and many of its finest musicians, composers, and singers have left an indelible mark on Irish culture. Inspirational Leitrim will pay tribute to these figures by featuring their music and telling the stories of their lives through the places that inspired them. This section of the performance will blend photography with live tributes, as the musicians on stage perform the tunes and songs of those who have passed away, honoring their contribution to Leitrim’s cultural heritage.

Photographs will be shown of the places where these musicians lived and worked, along with the landscapes that inspired their creativity. By blending visual and musical tributes, the performance will highlight the lasting legacy of these artists and their continued influence on the music of today.

For example, we will pay tribute to Turough O’Carolan who’s famous first composition was inspired by the legend of the battle between the fairy tribes on the Leitrim hills, ‘Sí Beag, Sí Mór’, as told to him by George Reynolds of Loughscur near Keshcarrigan.

The Lennon family including Charlie, Ben and Maurice have composed many well-known and varied pieces that would be ideal for corresponding with images from the glens of north Leitrim. We would also explore the music and songs of other Leitrim legends such as singer Thomas Moran, flute player John McKenna (Arigna), singer Mary McPartland (Drumkeeran), fiddle player Joe Liddy (Killargue), flute player John Blessing (Aughavas) and whistle player Mick Woods (Drumshanbo). 

Traditional Crafts and Ways of Life

In addition to its musical and historical heritage, Leitrim is also home to a number of traditional crafts and ways of life that are rapidly disappearing. Inspirational Leitrim will celebrate this aspect of the county’s heritage by featuring photographs of local craftspeople and trades, such as the last tailor working in Ballinamore. This photograph will be accompanied by a live performance of an old tune from the area called “The Tailor’s Thimble,” a piece that evokes the spirit of the craft and the community it served.

Other traditional aspects of Leitrim’s life, such as old horse fairs in Mohill and cattle and sheep markets in Drumshanbo from the 1980s, will also be featured. Black and white photographs of these events will provide a window into a bygone era, while traditional tunes and songs from the time will offer a musical commentary on these important social and economic gatherings.

Method

The three members of the collective will work on drawing the project together through researching the music and stories from the different themes and photographs in the photo archive. They will also visit some more sites around the county to photograph, film and collect further music and imagery to compliment and complete the collection of music and imagery.

A performance will then be produced which will be put on in various venues and festivals throughout the county and further afield.

Conclusion

Inspirational Leitrim promises to be a unique and powerful celebration of Leitrim’s heritage, culture, music and landscape. By blending photography, video, and live musical performances, the project will offer an immersive experience that brings the past and present together in a compelling and emotional way. Through its focus on Leitrim’s people, places, and traditions, Inspirational Leitrim will foster a deep connection between the audience and the rich cultural fabric of this remarkable region. Whether through the haunting beauty of ancient songs or the evocative power of photography, this project will leave a lasting impression on all who experience it.