Storied Landscapes
Enjoy
Storied Landscapes, photo by Anna King
These compositions are inspired by the richly textured cultural landscape of Ireland’s West Coast.
The Well Gathering
This composition was funded by Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture and presented as a short film in April 2021. While the full film is no longer available, an extract of the music – performed by The Whileaways – can be heard below.
Over the past century, the way people relate to place has changed profoundly. Once, seasonal cycles shaped both survival and social life. Communities gathered in specific locations, where ritual, storytelling, and daily sustenance were deeply tied to the rhythms of the land.
Today, our interactions are more often mediated by technology, displacing us from the places that once grounded us.
The Well Gathering sought to reimagine this relationship by exploring how heritage sites might once again become spaces for reflection and connection. I hope that the music shared here offers a moment to pause and consider how these ancient spaces still hold meaning, resonating with us as deeply now as they did centuries ago.
The Well of Woodpark, Annaghdown
Up until the early 1980s, holy wells remained central to rural Irish life. They were not only a source of water but also sacred places of ritual, healing, and gathering.
From medieval to modern times, a well carried meanings far beyond its physical presence. It was woven into everyday language, ceremony, and custom – a place where people told stories, shared knowledge, and enacted communal life.
These wells formed part of an intricate web of symbolism and memory. Carved into the landscape, they became enduring sources of spiritual strength, emotional support, and intergenerational continuity – a quiet witnesses to the deep bonds between people, place, and the cycles of nature.
More projects to follow soon. If you are interested in collaboration, please get in touch.
Original music performed at the well by local musicians: Noelie Mc Donnell and William Merrigan. Photo by Anna King
William Merrigan. Photo by Anna King
