FARM DISPATCHES is a participatory dance/arts project involving different adult communities in Athy and Naas districts and professional dance-theatre artists and writers. Led by choreographer Philippa Donnellan with poet/academic Catherine Gander and dancers Sarah Ryan and Ben Sullivan, Farm Dispatches invites people to connect and creatively explore themes surrounding farming life and our fractured relationship with nature through dance and poetry, conversation and performance. The project runs from 25th August to 4th October 2025.

Farm Dispatches will include a series of lively dance and poetry workshops with Athy group the Willow Weavers. Offering opportunity to exercise and create, participants will be encouraged to dig into the themes to conjure fresh choreography and craft poetry of their own design. 

For those curious to find out more, there will be a free taster Dance-Theatre workshop at Soearth Projects, Naas in September. For further information and to book, contact Philippa at kildaredanceproject@gmail.com 

Farm Dispatches will culminate in an informal public Gathering at Croí Anú Creative Centre, Moone, on October 4th, inviting artists and community participants to showcase a few extracts of work created and for everyone to share in a conversation about the arts, farming life and our natural environment.

For further information or to be a participant, contact Philippa Donnellan at kildaredanceproject@gmail.com

Photo Credit: Anthony Griffin

Please note that the details of events listed above are provided by the relevant Local Authorities.