Manchán Magan
For a video of the ritual .... see here
Of those who came to the Project Arts Centre, Dublin, 835 were successful in gaining entry after long queues.
They each received a word unique to them. They were given the opportunity to print or paint their word on stone, oak-wood or linen as a ritualistic covenant…. 835 words were saved, thousands more await fosterage.
súghóg - stain left by tears
iarmhaireacht - loneliness at cock-crow
dril - drop glancing in the sun
spailp - surprise kiss
For Manchán's Irish Times article on the project see here.
1,150 people came to the Project Arts Centre during the Tiger Dublin Fringe Festival, September 2015, to adopt an Irish word in response to the above declaration.Participants wound through a labyrinth of 30m of raw Irish linen to receive an endangered Irish word from the artist, which they agreed to nurture, nourish and take guardianship of.
The 3m-wide hanging stucture was designed by Tom de Paor, of de Paor architects, using linen from Baird McNutt Linen, Co Armagh.
Gaeilge Tamagotchi was performed for one night at Ballina Arts Centre, March 18th, 2016. It will take place inDrogheda Arts Centre, 28th April to 1st May. And in theJFK Centre, Washington DC, 1st - 5th June 2016
Most of us have about 12,000 words in our vocabulary.
Shakespeare used 30,000 words in his entire works.
The Irish language has 4,400 different words merely to describe someone; to convey their character, their demeanour, their shape or stature.
4,400 words.
They are rarely used now. Many are already dead.Would you be willing to adopt one?
To take on a weakened, endangered term? Mind it, cherish it with your tongue. Slip it into sentences? Name a pet or loved one after it?
A performance installation by Manchán Magan
designed by Tom de Paor
John F Kennedy Centre, Washington DC, 1st-5th June 2016
Drogheda Arts Festival, 28th April - 1st May 2016
Ballina Arts Centre, 18th March 2016
Project Arts Centre, Dublin 9th-12th Sept, 2015