IWD event to highlight artistic Irish ties

THE creative efforts of the region’s Irish-descended women are set to be celebrated next month as part of an event by the Ballarat and District Irish Association.

Set for Friday 8 March, International Women’s Day, the event will see the local poet and performer Shel O’Toole’s new poetry collection as well as a talk from visual artist Pauline O’Shannessy-Dowling.

BDIA vice-president Mary Darcy said the event is about highlighting the region’s creative connection to Ireland.

“You could go back to Lola Montez on the goldfields but Irish women have been contributing to the settlement wherever the Irish are,” she said.

“There’s been Irish music, Irish dancing, and we have people here now like Erin McCuskey who’s a filmmaker, and Pauline O’Shannessy-Dowling who’s of Irish heritage.

“It’s a coming together and a raising of the profile for our Irish women in the arts.”

O’Toole’s new collection called Wildsong compiles 25 poems written during the last 10 years, with subject matter ranging from myths and magic, to life experiences, and politics.

She said the event is about the relationship between creativity and the good and bad of the female experience.

“It’s about women and creativity but the other thing I’m excited about it is how it will show how creativity is used to tell women’s stories,” she said.

“That’s the beautiful intersectionality in this. International Women’s Day is a celebration of women’s achievements but we also need to remind people the struggles continue.

“Not all women’s stories are lovely ones. One of the songs I’ll be singing, for example, will be about issues I’m passionate about like domestic violence, child abuse, and trafficking.”

Attendees are invited to bring their own poetry to read during the event.

Ballarat and District Irish Association’s International Women’s Day event will run from 11.30am to 2.30pm at the Bunch of Grapes Hotel.