Fan Noimead - Headford

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• Athenry - Gort Mhaoilir
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• Fan Noimead - Headford
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‘FAN NÓIMÉAD’

Artist: Gareth Kennedy

working with Headford Men’s Shed Group

and traditional boat builder Patrick Connolly

‘FAN NÓIMÉAD’ (Wait a Minute) is a contemporary pavilion, designed and made in collaboration between Headford Men's Shed, traditional boat builder Patrick Connolly and artist Gareth Kennedy.  The pavilion was constructed using all native-grown Irish Green Oak and Larch which was felled in 2014 and was made entirely on location in Headford.  The project was developed from a brief which sought to engage the Headford Men's Shed project in realising a public art work for the town.

Artist Gareth Kennedy based the project on a plan to explore notions of 'Meitheal' (collective labour) and also around the idea that the manufacture of a structure within the town would create a sense of social ritual and focus for the participants over

a 6 month period.  The project involved the use of vernacular materials and traditional hand-skills and processes in the realisation of a contemporary design.

*Gareth Kennedy is a Galway artist based mainly in Dublin.  His work explores the social agency of the 'handcrafted' in the 21st century and generates 'communities of interest' around the production and performance of new material cultures.  Kennedy has produced and shown work both nationally and internationally and he co-represented Ireland at the 53rd Venice Biennale in 2009 along with artist Sarah Browne.  www.gkennedy.info  www.kennedybrowne.com