This is the fourth collection of Brid Ni Mhorain's poems. Barbara Hirst 's paintings are in collections throughout Canada, the US and Europe.

Brid and Barbara met in 1997 in the Tyrone Guthrie Centre for creative artists in Annaghmakerrig. Both have a passion for mythology and folklore. Having travelled together in Kerry for a number of years they decided in 2004 to work on this project, dealing with themes which are both personal and profound.

 

 

 

'Marry the man from the mountain

 

and you'll wed cliff and moor

 

that wouldn't feed a snipe

 

 

or the red hare

 

when rushes blacken.'

 

Brid Ni Mhorain writes in the title poem 'An Cosan Ban/The White Path', which is an affectionate name for the pilgrimage way that runs to the top of Mount Brandon. It was originally a military road developed by the British at the beginning of the 19^th century.

Barbara Hirst's mixed media illustration has a photo background of a mountain running down to a glass-still lake with a band of cloud running across the mountain and reflected in the water. A number of ghost-like white outlines of butterflies are painted across the bottom of the photo.

The exhibition has fifteen of the thirty poems in the book, with the original mixed media illustrations set between the Irish and English versions of the poems.

 

 

 

 

'You will eat the pickle of hardship 

every day that you live;

when the love of your heart lies

by your side on a bed of want

it wont be long 'til rows replace

honeyed kisses, they said.'

 

As well the exhibition at the Frank Lewis Gallery has ten of Barbara Hirst's original acrylic paintings. All of the paintings and many of the illustrations feature aspects of the West Kerry landscape. The beauty of the harsh countryside is in tune with the poems.

 

'It's a bold one

would challenge them,

my dear, dark love,

and take the White Path 

  by your side

  to the Hill of the Saints

- but I don't regret it.'

 

 

 

Music at the opening of the exhibition will be provided by Feargal Mac Amhlaoibh and Micheal O Morain on vioilin and Nessa Ni Mhorain on flute. Brid will read some of the poems. Pictures, poems and music are inspired by deep conviction that shows transition can be a positive experience.

 

 

 

'My soul was a butterfly

  sipping from herb and flower,

  loath to be bound

'til you offered me a drink

from the well that never runs dry,

the shadow in your eyes drew me,

I put my lips to the water

and came so gently

into love's sanctuary.'