Faoin Spéir presents: The Light Brigade lantern installation

Connolly Barracks to host truly visual art experience

22 February 2022

Longford County Council, in association with Backstage Theatre and Republic of Culture presents a truly unique visual art experience – The Light Brigade lantern installation running from Friday, 25 to Sunday, 27 February 2022. With spring underway, this is the third weekend of quality arts entertainment to be delivered under the Faoin Spéir programme, funded by The Arts Council of Ireland.

Light Brigade celebrates Longford – its past, present and future – through the symbol of the horse. A striking example of art stepping into the real world, galloping into the town, this community production transforms dark to light and cannot be missed.

Taking place inside Connolly Barracks in Longford, a pre-treaty cavalry barracks located in the heart of the Camlin Quarter, this display has the mark of many hands from three generations. The work takes inspiration from the past, reflecting on the significance of horses to this historic quarter of Longford, known as the domain of horses.

This stunning lantern sculpture project is the result of many months of collaboration between lead artist Tom Meskell and over eighty people from Longford. Tom worked with students from Moyne, Ballymahon, Longford, Killoe Men’s Shed, St Christopher’s Special School and Longford Women’s Link. The project is also a collaboration with local historians, artists, the popular rock band Cronin and pyrotechnicians – Black Powder Monkeys, to create this illuminated herd of life-size horses and eighty “leaf lanterns”.

On the weekend of 25 to 27 February, from 5pm to 8pm, the lantern installation will come to life. On Saturday night, there is fire drawing and music commissioned for the event by local musicians Cronin, at 6pm. All are welcome and the event will also be video documented, so it can be enjoyed by a wider audience.

This is a free event. Patrons are advised to dress for all weather. Light Brigade is the third in a series of four projects commissioned as part of Faoin Spéir Longford for 2021-22.

Faoin Spéir Longford is funded through the Arts Council of Ireland together with partners Longford County Council and Backstage Theatre.

ENDS

All media queries should be directed to the Longford County Council Communications Officer via mediaenquiries@longfordcoco.ie or by calling 043 33 43362.