I thought the Hands of Sligo project would be something very special, but it went above and beyond my expectations. It’s been something of a journey, in more ways than one. I have had this idea for so many years, and it’s been amazing to see it come to life. My interest in hands goes back to a few years ago when I was doing some documentary photography work for the Sligo Arts and I was in a care home.
There was a lady there who didn’t really want to join in with anything, but one day some musicians came in and her whole demeanour changed. She put one hand on her heart and one hand up in the air as if she was feeling the music and she had her eyes closed. The image stayed with me, even though I didn’t take a photo of it, I can just still see it very clearly. This got me thinking about what our hands say about us, without even looking at a facial expression.
I have travelled all over County Sligo, and met so many wonderful people, who opened their doors and their hearts and gave me a glimpse into their lives.
Navigating down potholed laneways, grass growing in the middle of roads, taking wrong turns, and knocking at wrong doors. Squirrels, stoats, and chickens appear as welcome companions on my journey.
Watching the mist lingering over lakes as the sun rises to greet a new day, and a new story. The leaves begin to change colour as summer turns to autumn.
Seeing an old iron gate with peeling paint, held shut with rope. Beyond the gate is a cottage, long abandoned, I wondered what stories lie within those four walls.
Arriving at my destination; the calming birdsong, the anticipation of what lies beyond the door. Opening gates and walking up pathways, seeing the people illuminated in their window as they sit and wait. Some reading the paper, some doing a crossword, some just sitting and waiting. Ringing the bell, hearing shuffling feet, seeing a smiling face, an invitation to sit beside the range and warm myself. Clocks ticking, kettles boiling, the sound of a radio in another room.
I’ve had the pleasure of hearing stories of lives lived, challenges faced, projects undertaken. Every voice is important, and it makes me realise how important listening is.
The Hands of Sligo gave me the chance to slow down, to reflect and to pause, to pick up the camera and to listen to the voices. I’m incredibly grateful to have been given the opportunity to be part of something so special and so powerful. I’m sad that it’s coming to an end, it’s something that I will never forget.
If you get a chance, listen to the older people in your lives, maybe record some of their stories, and certainly take a photo of their hands. They will be a legacy for the generations to come. You can hear my ‘Hands of Sligo’ interviews here.
Sincere thanks to everyone who took part and helped me on this project, and well done to the other artists in the ‘Local’ Project; Aideen Connolly, Clare Doohan and Michele Feeney. You can see our collective exhibition in The Gate Lodge, Doorly Park, Sligo. Thursday 2nd November and Friday 3rd November 11am – 2.30pm, Saturday 4th November 9am – 12 noon, and Monday 6th November 11am – 2.30pm. I’ll be there on Saturday, and I hope to see some of you there.
My South Sligo Hands are in Tubbercurry Library from November 1st – 30th.
The ‘Hands of Sligo Project’ is part of the Creativity in Older Age project run by Sligo County Council, Healthy Sligo, supported by the Creative Ireland Fund 2023.
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