Surf Songs

 A pal gave a friend and I a present of a surf lesson in Lahinch.  Each time we tried to use the voucher something went wrong; the weather, an appointment, a …. Eventually it was ‘use it or lose it’ as  I had to come home to Kildare so a date was set in stone.  The class happened on the day Hurricane Ivan hit Liscannor Bay.  

And so I wrote a song 'Surfing Hurricane Ivan in Liscannor Bay.'  It described the surf lesson, pro surfers flooding in to surf Ailean’s under the Cliffs of Mohar, Aill Na Searrach, (Leap of the Foals), the journey from Naas to Clare, pit stops at Obama Plaza, Blakes Corner, Ennistymon, Clare, and, maybe one day succeeding at surfing.

I sang it one night in Ennis at a singing session in the Copper Jug.  Afterwards another singer asked me “Did you write that song?” “Yes” “Will you write a positive surfing song?  I’m a surfer and I’d love a positive song about surfing.”

And so I wrote ’Surf’s My Love’, set to the beautiful melody, Sì Beag, Sì Mor by Turlough O Carolan, and Erica Nicholas, the singer and surfer sang it at another session in Cnoc Na Gaoithe in Tulla.  It got 20K hits on FB.  I recorded her singing ‘Surf’s My Love’ in the Corner Stone in Lahinch, with Eoin O Neill playing bouzouki.  It was released and I joined IMRO which led to a song writing workshop with Buddy Mondlock and more….

Isn’t life is full of unexpected twists and turns?

Surf's My Love

Our Cosmic Path, FSJ Spirituality House, Spanish Point, Co. Clare

 I was delighted to be invited to be part of the team creating the Cosmic Path which is to be found at Spirituality House, Spanish Point, Co. Clare.  The project was conceived by director Nóirin Lynch and Linda Hebenstreit to help explain the history of our planet over thirteen point seven billion years in fourteen mosaic tiles which are set in a path cut into the grasses outside Spirituality House.

Designed by Gabrielle Qwynn, the mosaics were created by mosaic artist Gabrielle O Brien with the help of Linda, Shona Blake and I.  Used to working ‘sola’ as a visual artist, I loved being part of a collaborative team under the direction of Gabrielle O B (Gabi).  It was a steep learning curve for me, intense work on hot, sunny summers days in Gabrielle’s studio, lots of laughter.   I loved the teamwork, the power of the mosaic, the absolute attention to detail, finding the exact piece, shape, colour, the many synchronicities that occurred.  I also discovered my own limitations- the power-driven shape-cutting saws and sanders, essential; tools for mosaic designs of this nature were out of my comfort zone.   Grouting day, on site at Spanish Point with fourteen more participants and photographer was a wonderful experience.

The ‘full spectrum’ approach set out by Nóirin and adopted from the outset by all involved was educational, ecological, with beautiful, inspirational designs and implemented with care.

I found the whole experience truly go hiontach ar fad.

Mosaic Number 14 Looking Out -Choosing A Bright Future

*Photographs reproduced with permission from Spirituality House, Spanish Point

Cosmic Path, Spirituality House, Spanish Point