An Bhainis - The Wedding
An Bhainis
Errigal Arts Festival
Siad Bríd Ní Ghallachóir, Póilin Fleck agus Úna Ní Chathmhaoil as Gailearaí an Fhalcarraí agus Caroline Nic Giolla Chearra as Músaem Dhún na nGall a chruthaigh ‘An Bhainis’. Seard atá san taispeantas ná ceiliúradh deasgnáth na Bainse mar ba ghnáthach leis a bheith. Is léar do dhuine ar bith atá ‘na chonaí faoin tuaith i nDún na nGall an ‘carúsel pobail’ a bhainead leis an deasghath, - an tatmasféar féiliúil agus an taibhseacht agus Marcra na Bainse ag gluaiseacht fríd na bailte áitiúla. (wedding cavalcade)
Tá cuid mhór dé n leath-chéad culaith Bainse, a thug bunadh na h-áite ar iasacht do’n taispeantas, as ceantar Chloch Cheann Fhaola, rud a thugann blas speisialta áitiúl do’n tógra agus a fhágann suim ar Leith ag an phobal ann. Téann an chulaith is sine sa taispeantas siar go 1952 – níos móna leath-chéad blain. Is radharc doimhin ard-aidhmeannach atá sa chur in aithne nó léiriú seo, de ‘Chulaith na Bainse’, nach bhfacthas a leithéid ariamh cheanna.
Bhain an tEalaíontóir, Úna Ní Chathmhaoil, atá I bhfeighil an tógra, úsaid as móitif samhaltach dén ‘Chulaith Bainse’ agus dé’n ‘charabhat’ – iad ag seasamh do’n fhear agus do’n bhean sa phósadh. Scrúdaíonn sí samhailt an phósta mar ‘chomh-cheangal’, ag ceangal le chéile dhá ghné amhain.
Bá mhaith leis an Ghailearaí buíochas ó chroí a thabhairt do achan nduine a chur cultacha agus neither eile ar fail agus a chuidigh ar dhóigh ar bith leis an taispeántas a bhunú. Fosclóidh an taispéantas ar an tSatharn an 5ú Iúil ag a h-ocht a chlog agus leanfaidh sé ar aghaidh go dtí an deichiú lá fichead (30ú) Lúnasa.
The Wedding
Errigal Arts Festival
Any one living in rural Donegal will be aware of the ‘community’ carousel that is involved, the festival atmosphere and the pageant as a wedding cavalcade drives through our local towns. The installation ‘An Bhainis’, the wedding, has been created by Bridget Gallagher, Pauline Fleck and Úna Campbell of An Gailearaí, Falcarragh assisted by Orlaith Cullinane and the County Museum. This installation exhibition is a celebration of the wedding as a ritual.
50 wedding dresses have been loaned by members of the community to create the installation. Most of these dresses are from the Cloughaneely area giving the show a particular resonance to the locality. The oldest dress dates from 1952 which gives the exhibition a span of 50 years. The installation is a cavernous spectacle and a most ambitious presentation of the wedding dress as never seen before. There is a great atmosphere in the gallery as the wedding dresses are being delivered and excitement and craic amongst the gang involved in assembling the installation.
Artist Úna Campbell has curated the installation and has used the symbolic motifs of the wedding dress and tie as the male and female representations of ‘marriage’. She examines the idea of marriage as a ‘union’, as a linking together of two entities that eventually merge and join.
An Gailearaí would like to thank the many, many people who assisted and contributed to make the exhibition possible. An Gailearaí committee member Maureen Doohan will introduce well known fashion designer Ciarán Sweeney who hails from Ardara, Donegal. Ciarán will formally open the exhibition on Saturday 5th July at 8.00pm, there will be refreshments and everyone is welcome. Thanks are also extended to Aidan at ‘Carpet World’, Mountain Top, Letterkenny for his very generous donation. The exhibition runs until 30th August.