once i counted birds (2009)

Blogging is a key part of my eco-social art practice.

I began blogging in 2008 after initiating a series of ArtLinks.ie courses ‘Blogging  for Artists’ with podcaster-broadcaster, theatre company co-founder, Ken McGuire from Kilkenny.

Above is the first video I made for the Hollywood Forest Story. Short videos and photos brought people from afar to experience the transformation of Hollywood forest.

My blogging evolved slowly but it became the ideal means to capture an ongoing, slow ecological art practice that comprised of many eco-social art activities over the years. I was very heartened to discover in 2014 that Australian Dr. Lucas Ihlein successfully argued in his award-winning PhD, that ‘blogging is art’ and how it can be a critical and engaging means for collating all the experiences and knowledge, and developing audiences, for social art practices.

Latest 100 Hollywoodforest.com posts below

• Exploring Eco-Social Art Strategies in Qualitative Research and EcoArt June 29, 2020 - The artist Georges Braque once declared that “art is meant to disturb. Science reassures”. My ideal is that art and science together should disturb, not as disillusion, but as a way to strengthen social reflections and the ethical ethos in qualitative research – in order to propose paradigms which are sustainable and congruent with the…Read more Exploring Eco-Social Art Strategies in Qualitative Research and EcoArt
• New Haumea Online Courses: Creativity as an Act of Love: Cultivating the Mind of Beauty June 20, 2020 - News from my Haumea Ecoliteracy site about two upcoming online courses to help creatives and art professional engage with ecological concerns. Previous courses have booked out quickly – see the testimonials. cathy fitzgerald | haumea ecoliteracy for the arts The Most Important Thing Haumea Online is expanding! New Ecophilosophy and Ecoliteracy Courses for creatives and…Read more New Haumea Online Courses: Creativity as an Act of Love: Cultivating the Mind of Beauty
• Plasticity of the Planet: Environmental Challenge for Art and Its Institutions–for the Symbiocene June 14, 2020 - Update: So delighted to share the new book “Plasticity of the Planet: On Environmental Challenge for Art and Its Institutions” designed by Honza Zamojski published by Mousse has been nominated for two categories for Polish Graphic Design Award: “Publication of the Year” and “Project of the Year”! https://www.polishgraphicdesign.com/2019/projekt2019 Yesterday, I had another request for more information about The Hollywood Forest…Read more Plasticity of the Planet: Environmental Challenge for Art and Its Institutions–for the Symbiocene
• Coillte Embrace Continuous Cover Forestry in Dublin Mountains Makeover May 28, 2020 - Originally posted on Pro Silva Ireland:
  Coillte have unveiled an ambitious plan to makeover their Dublin Mountains forests through continuous cover forestry management. Pro Silva principles will be used to transition nine forests to more diverse woodlands with a focus on habitat preservation and recreation. CCF management techniques can be used for commercial timber production in…
• Haumea Online: 2nd Pilot Ecoliteracy Course for Creatives and Art Professionals – booked out May 14, 2020 - cathy fitzgerald | haumea ecoliteracy for the arts This is the time for a Great Reset. Let’s use it to change the way we see ourselves and our place on Earth. The conservationistAldo Leopold once wrotethat “one of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds. Much…Read more Haumea Online: 2nd Pilot Ecoliteracy Course for Creatives and Art Professionals – booked out
• ‘The Battle of Moytura Or The Battle for the Soul of Ireland’:- why ecoliteracy for the arts is essential now May 13, 2020 - cathy fitzgerald | haumea ecoliteracy for the arts This is a special post for me. I’m reflecting on the first of what I expect to be many more contributions from ecoliterate creatives I am getting to know in my online ecoliteracy course. I now have the good fortune to meet such talented creatives from all…Read more ‘The Battle of Moytura Or The Battle for the Soul of Ireland’:- why ecoliteracy for the arts is essential now
• Innovative 6-week online ‘Ecoliteracy course for Creatives and Art Educators’–seen as a success on Earth Day 2020 May 13, 2020 - This post is from my Haumea Ecoliteracy for the Arts site from a few weeks ago: I have been so busy the last few months in launching my first pilot online course. As I’m just about to launch my next pilot course I thought my followers would like to hear how it went. cathy fitzgerald…Read more Innovative 6-week online ‘Ecoliteracy course for Creatives and Art Educators’–seen as a success on Earth Day 2020
• “I love the story of ‘the little wood that could’. Hope lots of people get to know it.” May 3, 2020 - I was honoured that my ‘Hollywood Forest Story’ was one of several eco-blogs featured in 🇮🇪 The Irish Times today! cathy fitzgerald | haumea ecoliteracy for the arts Above: a comment shared on twitter by Irish architect Helena Fitzgerald 3/5/2020. Image from within Hollywood forest, looking out to the wider world – from The Hollywood…Read more “I love the story of ‘the little wood that could’. Hope lots of people get to know it.”
• A further 2-year Creative Ireland programme for Carlow’s Drummin Bog announced on 50th anniversary of Earth Day April 22, 2020 - Originally posted on The Drummin Bog Project: Celebrating Carlow's only Raised Bog:
  Update: The Drummin Bog Project committee are pleased to confirm a 2-year?programme of creative projects to raise awareness of this unique wetland habitat?will continue later in 2020 and into 2021. At present, the programme is temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 virus…
• The Hollywood Forest Story in Ireland, Aotearoa New Zealand and The Irish Times April 15, 2020 - What is the purpose of art? We might put a potentially wise response to that question this way: Art has the same purpose all other activity has, namely to further the conditions of life, or to cultivate the whole of life onward. This cultivation of life is a “mental” process, and thus the world has…Read more The Hollywood Forest Story in Ireland, Aotearoa New Zealand and The Irish Times
• The first decade of The Hollywood Forest Story January 31, 2020 - #FridayArt4Emergency At the end of last year, I was invited to share my Hollywood Forest Story eco-social art practice at Maynooth University (MU), Co. Kildare. I was one of four creative practitioners (with Pauline O’Connell, Monica de Bath, and Seiodin O’Sullivan) sharing our work for the inaugural Earth Writings Exhibition and Symposia: Bogs, Forests, Fields,…Read more The first decade of The Hollywood Forest Story
• Ecological forestry at Leinster house December 12, 2019 - Continuous Cover Forestry consultant Paddy Purser and Chair of Pro Silva Ireland, Liam Byrne before presenting a statement to Joint Committee on Climate Action at the Oireachtas, Dublin on behalf of Pro Silva Ireland. 11 December 2019. Photo: Cathy Fitzgerald. Many of you familiar with my work to transform Hollywood from a monoculture Sitka spruce…Read more Ecological forestry at Leinster house
• “A revolution in how we live? An interdisciplinary workshop on creative approaches to education for environmental understanding and responsibility” on peatlands. December 6, 2019 - #FridayArt4Emergency Trans-Disciplinary Conversations on Peatlands A UCC Research IRC Funded Project #LoveIrishResearch An interdisciplinary Workshop on Creative Approaches to Education for Environmental Understanding and Responsibility Irish Research Council Creative Connection Scheme18-19 October 2019 – The Glucksman, Cork Co-hosted by Dr. Maureen O’Connor, University College Cork and The Glucksman Gallery I was delighted recently to present…Read more “A revolution in how we live? An interdisciplinary workshop on creative approaches to education for environmental understanding and responsibility” on peatlands.
• My first Essential Ecoliteracy for Creative Workers and Educators Workshop in Co. Carlow, with Lyric FM November 13, 2019 - I had such a wonderful time on Saturday 2 November 2019, giving my first Essential Ecoliteracy for the Arts workshop for creative people and art teachers in Rathanna village, Co. Carlow, Ireland. I was also interviewed by journalist and writer Rachel Andrews for RTE Lyric FM on the day. The post below is reblogged from…Read more My first Essential Ecoliteracy for Creative Workers and Educators Workshop in Co. Carlow, with Lyric FM
• The Hollywood Forest Story—Eco-Social Art Practice for the Symbiocene: a new article for US Minding Nature journal November 11, 2019 - I was thrilled and a little bit nervous to be asked to write an article about Hollywood Forest and my creative practice for the US Minding Nature journal over the summer. MINDING NATURE is a journal exploring conservation values and the practice of ecological democratic citizenship I have been following this fantastic multidisciplinary journal for…Read more The Hollywood Forest Story—Eco-Social Art Practice for the Symbiocene: a new article for US Minding Nature journal
• Earth Writings: Bogs, Forests, Fields and Gardens exhibition and symposia 20 Nov. 2019 November 10, 2019 - I am delighted to share that I am taking part in this important Irish Earth Writings Symposia and Exhibition at Maynooth University on 20th November 2019. I and other creative Ireland-based workers will share how we invite diverse rural and urban communities to engage with eco-social topics arising in these urgent times. Cultural activity is…Read more Earth Writings: Bogs, Forests, Fields and Gardens exhibition and symposia 20 Nov. 2019
• #FridayArt4Emergency: The Carole Nelson Trio – ‘Arboreal’ -the Album! October 11, 2019 - Carole Nelson is one of a number of Irish artists with an international vocation who has resisted the lure of the city and is rewriting the association of rural Ireland […] Aintzane Legarreta Mentxaka, ‘Recensioni / Reviews’, Studi irlandesi Irish Studies (2019), pp.606-617 All Things ‘Arboreal’: Jazz and Forests? This time last year, I had…Read more #FridayArt4Emergency: The Carole Nelson Trio – ‘Arboreal’ -the Album!
• New One-day Workshop in County Carlow, Ireland, Sat 2 Nov, – ‘Everything Must Change’: Essential Ecoliteracy* for your Creative Practice or Teaching October 8, 2019 - Update: Fully Booked! but please email me to be placed on waiting list or list for future courses. Dear Readers, I am reposting this workshop information, as when I reblogged it from my post from my other site, the formatting got scrambled. Thanks for all the interest so far, there are some places are left,…Read more New One-day Workshop in County Carlow, Ireland, Sat 2 Nov, – ‘Everything Must Change’: Essential Ecoliteracy* for your Creative Practice or Teaching
• #FridayArt4Emergency: ‘Solastalgia’ – the film August 30, 2019 -   With Greta Thunberg and children schoolstriking every Friday across the world, I will likewise post an art practice every Friday that I feel touches audiences and inspires creative workers too. First up, a stunning new short film ‘Solastalgia’ via #FridayArt4Emergency: ‘Solastalgia’ – the film
• Introducing Haumea and a proposed new online ‘ecoliteracy for the arts’ course: your ideas welcome! July 18, 2019 - An ecoliterate person is prepared to be an effective member of sustainable society, with well‐rounded abilities of head, heart, hands, and spirit, comprising an organic understanding of the world and participatory action within and with the environment. McBride et al., 2013, Ecosphere, Vol. 4, Issue 5. Some of you might know, in addition to my…Read more Introducing Haumea and a proposed new online ‘ecoliteracy for the arts’ course: your ideas welcome!
• Trees and fungi make forests and show us the relationality of the Symbiocene July 14, 2019 - In May and June I wrote an article and gave a couple of talks about ‘Goodbye Anthropocene: Hello Symbiocene. It has been my most read post with over 1001 views! I talked about a new era and new terms of how humanity can picture its living well with the Earth’ other inhabitants. This new framework…Read more Trees and fungi make forests and show us the relationality of the Symbiocene
• Welcome news: Green Arts Initiative for Ireland launched July 4, 2019 - Huge congratulations to Caitriona Fallon and Theatre Forum Ireland, who under the guidance of Creative Carbon Scotland’s team and their Scottish Green Arts Initiative, have set up an Irish Green Arts Initiative to ‘provide Irish arts organisations with the resources and support to help build a green Irish arts community.’ cathy fitzgerald | haumea ecoliteracy…Read more Welcome news: Green Arts Initiative for Ireland launched
• ‘Uinse’ by Sarah Flynn: grieving Ireland’s madness for monocultures July 1, 2019 - At a conference in Ireland in 2004, I remarked that the Irish had had enough experience of imported plant disease to last them a thousand years – the calamitous potato famine in 1845. The man from the Ministry got up and bleated nothing could be done because this would restrict trade and the World Trade…Read more ‘Uinse’ by Sarah Flynn: grieving Ireland’s madness for monocultures
• Carlow Drummin Bog Project receives an invitation to attend the President of Ireland’s Picnic for voluntary organisations June 26, 2019 - It was a great thrill last Friday to represent the Carlow Drummin Bog project at the President of Ireland’s summer picnic  for voluntary organisations. This post below was orginally posted on the Carlow Drummin Bog Website. Local communities and volunteer organisations like the Community Wetlands Forum, with the support of other organisations, are voluntary stewards…Read more Carlow Drummin Bog Project receives an invitation to attend the President of Ireland’s Picnic for voluntary organisations
• Creative Ireland An Fraughan art programme: Three Neighbouring Schools Eco-Social Art Exhibition Creates Buzz for Carlow’s Little Drummin Bog June 12, 2019 - I was so delighted to be part of this wonderful eco-social art project and exhibition last Thursday – it was a joy to support this fun and important project with amazing project designer-organiser, artist Jules Michael, and artist Annabel Konig and others from the Drummin Bog voluntary committee. And to use knowledge from my doctoral…Read more Creative Ireland An Fraughan art programme: Three Neighbouring Schools Eco-Social Art Exhibition Creates Buzz for Carlow’s Little Drummin Bog
• Symbiocene Art for the Art in the Anthropocene Conference, Trinity College Dublin June 3, 2019 - Goodbye Anthropocene – Hello Symbiocene at Trinity College Dublin Update Sept 2019 delighted to announce my article will be re-published in the source book “Plasticity – the global reader” (working title) being published in coming winter 2019 by Centre for Contemporary Art U-jazdowski Castle in Warsaw. The editorial ambition is to present the idea of…Read more Symbiocene Art for the Art in the Anthropocene Conference, Trinity College Dublin
• An Urgent Conversation for the Arts in Ireland May 29, 2019 - Update 2 July 2019 : Since giving this talk there has been an important development for arts and sustainability in Ireland. On 28 June Creative Carbon Scotland announced that Caitriona Fallon and Theatre Forum Ireland had been assisted by them to set up a Green Initiative for Arts in Ireland. Read more here on my…Read more An Urgent Conversation for the Arts in Ireland
• An Fraughan Art Exhibition for Drummin Bog: Drummond, Co. Carlow, Thurs 6 June 2019 May 28, 2019 - Originally posted on The Drummin Bog Project: Celebrating Carlow's only Raised Bog:
  The Drummin Bog Project is delighted to annouce an exhibition to celebrate the work of the children from the national schools of  Drummond, Glynn and Newtown, Co. Carlow. The An Fraughan project, led by artist Jules Michael, supported by Cathy Fitzgerald, Annabel…
• Hollywood Forest School – developing ecoliteracy for creative practices May 27, 2019 - Cathy Fitzgerald shares how Hollywood Forest is becoming a 'forest school' for artists and others thinking about applying ecoliteracy to their creative practices. Hollywood forest is part of the #GreenWave for #Ireland
• Ar scáth a chéile… Living in harmony May 23, 2019 - Originally posted on Scéalta Ealaíne:
  Scroll down for the English language version – and there’s also a foxy video below, for your delectation. Sé mhí ó shin chuala mé sionnach i gcoim na h-oíche. Screadach uaigneach dodhearmadta ar nós bean sí, is dócha, a bhí ann. (Níor chuala mé bean sí riamh). Anois…
• Good-Bye Anthropocene – Hello Symbiocene! May 10, 2019 - The first Irish signatory to #CultureDeclaresEmergency and eco-social artist, researcher and educator, Dr Cathy Fitzgerald, discusses the new era, the Symbiocene. The Symbiocene is the new epoch in human history, beyond the ecocide of the Anthropocene, in which emergent humanity celebrates and respects all life's diversity and develops new Earth-aligned intellectual and emotional features. Cathy's talk identifies that the Symbiocene can help cultural workers and others frame their work, especially ecological art practices situated in communities that help people envision new ideas, practices and values for a better, more just and beautiful world. Cathy uses the Symbiocene to help deepen understanding of her ongoing eco-social art practice: The Hollywood Forest Story - 'the little wood that could'. See hollywoodforest.com/portfolio/ongoi…d-forest-story/ Cathy was invited by Dr. Nessa Cronin, Irish Studies, National University of Galway and Professors Karen Till and Gerry Kearns, Maynooth University, Ireland to speak for the Art & Geography: Art, Activism and Social Engagement in the Age of the Capitalocene panel at the 7th EU Geo Congress in Galway, recorded 16 May 2019. Cathy wishes to acknowledge Dr Frances Fahy and Dr. Kathy Reilly (EUGEO Conference Co-Chairs and organisers for the bursary that she was awarded that enable her to attend the congress).
• EUGEO 2019 Galway: Good-Bye Anthropocene – Hello Symbiocene: articulating eco-social art practices that promote ecoliteracy and agency to help us move beyond 10,000 years of ecocide May 8, 2019 -     Next week is a busy time for me in Galway. I posted last week about giving a talk about my interest in the absence of cultural policy for the environmental emergency I’m giving next Tuesday 14 May. However,  later in the week I was awarded a bursary to give a short paper also…Read more EUGEO 2019 Galway: Good-Bye Anthropocene – Hello Symbiocene: articulating eco-social art practices that promote ecoliteracy and agency to help us move beyond 10,000 years of ecocide
• Cultural Climates: Fostering Art for Sustainability – Time for a New Cultural Policy? Moore Institute, Galway May 3, 2019 - Dr. Cathy Fitzgerald will be speaking with Dr Iain Biggs at a public forum and discussion on what role the arts and cultural sectors can, and need to, play in addressing the issues of ecological crisis in this a time of climate emergency. My thanks to Dr Nessa Cronin, NUIG and Prof Karen E. Till and Prof. Gerry Kearns of Maynooth University. All Welcome!
• Art.Earth artist of the month Cathy Fitzgerald and The Hollywood Forest Story: an ongoing eco-social art practice for permanent forestry in Ireland and elsewhere May 1, 2019 - Ahead of the international summit on cultural responses to  ‘Evolving the Forest‘ taking place in Dartington Hall, near Totnes, Devon, England this June, I was asked by Mark Leahy, of the Directors of the international ecoart network art.earth, to respond to some questions and discuss my work as featured art.earth artist of the month. This…Read more Art.Earth artist of the month Cathy Fitzgerald and The Hollywood Forest Story: an ongoing eco-social art practice for permanent forestry in Ireland and elsewhere
• Earth Day 2019: We need to finish the work of Earth-law warrior Polly Higgins April 22, 2019 - Sometimes a voice is sent to calm our deepest fears Sometimes a hearty laugh will banish all our tears Sometimes words will wing our dreaming ever higher And sometimes a mind will set our imaginations afire. John Quinn, Walking on the Pastures of Wonder, 2015 Today, is a very poignant Earth Day. Last night, on…Read more Earth Day 2019: We need to finish the work of Earth-law warrior Polly Higgins
• I Dare You to Be Great: Love the Earth and Help Make it a Crime to Destroy the Earth April 10, 2019 - Imagine how powerful it would be if Greta Thunberg's million+ student's school strike movement connected with Polly Higgin's work to criminalise ecocide. An international crime of ecocide would immediately signal to corporations and heads of state that they would be legally accountable for destroying ecosystems.
• Culture Declares Emergency: signing up from Ireland April 3, 2019 - “Humanity faces the combined catastrophes of climate change, a mass extinction of vital biodiversity and a degradation of ecosystems health everywhere,” said Lucy Neal, spokesperson for Culture Declares Emergency. “This has now become an emergency situation because governments and industry have not shown the necessary leadership, and, so far, have not acted fast enough. Fortunately,…Read more Culture Declares Emergency: signing up from Ireland
• The 9 Stones Artists’ Book Project February 8, 2019 - Originally posted on The Nine Stones Artists South County Carlow:
  The 9 Stones Artists’ Book installed in Visual on a special bench of flattened corrugated iron and glass, designed by 9 Stones Artist Remco De Fouw On display at Visual, Centre for Contemporary Art Carlow. 09 February – 19 May 2019 Opening Sat 9 February…
• Hollywood forest in Carlow is a citizen scientist for soil and climate with EU GROW Observatory December 7, 2018 - Creating a ‘global soil map’ to show how soil, from where we were born across the Earth, connects and supports us all, with Monkeyshine Theatre at the Grow Observatory Citizen Workshop at VISUAL Carlow on 1 Dec, 2018 Update: Grow Observatory is taking part in Ireland, across two areas: the South East (Carlow, Kilkenny, South…Read more Hollywood forest in Carlow is a citizen scientist for soil and climate with EU GROW Observatory
• PhD by Practice – The Ecological Turn: Living Well with forests to explain eco-social art practices November 21, 2018 - I’m delighted to announce that this week I was conferred with a PhD by Practice in Visual Culture at the National College of Art and Design at a ceremony at University College Dublin. There are so, so many people to thank and I’m delighted to start to share some of my practice and research, FINALLY!…Read more PhD by Practice – The Ecological Turn: Living Well with forests to explain eco-social art practices
• Deireadh Fomhair – The End of Autumn exhibition by Eoin Mac Lochlainn November 21, 2018 -   “Deireadh Fomhair” is the title for this body of work, the Irish name for the month of October but literally translating as ‘the end of Autumn’. We have always taken the cycle of the seasons for granted in Ireland but with climate change, things have become more uncertain. When this Autumn ends, can we…Read more Deireadh Fomhair – The End of Autumn exhibition by Eoin Mac Lochlainn
• Evolving the Forest, Creative Summit 19-21, 2019, Call for submissions October 30, 2018 - I have been lucky enough to attend two creative art and ecology summits organised by art.earth. Next year’s theme is all about forests so I’m very much hoping to attend!! I expect it will be not so much ‘evolving forests’, more that it will a rich event promoting conversations and creativity, practical and scientific knowledge,…Read more Evolving the Forest, Creative Summit 19-21, 2019, Call for submissions
• Creative Ireland Carlow supports two Drummin Bog eco-social art projects June 12, 2018 - Originally posted on The Drummin Bog Project: Celebrating Carlow's only Raised Bog:
  The Drummin Bog Projects are two of 16 community art projects supported by Creative Ireland Carlow in 2018-19. The Drummin Bog Project committee is delighted to announce that two proposals for the Drummin Bog Project are to be supported by Creative Ireland…
• Albatross the film – translating grief through art inspires global #beatplasticpollution movement June 5, 2018 - Some of the key images that have caught our hearts have been the result of some tireless individuals, who with artistic skills have been translating the throw-away-and-forget horror of our modern way of life. I'm sharing news that in a few days, a lead artist against pollution, photographer Chris Jordan, whose images early on impressed initial horror and grief on the state of our oceans, is releasing his feature length film Albatross free to the world on World Ocean's Day June 8, 2018.
• ‘Raising the Shining, Reflective Shield’: the urgent need for art and sustainability policy for Ireland May 10, 2018 - A study I undertook last year (supported by a Carlow Arts Office award), which began as a review of international art and sustainability for County Carlow quickly grew to scope policy for Ireland. I have long felt that so much more could be done to highlight the central role culture has for engaging civil…Read more ‘Raising the Shining, Reflective Shield’: the urgent need for art and sustainability policy for Ireland
• Contributing to the Cowhouse Studios ‘How to Flatten A Mountain’ 2018 artists residency April 19, 2018 - Eco-social artist Cathy Fitzgerald, will be offering an ecoliteracy toolbox of sorts for the Cowhouse Studios 2018 How to Flatten a Mountain Artists Residency : comprising ideas from science, environmental philosophy, and examples from effective and established eco-social art practices. The aim is to help the artists reflect on how they might more accurately read the environmental realities here during their residency, but also to equip the artists with new ways of thinking for their own home places, so they can create informed and engaging responses for their audiences.
• Celebrating Carlow’s Drummin Bog legacy landscape at VISUAL Carlow December 11, 2017 - Originally posted on The Drummin Bog Project: Celebrating Carlow's only Raised Bog:
  On Saturday last we were absolutely delighted as over 200 people came out to celebrate and support Drummin Bog at VISUAL, Carlow. The response to the artworks, the information desk and the event overall was absolutely wonderful, with people coming from Carlow…
• the key role of eco-social art practices to envision life-sustaining futures December 4, 2017 - The bodily exertions endured by Robinson during his researches and observations are, once more, indexical of a decelerated ecological vision – a mode of discovery and living that privileges immersion and depth in its relationship with the living landscape’s storehouse of natural and cultural imprints. Eoin Flannery, 2016, ‘Essayist of Place: Postcolonialism and Ecology’, p.223.…Read more the key role of eco-social art practices to envision life-sustaining futures
• Hidden: REVEAL See artworks online for Carlow Drummin Bog Project fundraiser Saturday 2 Dec, 5.30-7pm VISUAL Carlow November 24, 2017 - Originally posted on The Drummin Bog Project: Celebrating Carlow's only Raised Bog:
  Please see images below for the artworks kindly donated to the Drummin Bog Project Fundraiser Art Event. Click on an image to see the full-size artwork itself and to enjoy all the artworks as slideshow. The work will also be installed in…
• Understanding a place “without shortcuts”: exploring the Tim Robinson archive  August 24, 2017 - On such occasions the basic act of attention that creates a place out of a location would be renewed, enhanced by whatever systems of understanding we can muster, from the mathematical to the mythological, by the passion of poetry, or by simple enjoyment of the play of light on it. Here is a gateway to…Read more Understanding a place “without shortcuts”: exploring the Tim Robinson archive 
• Close-to-Nature continuous cover forest management day and practical guide launch, near Borris, Co. Carlow April 7, 2017 - Some of you know that I am away from Ireland presently due to family reasons. As such, I’m very sorry to be missing the very first Pro Silva Ireland Close-to-Nature forestry management day in my home area. I work voluntarily with the committee of Pro Silva Ireland who are organising this event (22 April 2017), …Read more Close-to-Nature continuous cover forest management day and practical guide launch, near Borris, Co. Carlow
• Visiting the Sessile Oaks of Raheen Forest, Tuamgreany, East Clare, West Ireland October 13, 2016 - I was back in the woods with my ProSilva Ireland forest family last weekend. With foresters,  ecologists, forest owners, tree-harvesters, forestry students and newcomers, we visited the beautiful broadleaf and conifer-mixed Raheen forest near Scariff in Co. Clare (West Ireland). There are remnants of wonderful ancient Sessile Oak woods there (picture above), and they, and…Read more Visiting the Sessile Oaks of Raheen Forest, Tuamgreany, East Clare, West Ireland
• Mapping Spectral Traces 8: The Place of the Wound – Attending to places wounded by the legacies of historical violence September 12, 2016 -  “The struggle of embracing our moment—is the struggle that we live in the most destructive moment in 65 million years!” Brian Swimme, Professor of Integral Studies and evolutionary philosopher, The New Story, 2006 “There are opportunities even in the most difficult moments.” Dr. Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize winner, first woman in Africa to get…Read more Mapping Spectral Traces 8: The Place of the Wound – Attending to places wounded by the legacies of historical violence
• Sharing the Hollywood project in the Open Fields – Riga 2016 September 4, 2016 - I’m delighted to have been invited to share my creative transversal research and practice in Riga, Latvia at the end of the month. I was attracted to apply to share my work at this conference because of the questions that frame the event (see below) and I was doubly delighted to find that my travel…Read more Sharing the Hollywood project in the Open Fields – Riga 2016
• Cathy Davey Sings Us A New Forest August 27, 2016 - Eco-forest artist and art researcher Cathy Fitzgerald reviews Irish singer-songwriter Cathy Davey's music and videos for her New Forest (2016) album. Fitzgerald reflects how art is a powerful means and meme to engage and convey more life-sustaining eco-social understanding of the Symbiocene.
• The art of Sitka spruce twigs, mud and moss: now at VISUAL Carlow August 20, 2016 - This is an update of a post I wrote on 20 August 2013. Found abandoned on the floor of Hollywood last weekend, two works of art…
• Why ancient tree knowledge in Ireland matters today: Blackstairs Ecotrails film and Ogham tree-teaching stone August 17, 2016 - Today, Ireland only has remnants of its ancient forests and has one of the lowest levels of tree cover in Europe. While afforestation is promoted with plantations of conifers and native trees (tree cover across Ireland is around 12%) there is value in considering how ancient forests were once regarded. Ireland was deforested over many…Read more Why ancient tree knowledge in Ireland matters today: Blackstairs Ecotrails film and Ogham tree-teaching stone
• Review and Opening of the 9 Stones Artists Possibilities of Place exhibition: continues to 16 Oct, 2016 – VISUAL Carlow August 5, 2016 - This is an update of some of the press and media regarding the 9 Stones Artists Group Show I am involved with, and which is on show until 16 October. Celebrating ten years of working together, the 9 Stones Artists The Possibilities of Place exhibition has been an exciting means to share their work in the incredible…Read more Review and Opening of the 9 Stones Artists Possibilities of Place exhibition: continues to 16 Oct, 2016 – VISUAL Carlow
• Reversing Silent Spring at Visual Carlow July 5, 2016 - Details of Cathy Fitzgerald's Reversing Silent Spring at Visual Carlow 2 July-16 Oct 2016 for the 9 Stone Artists' Possibilities of Place exhibition.
• The Possibilities of Place June 4, 2016 - “The artists whose work we see around us have done their job with great skill, vision and imagination. Such inner exploration helps us to talk to ourselves and each other at a deeper level. It carries news of where we live and who we are and what we think is important. It undermines and reinforces.…Read more The Possibilities of Place
• Findhorn film: An Enquiry into a New Story for Humanity April 29, 2016 - This weekend the oldest eco-village, Findhorn, launches an important film to commemorate its extraordinarily ambitious 2014 New Story Summit. I have just read a review by one of the talented filmmakers, Rhonda Fabian, who I had the good fortune to meet at the Summit. 
• Re-imagining forests for Ireland in 2016 and beyond March 27, 2016 - I was surprised and delighted to be asked by Dr. Deirdre O’Mahony to contribute a poster to the Teagasc and Galway County Council Farming and County Life 1916-2016 event, which seeks to commemorate the 100th year of Ireland’s Rising and to reflect on developments in farming and country life across Ireland over the last century.…Read more Re-imagining forests for Ireland in 2016 and beyond
• Operation Transformation to Continuous Cover Forestry November 16, 2015 - Originally posted on Pro Silva Ireland:
  Photos and an article from ProSilva Ireland field day at Knockrath Forest, Co. Wicklow – Sat 3 Oct 2015. ProSilva Ireland wishes to thanks the Brabazon family at Knockrath Co. Wicklow for an important ProSilva Ireland field day. We were fortunate to have Duncan Stewart and the EcoEye team…
• Wexford art students visit Hollywood (and Holly) April 20, 2015 - The other day I had a group of college art students visiting Hollywood – most of them didn’t seem to know the rate of biodiversity loss that industrial land and ocean practices are causing – the estimated and unprecedented loss of 150 species a day (UN, 2010 figures).
• ‘Lines of flight’ from the Hollywood project March 9, 2015 - Cathy Fitzgerald reflects on other close-to-nature, non clearfell forests being inspired by the Hollywood ecoart project, with Nicola Brown and Fritz Ringal, under the Blackstairs Mountains, Ireland.
• This morning I awoke to the sound of birdsong… February 18, 2015 - Originally posted on expressions of an intimate ecology:
  This morning I awoke to the sound of birdsong drifting through dawn-lit windows The small, humble things in life offering sustenance in this big, big world Spring hath sprung… birdsong, compressed charcoal on paper © p ward 2015 “Curiously in amongst this plethora of Buddhism there was…
• Hollywood breakup on Valentines day – divesting from fossil fuels February 13, 2015 - A small continuous cover forest in Ireland, Hollywood, is helping spread news of the urgent need to #divest from fossil fuels today 13 Feb 2015
• Hollywood joins collective sustainability conversation at The Lab Gallery, Dublin February 10, 2015 - Pathways Towards Sustainability. A Collective Conversation. At the Lab.ie, Dublin. This panel discussion with Conall O’Connor, Cathy Fitzgerald, Meadhbh OConnor, Dr. Tamara Hochstrasser will map the ways in which individuals working in different fields are driving and implementing change towards a more environmentally sustainable future.
• The Holly and the Ivy from Hollywood December 23, 2014 - Dear Hollywood diary readers and the increasing number of visitors to Hollywood, Many thanks for your comments, interest and support for the Hollywood project over the year. They have meant such a lot for this long, meandering artful-forest work. Here’s wishing you all a very merry Christmas from us all at Hollywood! PS – If…Read more The Holly and the Ivy from Hollywood
• The DOORS at Hollywood November 28, 2014 - Elm timber from the Blackstairs, Co. Carlow turned into bespoke doors for Hollywood, by master woodworker Albert Fogarty.
• Live at Hollywood during the Rural Blackstairs Film Festival 2014 November 11, 2014 - Eco artist Cathy Fitzgerald held a space for conversation about transforming a conifer plantation into a permanent, continuous cover forest during the 1st Blackstairs Rural Film Festival. See the photos here.
• Sharing the Hollywood project during the new Blackstairs Rural Film Festival October 26, 2014 - Cathy Fitzgerald is sharing the Hollwood artful forest transformation project at the new Blackstairs Rural Film Festival in South Co. Carlow Ireland. Details of the event are described.
• Circles for change: supporting ourselves and our ‘new stories’ October 21, 2014 - Some perspectives of the Findhorn New Story Summit from Cathy Fitzgerald. New social structures; circle formations, sociocracy and The Grief Ritual as elements for eco-social change.
• Follow the International Findhorn New Story Summit live and in Kilkenny September 24, 2014 - Details on the Findhorn New Story Summit and the Kilkenny Summit Hub by Cathy Fitzgerald, a participant for the Summit from Ireland. This Findhorn summit follows the 2014 #PeoplesClimate march and the UN Climate summit in New York and discusses the call to action poem representing civil society 'Dear Matafele Peinem' by Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner
• Co-producing knowledge with the more-than-human world: 2014 International Royal Geography Society society conference August 26, 2014 - Update 2016: some of the proceedings from the More-than-human-participatory research group’ sessions are to be published by Routledge in a new text called Participatory Research in More-Than-Human Worlds Image above: recently a small robin has sought to move inside our house in Hollywood – we’ve been enjoying flying antics and stunning arias from this tiny…Read more Co-producing knowledge with the more-than-human world: 2014 International Royal Geography Society society conference
• Sharing the Hollywood story at the International Findhorn New Story Summit July 9, 2014 - Holly, Hollywood and me - we'll be sharing our story 'Resiliencies: stories of transformation from within a small Irish forest' at the Findhorn International Summit on New Stories in late September 2014.
• Presenting at the ASLE-UKI Locating Ecocriticism: Systems, Methodologies, Contexts conference at UCD, Dublin July 3, 2014 - Screen Shot 2014-03-26 at 01.10.02 At the end of this month Cathy Fitzgerald is presenting her artful eco forest research-in-progress at the 2014 ASLE-UKI (United Kingdom and Ireland) Postgraduate Conference "Locating Ecocriticism: Systems, Methodologies, Contexts: in Dublin, 30-31 July 2014, at University College, Dublin.
• Review of 9 Stones Artists Show at Borris 13-15 June 2014 June 21, 2014 - Originally posted on The Nine Stones Artists South County Carlow:
  “The 9 Stones Artists are a cut above most other groups of their kind. Their art is inquisitive of new technique and subject matter; they bring science and nature together subtly and convincingly and produce images that are pleasing and appealing. There is an intellectual…
• ProSilva Ireland attends first international Continuous Cover forestry conference in UK June 21, 2014 - Originally posted on Pro Silva Ireland:
  One of the many workshops held over the three days Continuous Cover forestry conference organised by CCFG in the Lake District, Cumbria UK A number of ProSilva Ireland members recently attended the Continuous Cover forestry conference in the UK. It was a comprehensive conference with a number of field…
• Co-production of knowledge with non-humans from Hollywood May 28, 2014 - Image above: We have a couple of pairs of pigeons at Hollywood, living and cooing away quite happily amongst the conifers. They love the rowan berries from a few rowan trees we planted on the edge of Hollywood some years ago and have successfully spread rowan and beech seeds from further afield through the forest.…Read more Co-production of knowledge with non-humans from Hollywood
• Upcoming ProSilva Ireland field day at Glengarrif, West Cork on Saturday 17 May 2014 May 15, 2014 - Originally posted on Pro Silva Ireland:
  This forest field day will concentrate on forests and biodiversity. ProSilva committee member and ecologist Faith Wilson will lead the day with ProSilva Austrian forester Georg Frank. The field day will focus on the theme of forest management and biodiversity enhancement and field day stops will be at various…
• 9 Stones Exhibition at ‘Borris Town House’ during Borris House Festival of Writing and Ideas 13-15 June May 13, 2014 - Originally posted on The Nine Stones Artists South County Carlow:
  ? 9 Stones Artists Opening 13 June  at 6pm – ALL WELCOME!  (the night before the Borris Festival of Writing and Ideas begins) Uniting for our fifth group show,  the 9 Stones Artists will present an exciting exhibition of recent and site-specific works in Borris…
• Celebrating Earth Day 2014 at Hollywood, Co. Carlow with Green Sod Ireland April 23, 2014 - It was lovely yesterday evening to celebrate all things earthy and green for Green Sod Ireland’s Earth day walk. It was a soft grey evening and Mary White of Blackstairs Eco trails led the walk down the lanes right next to Hollywood. Mary gave us information on the history of the lane and many of…Read more Celebrating Earth Day 2014 at Hollywood, Co. Carlow with Green Sod Ireland
• Green Sod Ireland Wild-Awake Walk for Earth Day 2014 near Blackstairs Mtns and Hollywood April 7, 2014 - Green Sod Ireland Wild-Awake Walk for Earth Day 2014 near Blackstair Mtns Co. Carlow and the smallest Close-to-Nature forest, Hollywood -with Mary White of BlackstairsEcotrails.ie and Cathy Fitzgerald ecoartfilm.com
• An eco eye on Ireland’s forests with Duncan Stewart April 2, 2014 - By chance, on the way to a great conference last week I happened to meet Duncan Stewart – we were both taking public transport. Duncan is perhaps one of Ireland’s best known TV personalities, an award-winning architect, he hosts Ireland’s only environmental programme “EcoEye”. In fact, with the woeful reporting on environmental concerns in Ireland…Read more An eco eye on Ireland’s forests with Duncan Stewart
• The Hollywood press: an article in EarthLines and a contribution to the Irish Forest journal March 24, 2014 - My article 'Ecopornography versus the slow, deep art of place' that evolved from a blog post has recently been published in EarthLines. From the next issue EarthLines will be published from Ireland. Also data from Hollywood has been a contribution to a recent Forest research journal article on continuous cover forestry.
• LifeWorlds: Space, Place and Irish Culture International Conference, Galway March 24, 2014 - The international conference Lifeworlds: Space, Place and Irish Culture, hosted by the Ómós Áite: Space/Place Research Network, will take place at NUI Galway, 27-30 March 2014. Conference sessions, plenary lectures and the mapping workshop are free and open to the public.
• Great Turning – the musical at Winchester Cathedral with June Boyce-Tillman March 21, 2014 - The Great Turning, a new work composed by June Boyce-Tillman will be an extravaganza featuring local community choirs and schoolchildren, over 400 performers at the stunning location of Winchester Cathedral, England. Is is based on The Great Turning frame
• Angel of the Ash trees – Ireland’s new forests-a-growing near Hollywood March 8, 2014 - In recent weeks Ireland has lost millions of trees to Storm Darwin, 12 Feb 2014. Here Cathy Fitzgerald talks about the beginnings of Hollywood, the smallest Close-to-Nature continuous cover forest in Ireland and the nearby forest plantings it has inspired
• Eradicating Ecocide in Ireland – send letter to Phil Hogan now February 19, 2014 - Ecocide law campaigner Polly Higgins came to Belfast, N. Ireland on 11 Feb 2014. Cathy Fitzgerald details her talk, how the Green Party of Ireland and Northern Ireland and Friends of the Earth are bringing the urgent necessity of an international law for Ecocide for all our futures, to growing audiences across Ireland and N. Ireland
• Proposed Ecocide law basis for new International Court of Environment and Health February 10, 2014 - Environental lawyer for the Earth who has championed a law against #ecocide Polly Higgins is giving a public talk at Queens University, Belfast on 11 Feb 2014. Last month the EU parliament announced the new Brussel Charter for an Earth-saving Europe and International Court of Environment and Health, read more and sign the petition here
• Weddings by Hollywood – what our first timber was used for January 31, 2014 - I wrote in early December how our first timber from Hollywood was being used for something special... check out the wedding photo
• Carlow connections – Green Sod Ireland, Blackstairs Ecotrails and Hollywood January 15, 2014 - Hollywood, Green Sod Ireland and Blackstairs Ecotrails 'meet in the hedgerows' in Co. Carlow. Green Sod Ireland's first 'wildacres', gifted to the nation in perpetuity, are in Co. Carlow. Cathy Fitzgerald and Holly were delighted to meet Green Sod members at Hollywood in an unexpected meeting...
• PLACE International Conference: Emergency necessitates an ecoculture of mind at Invisible Scotland January 14, 2014 - Artful ecoforest researcher Cathy Fitzgerald attended the 2013 PLACE International Symposia 'Invisible Scotland'. Here is her contribution to the catalogue that documented the event
• First timber from Hollywood is made into something special December 14, 2013 - As you can see, some of our conifer trees are getting big. When our forest contractor Sean Hoskins and his fellow worker Conor Murphy, selectively felled some trees for Hollywood’s 2nd thinning in January, Conor asked if he could have our largest cut tree, in exchange for reducing his felling fee. “Sure”, I said, surprised.…Read more First timber from Hollywood is made into something special
• Hollywood even gets Christmas presents now! December 6, 2013 - At a recent ProSilva forest day I ran into a forest friend  Jonathan Spazzi, an Irish based Italian born forester who is also a mycologist (a fungi expert). I had attended Jonathan’s fungi foraging workshop organised by Blackstairs ecotrails about two years ago and was surprised at the variety growing in woods in the area.…Read more Hollywood even gets Christmas presents now!
• Tree-Marking skills and software to help us work better for forests November 30, 2013 - Last week I was excited to take part in the first tree-marking training days for the COFORD (Council for Forest Research and Development, Ireland) Low Impact Silvicultural Systems (LISS) project in Ireland. Hollywood is one of the forests on the database, along with other plantation sites across Ireland that are being transformed, in various degrees,…Read more Tree-Marking skills and software to help us work better for forests
• Hollywood shortlisted for new ForestEurope “Show off your forest” competition November 26, 2013 - Great news, today Holly and I heard that two experimental films from the Hollywood project have been short-listed for the Forest Europe ‘Show off your forest competition‘. I submitted two films (‘burning bright’ and ‘the black space (resilience) of the Ash night’, which I thought best conveyed the work going on here in Hollywood and…Read more Hollywood shortlisted for new ForestEurope “Show off your forest” competition
• And a river runs through it – postscript to my recent river-forest-bird post November 26, 2013 - I have been thinking of other perspectives and features of the valley where my work is located and what it informs it. Nearby is a stream, that often becomes a small river in winter or in our too frequent wet summers. It was once known at the ‘Black River’ 300 years ago (as it came…Read more And a river runs through it – postscript to my recent river-forest-bird post
• it was misting November 12, 2013 - Recently I was away and was surprised to find myself on a two-hour boat trip down a large river, very early one morning. It was incredibly beautiful even though we couldn’t see much. It was all white-grey mist, water, trees and birds appearing, then disappearing;  watery, clouding-air endlessly cycling through trees and birds… A few…Read more it was misting

Before 2013

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NOTE:

My first blog both surveyed the art and ecology field and the beginning of the Hollywood Forest Story in May 2008. It is archived at ecoartnotebook.wordpress.com