THE creative efforts of the region\u2019s Irish-descended women are set to be celebrated next month as part of an event by the Ballarat and District Irish Association.<\/p>\n
Set for Friday 8 March, International Women\u2019s Day, the event will see the local poet and performer Shel O\u2019Toole\u2019s new poetry collection as well as a talk from visual artist Pauline O\u2019Shannessy-Dowling.<\/p>\n
BDIA vice-president Mary Darcy said the event is about highlighting the region\u2019s creative connection to Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could go back to Lola Montez on the goldfields but Irish women have been contributing to the settlement wherever the Irish are,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s been Irish music, Irish dancing, and we have people here now like Erin McCuskey who\u2019s a filmmaker, and Pauline O\u2019Shannessy-Dowling who\u2019s of Irish heritage.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a coming together and a raising of the profile for our Irish women in the arts.\u201d<\/p>\n
O\u2019Toole\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
She said the event is about the relationship between creativity and the good and bad of the female experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about women and creativity but the other thing I\u2019m excited about it is how it will show how creativity is used to tell women\u2019s stories,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the beautiful intersectionality in this. International Women\u2019s Day is a celebration of women\u2019s achievements but we also need to remind people the struggles continue.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot all women\u2019s stories are lovely ones. One of the songs I\u2019ll be singing, for example, will be about issues I\u2019m passionate about like domestic violence, child abuse, and trafficking.\u201d<\/p>\n
Attendees are invited to bring their own poetry to read during the event.<\/p>\n
Ballarat and District Irish Association\u2019s International Women\u2019s Day event will run from 11.30am to 2.30pm at the Bunch of Grapes Hotel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE creative efforts of the region\u2019s 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\u2019s Day, the event will see the local poet and performer Shel O\u2019Toole\u2019s new poetry collection as well as a talk from […]<\/p>\n