Two Laois Artists feature in new Guide for Wetlands Communities
Guide for Wetlands Communities features pair of Laois Artists
Two Co. Laois Artists feature in a brand-new Guide for Wetlands Communities, in a bid to engage and enthuse local people to get involved in the protection and preservation of the country’s rich wetlands.
Alison McEvoy from Abbeyleix, together with Multimedia creative, Annie Holland, have contributed works for the ‘A Guide for Wetlands Communities Engaging in Creative projects’, an innovative publication by the ‘Communities Wetlands Forum’ ,established to promote our wetlands and peatlands, some 13,000 of which are dotted throughout Ireland.
The compilation of the ‘Guide for Wetland Communities Engaging in Creative Projects’ is a seen as a major step forward in bringing wetlands communities in Co. Laois together in shared purpose that has important ecological, societal and cultural benefits.
Alison says
“I’m delighted to have my work included in the guide and to see that fantastic ways in which other creatives have interpreted bogland through their practice.
As a creative, being mindful of the impact on our wetlands be it from noise, foot traffic or visitor numbers is always key for me. It isn’t a priority for everyone and so this Guide should be used as a manual when any committee or external group are planning any creative activity on these special wetlands. It a fantastic step-by-step guide on how to cohesively and respectfully create events that encourage like-minded people to celebrate the wonder of these wetlands and boglands in a way that doesn’t take from them while also raising awareness about the ecological aspects.
Community involvement in any form helps community groups, we all love to visit these special places, but it doesn’t magically happen. Lots of hours of manual labour, paperwork, planning and strategising goes into even the smallest of projects. I’m very glad to be a part of Abbeyleix Bog Project and I help in all creative projects”.
Alison was co-ordinator of the ‘Abbeyleix 25 Years On’ celebration in 2025.
Annie Holland’s film ’25 Years On ..Abbeyleix Bog (2025) , a collaborative project with the Abbeyleix Bog Project marked the 25th anniversary of the local community effort to save the bog from peat extraction by Bord na Mona.
She also created the acclaimed ‘A Forgotten Generation’ exhibition, detailing 100 years of rural life in Co Laois through the history of persona artefacts and traditional farming tools.