Liminal Entwinings - Researching geography and pilgrimage in Ireland

On July 18, 2019 by richard

Summer Workshop: ‘Pilgrimages: Walking and Writing Trail’

Dr Kathy D’Arcy and I are running a series of summer writing workshops in Cork city using the them theme of pilgrimage. The details are outlined below.

Pilgrimages: Walking and Writing Trail

Dates: Fridays July 19, 26, August 2, 9, 16, 23.

Time: 12.30-2.30pm

Booking is required

This series of guided writing workshops will lead small groups through the streets of Cork city centre connecting pilgrimage sites. Each workshop will be 2 hours long in total, involving walking to locations such as St FinBarre’s Cathedral and the Nano Nagle Centre, supported writing time, and a space to share and discuss in the City Library.* The initiative is being facilitated by Dr Kathy D’Arcy, creative writing teacher and poet, and Dr Richard Scriven, Geographer in UCC, who have expertise in pilgrimages and working with community groups. It is being run in conjunction with Cork City Library. You can attend just one workshop, several of them, or all; however, they will be limited to 10 people, so booking is essential. Participants aged under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. For details and booking contact Kathy D’Arcy gobnait3[at]gmail.com

For walking: Good shoes, raingear, umbrella, sunscreen, sunglasses, comfortable clothes, tissues.

For writing: Sturdy notebooks (one large, one small) and pens, plastic pocket to protect writing.

What to expect? Mostly very easy walking with stops to sit and write/meditate/discuss the routes (we may sit on the ground); quiet, meditative walking and thinking interspersed with periods of writing and discussion; final friendly sharing of work created.

Who is it for? Everyone, all levels of writing experience and none! Participants will need to be able to negotiate the city streets and roads.

*The workshops will not be religious in nature, rather they will involve exploring the historic paths and the creativity they can generate.
On June 3, 2019 by richard

Food Poverty with Tara Kenny

Episode 1.13 available through:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/richscriven/114-food-poverty-with-tara-kenny
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/littoral-space/id1454970013?mt=2
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Q98M3kc95VqsYKIpTE1tX

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/littoral-space?refid=stpr

The high rates of food poverty, or food insecurity, in Ireland, and the different types of response are outlined by Tara Kenny, PhD Candidate in the Department of Geography, UCC. This conversation illustrates the complexities involved and the inadequacies of government policies, which rely on the charitable sector to help feed people caught in food poverty. Dr Richard Scriven also discusses community gardens with Tara, and the social role they can play (https://www.facebook.com/sustainablefoodlabcork/). Ultimately, the issue of food insecurity can be addressed through official policy, which requires voters to advocate for change, you can also support the work of different organisations in the meantime, some are listed below.

Cork Penny Dinners: http://corkpennydinners.ie/

Society of St Vincent de Paul Ireland: https://www.svp.ie

Feed Cork Food bank: htt ps://www.facebook.com/feedcork/

Littoral Space webpage: http://liminalentwinings.com/littoral-space-podcast/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LittoralSpace

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littoralspaces/

Dr Richard Scriven tweets at: https://twitter.com/RichardScrivGeo
On May 7, 2019 by richard

1.13 Equality in Education With Ruth Harrington

Episode 1.13 available through:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/richscriven/113-equality-in-education-with-ruth-harrington
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/littoral-space/id1454970013?mt=2
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Wjvn311EbP9lCBWIgnSHC

Education and equality of access and opportunity feature in this episode’s conversation with Deputy Principal Ruth Harrington, who shares her experiences of working in a school with DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) status. She underlines the importance of supports such as breakfast clubs and school liaison officers, and offering choice to young people.
On May 7, 2019 by richard

1.12 Ladybirds Survey with Gill Weyman

Episode 1.12 available through:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/richscriven/112-ladybirds-survey-with-gill-weyman
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/littoral-space/id1454970013?mt=2
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1w5GkPYBEu6CtdVW5UZpsj

Gill Weyman explains about the national ladybird survey a citizen science project involving members of the public sharing sightings of ladybirds so a greater picture of their spread, types, and overall status can be assessed. Her research highlights to role of studying ecosystems and helping ordinary people become more invested in theior local environment. Gill works in Fota Wildlife Park under an IRC employment doctoral scholarship and is completing her PhD in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork.

You can find out more about the survey and submit your sightings:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Irishladybirds/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/IrishLadybirds
Fota Wildlife Park website: https://www.fotawildlife.ie/education/2016-all-ireland-ladybird-survey
On May 7, 2019 by richard

Cork is the Lee: an audio exploration of the River Lee

This auditory project explores the cultural and natural heritage role of the river Lee in the life of Cork city through a podcast series and a workshop during Heritage Week 2019. Using the unique capacity of sound to convey meaning and evoke emotions, this project will interview people who use and appreciate the Lee (eg. rowers, fishers, naturalists), utilise historical sources, and take field-recordings along its length, which will be combined to create a rich and unique insight into river as geographical and cultural force. The project has received funding under Cork City Council’s Local Community Heritage Grant 2019 and is supported by the Department of Geography, UCC.

You can contact Richard by email – corkisthelee@gmail.com – or on Facebook: facebook.com/corkisthelee

Podcast

Cork is the Lee series benefits from the popularity and accessibility of the medium and its capacity to reach larger audiences. It will be disseminated through my podcast, Littoral Space.

Heritage Week workshop, Tuesday 20^th Aug, Geography Department, UCC

Participants will listen to a series of recordings that display distinct aspects of the river by combining the soundscape with people’s stories. This audio journey will take place in a slightly darkened space enabling attuning to rhythms and flows of the Lee.
On April 23, 2019 by richard

Farming, Sustainable Agriculture, and West Cork with Holly McKeever Cairns

Episode 1.11 available through:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/richscriven/sustainable-agriculture-holly-mckeever-cairns
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/littoral-space/id1454970013?mt=2
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/49gDi9WCch0QiFzmcniD3b

A broad ranging conversation with Holly McKeever Cairns, a West Cork farmer and small business owner, covers the importance of biodiversity, sustainable agriculture, better systems of farming, and supporting rural life. In this episode, Dr Richard Scriven and Holly touch a range of geographical themes from the provision of food to examining what we mean by sustainability. It also highlights the importance of voters in shaping policies and consumer is making change.

Brown Envelope Seeds (www.brownenvelopeseeds.com/)is a family company in West Cork, and Holly is a candidate in the upcoming local elections for the Social Demoncrats in the Cork County Bantry electoral area (www.socialdemocrats.ie/our-people/ho…keevercairns/). She can also be found on Facebook (www.facebook.com/HolllyMcKeeverCairns/), Twitter (twitter.com/HollyLeahCairns), and Instagram (www.instagram.com/holly_mckeever_cairns/).

Littoral Space webpage: liminalentwinings.com/littoral-space-podcast/
Twitter: twitter.com/LittoralSpace
Instagram: www.instagram.com/littoralspaces/

Dr Richard Scriven tweets at: twitter.com/RichardScrivGeo
On April 23, 2019 by richard

Littoral Space 1.10: Rural Repealing with Doris Murphy

Episode 10 available through:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/richscriven/episode-1-10-rural-repealing
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/littoral-space/id1454970013?mt=2
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7JLrzRweiegvgFAIQUOX3Y

Doris Murphy shares her experiences of convening Wexford Together for Yes with a group of dedicated activists, highlighting the importance of individuals acting to help address social and political issues.
On April 23, 2019 by richard

Littoral Space 1.9: Musical geographies with Dee Gannon

Episode 9 available through:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/richscriven/littoral-space-19-musical-geographies-with-dee-gannon
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/littoral-space/id1454970013?mt=2
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6KGYebt8Z92J6NXVSXIhLX

Musican and composer Dee Gannon explains the geographical influences in her piece the Anthropocene composed for the gamelan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamelan), which features as the music for this podcast. Dr Richard Scriven and Dee discuss the intersections of the natural world and beyond with music. Her creative process influences considerations of ecology and habitats, and the anthropocentric/capitalist systems that mistreat and deplete the environment. The episode all features the full recording of the piece Ophelia from the the Anthropocene.

You can find Dee on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/deegannonmusic/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/deegannonmusic/)
On April 22, 2019 by richard

Littoral Space 1.8: Supporting the arts and rural communities with Síle Ní Dhubhghaill

Episode 8 available through:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/richscriven/supporting-the-arts-and-rural-communities-with-sile-ni-dhubhghaill
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/littoral-space/id1454970013?mt=2
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4wkgo45c6ijHotIIW9XuJC

Síle Ní Dhubhghaill outlines the importance that the arts can play in the lives of individuals and communities, and the necessity for this sector to be properly funded, especially in rural areas. As a small business owner, who employs several other teachers, Síle is very knowledgeable about this sector, the opportunities it presents, and the challenges it faces. This episode touches on the lack of supports for rural communities and the value of cultural.

You can find Síle on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/nidhubhghaillsile/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/silenidsocdems), and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/silesocdems/).
On April 22, 2019 by richard

Littoral Space 1.7 Migrants and Voting with Dr Lekha Menon Margassery

Episode 7 available through:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/richscriven/littoral-space-17-migrants-and-voting-with-dr-lekha-menon-margassery
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/littoral-space/id1454970013?mt=2
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6MRblZnZDTi4VEKHsU1B5D

Dr Lekha Menon Margassery has been active in registering voters in Cork and raising awareness of the democratic process among the migrant communities. Her voluntary work highlights the need for a pro-active political system with includes all people and encourages diversity. Please note all residents of the Republic of Ireland are entitled to vote in local elections. Lekha has a PhD in Microbiology and is President of UCC Indian Alumni Community and Board Member of UCC Alumni Network; she is also a candidate in Cork City Council’s South Central Ward for the local elections in May 2019.