Launched earlier this week, a light installation has started to float down the River Shannon to mark the reopening of the arts sector.
Starting in Co. Roscommon, the Light Ballet, has continued down the River Shannon through Leitrim, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath. The light installation is currently making its way to Galway, Tipperary and Clare.
Launched on Monday 14th June and continuing until Sunday 20th June, Light Ballet transforms the skies and the surrounding landscape.
Light Ballet is presented as part of Brightening Air | Coiscéim Coiligh, a nationwide, ten-day season of art experiences brought by the Arts Council of Ireland, for June 2021.
Created by Irish light artist Mick Murray and lighting designer Matthew Cregan, the installation is accompanied by a newly composed soundscape by David Kitt.
The soundscape uses a familiar musical time signature, intermixed with words from Poet Nidhi Zak/Aria Eipe and Kitts own vocals. The soundscape brings the audience on a journey through the river, 'spirit land' and the surroundings.
The light installation and soundscape are synchronised and runs on a seven-minute cycle for four hours each night from dusk.
The details for viewing in East Clare
Starting from approximately 10:15pm each night, the full show cycle can be viewed up to 7km away. As such, there is no optimum viewing point for the installation.
The light installation will be moving through Lough Derg tonight, 18th June and tomorrow, Saturday 19th June. As the installation is constantly moving, there is no fixed schedule of times.
However, based on the route we estimate that the light installation will be visible from Whitegate, Mountshannon and the surrounding area, early on Saturday morning. Between 1am and 2:30am.
On Saturday evening and Sunday morning we estimate that the light installation will first be visible from the Mountshannon area around 10pm, before making its way down to Killaloe for approximately 11pm. The light installation will then make its way back upstream towards Scariff Bay for around 1:15am. It will then make its way back down to Killaloe for 2:30am.
In line with Public Health Guidelines, people should not gather in large groups.
View online
For those who cannot experience the artwork in person, Light Ballet will be able to be watched on Brightening Air/Coiscéim Coiligh and Culture Works websites.
