Confronting climate grief through art, music, and reflection.
A series of events exploring the pressing issues of biodiversity loss and climate grief while commemorating the artistic, cultural and musical heritage of the island of Ireland. These events fostered cross-border collaboration, and brought together communities from both sides of the border in a collective effort to address the shared environmental crisis.
Exploring caoineadh with UCC’s Marian Caulfield, a leading expert in the field. A round table discussion was led by environmental artist AlanJames Burns, with Marian and biodiversity expert Heather Bothwell. There were also live performances of lament airs by Kerry McCabe and caoineadh by Róis Connolly, both traditional musicians from Co. Fermanagh.
This evening of haunting music, emotive pros and engaging discussion united the audience in a powerful collective experience focused on the losses caused by our shared environmental crisis. By processing grief and redefining environmental loss as a cohesive bond, ‘Caoineadh Dúlra’ aimed to inspire attendees to take meaningful action in preserving the precious natural resources across the island of Ireland.
Discovering the ancient practice of caoineadh—or keening—this transformative workshop was led by Tanya Bryan, a psychotherapist and keening expert. Participants experienced the cathartic expression of shared personal and ecological grief. They connected with Irish heritage through the therapeutic power of sound and spontaneous collective experience. Revitalising traditional skill sets for processing grief offers us tools through which we can re-engage with and reframe environmental loss—not as a state of disconnection and isolation, but as a unifying experience, which can be channelled as a catalyst for change.
Photography by Sheila Rooney
‘Caoineadh Dúlra’, a groundbreaking series of events, in conjunction with artist AlanJames Burns’s ambitious theatrical project ‘The Waking Walls’. The project is based on a three-year research and development period by AlanJames Burns that has connected people from both sides of the border and has utilised cultural heritage methodologies that foster collective wellbeing.
‘Caoineadh Dúlra’ is funded and supported by The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltach, Sport & Media, Co-operation with Northern Ireland Scheme, Cavan Arts Office, Irish Hospice Foundation, Cavan Adventure Centre, caoineadh expert Marian Caulfield and Tanya Bryan, Psychotherapist, A Time To Gather.
