Past Projects

In 2024, the heart of Bagenalstown came alive with The Lock Keeper’s Memories, an enchanting promenade performance that brought the community together through storytelling, music, and magic. This unique theatrical experience was a celebration of local voices, history, and the shared memories that bind a town together.

The Muine Bheag Community Centre Archive is a collaborative project developed by Muine Bheag Arts, in partnership with the Muine Bheag Community Centre Committee and local participants. The initiative focuses on collecting and preserving the history of the Muine Bheag Community Centre…

The students of Coláiste Aindriu brought their creativity and vision to life with the ‘Spreading Inspiration’ wall mural project. This vibrant initiative, guided by artist Paul Byrne and supported by their art teacher Máiréad Moran, transformed the school grounds into a beacon of artistic expression.

Up The Town was a vibrant community project showcased through an exhibition at the Bagenalstown Library. Led by artist Leah Corbett, the project brought together pupils from three local primary schools in a creative collaboration to design flags that embodied their schools' identities and their collective sense of place.

In the summer of 2023, the gentle hum of fiddles, flutes, and voices filled the air at Doyle’s Ice-Cream Parlour in Royal Oak. The Royal Oak Stage Coach Sessions with Ceoltóirí Bianconi came to life, inviting musicians and listeners to celebrate a rich tradition of music, storytelling, and shared history.

There is a River is a heartfelt song written by Hugh W. Brown, Lead Artist of The Lock Keeper's Memories a project that highlights the rich cultural heritage and stories of Bagenalstown. The song, which has traversed decades and continents, has found its true essence in the town of Bagenalstown, by the River Barrow.

In 2023, “A Musical Planet Looks Like…” brought an exciting fusion of art, music, and technology to Bagenalstown. This unique Augmented Reality (AR) Wall Mural project was facilitated by artist Paul Byrne in collaboration with Music Generation Carlow and the students of Coláiste Aindriu, offering participants a platform to creatively explore the question: What does a musical planet look, feel, and sound like?

Throughout 2023 & 24 CCC Cinemas brought the magic of film to Bagenalstown as part of the Creative Places Bagenalstown programme. These special cinema nights transformed various locations across Bagenalstown into enchanting hubs of community gathering, cinema and celebration.

The Paperplanes Recording Project is a creative initiative designed to empower local musicians in Bagenalstown by giving them the opportunity to professionally record, produce, and release their music.

The Bagenalstown Creative Places Seed Fund was a pilot initiative launched in 2023 to support the development and testing of new ideas in socially or community-based art.

In 2023, the Seed Funding Artist Gathering brought together local artists and community groups in Bagenalstown for an evening of sharing, connection, and creative inspiration…..

John MacKenna and Faye Tucker embarked on a remarkable project to uncover and retell the story of the last known wild Irish wolf, whose life ended in the Mount Leinster area in 1786. This project was deeply rooted in community participation, beginning with months of dedicated research and heartfelt conversations with local residents. These individuals, who had heard tales of the event passed down through generations, generously shared their stories and insights, weaving a rich tapestry of anecdotes and historical details that formed the backbone of the narrative.

In this project, participants shared their cherished memories of Bagenalstown, a process that not only strengthened their memory and information retention but also sparked creativity and imagination. Through the creation of short stories and poems, these reflections provided a lasting legacy for the wider community, preserving cultural values, traditions, and personal stories of a time gone by.

Nestled in the picturesque landscape of County Carlow, Bagenalstown is a town brimming with rich cultural heritage and vibrant community spirit. The Our Lives Project beautifully captures this essence through a unique and heartfelt collection of songs. This album, born from the voices and stories of the town’s community, weaves together the past and present, painting a vivid musical portrait.