Mayo sculptor Cathal Mc Carthy has created a unique new sonic sculpture for St Patricks Special School in Enniscorthy Co Wexford…
The artist has created a sensory sound garden for students with special needs that can be used for musical education and enjoyment. It is composed of a series of large scale colourful chimes, a seven note bell tree and thirty six note hand tuned xylophone. The installation entitled Sonic Garden will function as an outdoor classroom full of sensory sounds and colour that will assist with sensory learning.
The playable sound installation has been designed for ease of use and accessibility for students of all ages to enjoy music creation. The largest sound installation of its kind in Ireland, it will provide a recreational and educational function for the students to enjoy in the school garden so they can create their own music and sonic orchestra.
Speaking about the installation Principal Lee Rodgers said it was a “great use of the percent for art scheme funded by the Department on Education and a beautiful way to provide an educational and artistic music installation for the new school that caters for one hundred and forty students with special needs.”
The project was created using advanced modelling and laser cutting technology methods at Olandi Engineering in Castlebar. It will be launched on Friday March 14 in Enniscorthy. Visual Artist Cathal Mc Carthy is well-known for his iconic sculptures in Ireland including Word-Tree in Louisburgh, Co Mayo, The Player in Ballindine Co Mayo and Stream-Spire in Mullingar Co Westmeath.
The Mayo man is currently working on a major new installation for Roscommon Co Council entitled Big Skygazer. This will be installed in Mote Park in Co Roscommon in the coming weeks and is collaboration with Michael Mc Laughlin (B.Arch) lecturer in art ATU Limerick and director of Monarú studios in Limerick. For more information see www.cathalmccarthy.net
Jason Redmond
From Gorey, Jason is the owner of Wexford Weekly. He is also a post-primary English and History teacher.
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