Manchán Magan
Kennedy Centre, DC - June 2016
Lime Tree Theatre, Limerick - July 2018
For a video of the ritual .... see here
Gaeilge Tamagotchi has been performed in many venues since the first 835 people turned up to the Project Arts Centre, Dublin, in September 2015 to foster a word. Thousands of words have been saved, thousands still await foster homes.
Performances:
Cork Opera House, Sept 2018
Townhall Theatre, Galway, Sept 2018
Abbey Theatre, Dublin, Aug 2018
Lime Theatre, Limerick, July 2018
Cashel Arts Festival, July 2017
Éigse Michael Hartnett, Newcastle West, March 2017
Culture Night, Tullamore Arts Centre, Sept 2016
John F Kennedy Centre, Washington DC, June 2016
Drogheda Arts Festival, May 2016
Ballina Arts Centre, March 2016
Project Arts Centre, Dublin Sept, 2015
The 3m-wide hanging stucture was designed by Tom de Paor, of de Paor architects, using linen from Baird McNutt Linen, Co Armagh
For Manchán's Irish Times article on the project see here.
The Irish language has 4,400 different words merely to describe someone; to convey their character, their demeanour, their shape or stature.
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?
súghóg – stain left by tears
iarmhaireacht – loneliness at cock-crow
dril – drop glancing in the sun
spailp – surprise kiss
Tá 4,400 focal éagsúil sa Ghaeilge le cur síos a dhéanamh ar dhuine: lena gcarachtar, a meon, a gcruth a chur in iúl. Is annamh a úsáidtear a bhformhór acu anois. Tá cuid mhór acu básaithe cheana féin. An mbeifeá sásta ceann a uchtú?
In Gaeilge Tamagotchi Manchan invites you to adopt an Irish word. Participants wind through a labyrinth of 30m of raw Irish linen to receive an endangered Irish word from the artist, which they agree to nurture, nourish and take guardianship of. They each receive a word unique to them and are given the opportunity to print or paint their word on stone, oak-wood or linen as a ritualistic covenant.
A theatrical installation in which Manchán invites you to adopt an Irish word in order to breathe life into it.