Farm Walk in Dowra

Carol and Gavin Durkin live on their certified organic farm in Dowra which is 124 acres. It is a mixed enterprise with suckler cows, sheep, bees, and Hazel the goat. They produce their own honey on the farm from eleven hives on site.

Located on the shores of Lough Yugan, they are passionate about the nature around them and are currently working with National Parks and Wildlife to preserve the land, to increase biodiversity, and to provide habitat for the wild animals that live around them.

This is a hub for social farming and highlights the farm's potential for community-building and well-being.

Deirdre O’Mahony has an impressive 30-year track record in making work across sculpture, painting, installation and participatory projects. At the centre of this work is her interest in the politics of landscape, rural/urban relationships, rural sustainability and food security. She has investigated the political ecology of rural places through public engagement, exhibitions, critical writing, and cultural production.

From large-scale paintings produced by tracing the shadows of boulders in the Burren National Park, Erratics (1997) to setting up community spaces amongst a charged local conflict X-PO (2007-), she deftly considers the role of art in bringing together diverse communities, alternate forms of knowledge, embracing art as a critical space to help us see things differently. Her SPUD (2009–2019) and Sustainment Experiments (2020–2023) projects further developed ideas as a major commissioned artwork, The Quickening, sound and moving image installation at the Douglas Hyde Gallery in 2024.

As part of the Creative Ireland Shared Island Programme, Leitrim County Council and The Dock are working with Leitrim Sustainable Agriculture Group and Ulster Wildlife to present a series of six creative Farm Walks curated by Natalia Beylis throughout 2024.

As part of each Farm Walk, farmers will lead a talk about their farm, current practices and future plans alongside a talk by an invited artist whose work resonates with that farm, its environment, heritage and other special characteristics.

The project draws attention to the synergies and common interests between artists and farmers and highlights common farming, environmental and creative interests in such themes as biodiversity, farming in harmony with nature, water quality and climate action. This project builds on the partnership between the project partners, farmers and artists - fostering goodwill, friendship and collaboration.