Live arts in a resurgent community!

Guided by Declan Gorman, 60 community performers, 40 backstage volunteers and over 50 supporting individuals and community groups worked together to turn a lockdown Zoom dream into a real-word, post-Covid reality in a matter of weeks.

The groundwork for the festival began 15 months beforehand when Declan was selected under the Collaborations Strand of Fingal County Council’s “Infrastructure” public art scheme to engage with local communities. He established Green Belt Arts in June 2020.

This group met weekly on Zoom to research, develop and write the dramatic pieces that would eventually be performed during Momentum 2021 in partnership with Rush Dramatic Society; Lusk Action Group and Power Drama School.

These included The Green Belt Trilogy: a trio of original plays presented along a rugged hike from the magnificent ruins of the portico at Kenure Demesne to the Martello Tower on Drumanagh Promontory. In the old town centres of Rush and Lusk, If These Streets Could Talk saw audiences stroll around prescribed routes where they engaged with loosely connected story-scenes evoking the worlds of farming, fishing, education and community life, with special attention given to the hidden lives of women in 20^th-century Ireland.

"After such a long time of disappointment following the cancellation of so many events, it's uplifting to see a public event adapting to allow the community to come together safely to celebrate Fingal’s heritage, culture and local talent"

Other events created for Momentum 2021 were “Parallels”, a short play about local football legend Con Martin, at Rush Athletic Football Club; “Grasshoppers Corner”, a festival-within-a-festival for pre-school audiences, and an exhibition by Lusk Heritage Group of historic photos, videos and artefacts that had inspired some of the dramatic scenes.

Speaking about the Momentum Festival, Mayor of Fingal Cllr. Seaná Ó Rodaigh said: “After such a long time of disappointment following the cancellation of so many local and national events it is uplifting to see a public event adapting to allow the community to come together safely to celebrate Fingal’s heritage, culture and local talent in such an innovative and creative way.”

For more on Momentum 2021 and The Green Belt Arts Initiative, visit momentum2021arts.com and the Momentum 2021 Facebook page.