Faoin Tuath makes its debut on the last weekend of July as a festival paving the way for the queer community in the west of Ireland. The three-day celebration of nature and the arts is set to take place from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th of July on the grounds of Common Knowledge in Kilfenora, County Clare.
Common Knowledge was cultivated as a collective founded on the belief that connection through the artistry of practical skill has the power to encourage sustainable and revolutionary change. The organisation aims to connect its people through land-based skill sharing. From house building to food fermenting, the lost art of hands-on crafting is facing its revival in the west.
Co-founded by Fionn Kidney and Harrison Gardiner, Common Knowledge is a social enterprise which encourages people to live more fulfilling and sustainable lives – teaching them how to build, make, fix and mend. The pair initially met at a Build School run by Harrison, in which Fionn came across a cohort of queer participants.
“We’ve seen first-hand the power and joy of forming community through skill sharing and time in nature, with inclusivity, creativity, and kindness at the forefront,” says Fionn of the belonging found through Queer Sheds. “Faoin Tuath will be a celebration of the strengths and skills in our community, extending the safe spaces for queer people to connect beyond urban confines in Ireland.”
As a Common Knowledge coordinator, Aoife Hammond has a penchant for encouraging connection through creativity. Upon meeting, Hammond and Kidney joined forces to create Queer Sheds – a space for queer people to come together, socialise, learn and exist. As part of the funding application, the idea for Faoin Tuath – a three-day festival of art, craft, food, music and culture, celebrating queerness through sustainable action – was born.
While parties, protests and pride ring as familiar settings for queer people to gather and connect, the opportunity to meet others in the community through skill-based learning is a rare one.
“I never would have thought that there would be a space where we could comfortably feel safe in, be excited about and learn a lot five minutes down the road from me”, explains Aoife, speaking on the importance of establishing queer spaces outside of the major cities in Ireland. “What we’re trying to look at is what keeps people in rural Ireland if you are queer, and what would make you feel comfortable as a queer person if you moved to rural Ireland,” continues Aoife.
Making the point that after coming out, it can feel necessary to step away, Aoife describes Queer Sheds and Faoin Tuath as a space to create “joyful, fun and positive experiences which encourages a sense of belonging”.
Boasting a line-up of performers, workshops and shared meals, the festival aims to embrace the power of nature and turn it into magic. Faoin Tuath deems itself “a festival for queer people to connect beyond the city, featuring practical skill-sharing workshops, talks, live music performances, DJs, traditional music sessions, film screenings, shared meals, and much more”
The project aims to continue, acting as the first of its kind while encouraging the expansion of Queer Sheds throughout Ireland. Aoife tells that ‘so many people have gotten in touch who want to start a Queer Shed. We want to set up a network, and Queer Sheds Clare is the first version of that.’
The festival will take place over three days, beginning with a dinner to launch the event, followed by film screenings. Taking to the screen are Eimear Walshe’s ‘Land Cruiser’, Shane O’Callaghan’s ‘Making Waves’ and Hinterloper: Queer film from rural Ireland. Into the night, a trad session and ceilí will bring attendees back to the Gaeltacht days, amalgamating culture and ceiliúradh.
Saturday takes a practical turn. Bat box building, seed saving and growing and Wild Awake with Lucy O’Hagan aim to explore the queerness of nature. Amir Abualrob is a Palestinian Theatre Maker, facilitator and performer based in Dublin and previous resident artist at Common Knowledge. Their work looks inwards, using individual stories as a vessle to create powerful theatre as an act of resistance. Zine making, food fermentation and resistance through food culture populate the timetable, offering a unique experience of the arts through the lense of nature. Performances across the weekend will come from Berlin-based multidisciplinary artist Dylan Kerr, industrial pop duo 7of9 and singer, puppeteer Branwen Kavanagh amongst others.
On her favourite queer artists of the moment, Aoife can’t choose. “Queer artists that are great? Everyone performing at the festival! Small Trans Library are doing great stuff. Dykenite also have a deadly queer night in Limerick and all the DJs are great.”
A festival for the ages, and the beginning of a movement, Faoin Tuath promises to guide, teach and accept. The grounds of Kilfenora transformed, the festival will stand as a place for people to exist, connect and just be. Ciara Byrne
