'Crowned' - an evening exploring hair and identity in Carrick-on-Shannon

Celebrate International Women’s Day on Wednesday, March 8, at 7pm, at The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon, with an evening of exploration of hair and identity through story, conversation and artwork from African women living in the North West of Ireland.

The event will feature four women, Celesta Khosa, Ayandolapo Ayannike Abiolu, Rispa Mwang and Maureen Nalubega, from South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda. They will share life stories and personal narratives that are intertwined with hair – their crowning glory.

Hair is a powerful symbol of individuality, and it is deeply linked to identity, and communicates stories, meanings and memories.

This event comes as a result of the project, CROWNED, which is an ongoing project in Ballyhaunis Direct Provision Centre and The Connaught Inn Direct Provision Centre, Castlebar, Co Mayo.

The four speakers have all lived in Direct Provision and are collaborating with artist Breda Mayock to tell their stories through various media – video, sound, conversation, portraiture etc.

This discussion will be accompanied by the presentation of digital portraits of the four women and sound/video pieces.

Breda Mayock is a well-known artist and musician, whose previous projects include ‘CROWN – Hair & Identity in Traveller Culture,’ 2019-2020 as featured on RTÉ.

Exhibitions include, ‘The Narrow Gate of the Here-and-Now, Protest and Conflict, IMMA, 2021-2023; Guides – Linenhall Arts Centre, curated by Séamus Nolan, 2022; ‘Tangled,’ Municipal Gallery, Dún Laoghaire, 2021.

Crowned is an opportunity to celebrate the unique, challenging and beautiful aspect of female hair and new Irish communities.

Admission €12. Tickets are available online at www.thedock.ie  or phone the box office at The Dock - 071 9650828.