Not a lot of people know this about
the Castlederg area, but one day, a long long time ago – on
29th April 1844 to be precise - a shower of meteor stones fell at
Killeter near Castlederg. The phenomenon was witnessed by many
people, and soon the story of the falling stars spread across the
land.
Now, 164 years later, renowned north-west artist Locky Morris
has transformed the unusual tale into a landmark work of public art
for Castlederg, incorporating the four local schools – two
primary and two secondary.
Locky – the artist responsible for the Pole Star project
on the main roundabout into Letterkenney – continues this
heavenly theme in his work for Castlederg. “Starfields”
commemorates the meteoric shower in the Derg Valley in 1844,
described as “an event of unique geographical and scientific
significance”.
The four part sculpture has been installed on one wall outside
each of the four schools in the town. The pieces are made in bright
stainless steel and stainless steel rope using the Astroid shape as
the fundamental outline shape
Astroid derives from the Greek name for star, and curiously, if
an Astroid shape is placed over a map of Castlederg – in the
north, south, east and west axis – it points almost to the
positions of the four schools on the perimeter around the town
– two primary and two secondary. In a sense, the schools
almost make an alignment with the points on the star.
It is this connection that was drawn out to make a playful
reference to the astronomical event that occurred in the area one
hundred and sixty three years ago. The aesthetics of the piece are
also meant to be suggestive of the spinning yarns and textile looms
which would have played a large part in the employment history of
the Castlederg area over the past few hundred years with the local
linen and spinning industry.
Starfields is meant to touch on ideas of vast time and space and
how we fit into the larger universe in an attempt to gain an
understanding of the world in which we live.
The sensation of mystery that surrounds the story of this local
occurrence will surely engage with the primary and secondary school
children, and their teachers – and also radiate out into the
local community.
Witnessed falls of meteorites and meteoric showers are
comparatively rate on earth. That one of these happened along the
Derg Valley at the time of the famine is a strange background
story.
The HEART
Programme
It has been described as
‘unique’ – and the cross-border HEART programme
is living up to that description!As the programme gathers momentum
and is gaining increasing public and media attention, it’s
time to highlight some of the outstanding outcomes of this creative
and innovative project.
It is an equal partnership between Donegal County Council and
Strabane District Council, with funding from Measure 1.4 of EU
INTERREG IIIA Programme, Border Action, Department of Agriculture
and Rural Development, the International Fund for Ireland, Donegal
County Council and Strabane District Council. Twelve towns and
villages across the two council areas were selected for the HEART
programme, which entails environmental improvements, a shop front
scheme and a specially commissioned piece of public art for each
town or village.
These improvements and enhancements are
sensitive and complementary to each locality, involve community
participation and consultation – and ultimately combine to
create and deliver a rural tourism and public art trail across both
council areas, linked by themes based on their history and
heritage.
The participating towns and villages in Donegal
County Council are:
* Ardara * Ballybofey Stranorlar * Ballyshannon * Lifford *
Moville * Ramelton * Raphoe
These complement the selected towns and villages in
the Strabane District Council area, including:
* Castlederg * Donemana * Newtownstewart * Plumbridge * Sion
Mills
One of the most imaginative and central parts of the HEART
programme is the public art aspect. Internationally acclaimed and
multi-award winning artists were selected to research local history
and heritage, and create suitable and sensitive public art, as a
long term tribute to each locality.