Procession, Pageant and Performance
A site-specific celebration of the community of Shandon, within the city of Cork, Ireland. Safe Harbour/Cork was an adaptation of Safe Harbor/Red Hook- redesigned to be a daylong celebration featuring many local community members, arts organizations and schools culminating in an evening length performance on the stage of the Institute for Choreography and Dance at the Firkin Crane Center. It was presented as part of Cork’s Midsummer Festival.
While Safe Harbor/Red Hook explored the history of immigration in New Yor City, Safe Harbour/Cork was developed during an influx of migrants to Ireland due to its newly invigorated economy. In the early 2000’s Ireland’s historically homogenous population was struggling to accommodate the large numbers of migrants from outside the EU, many of whom were asylum seekers. Safe Harbour/Cork sought to promote collaborations between new comers to Ireland and local longtime residents.
Credits
Concept and Direction: Martha Bowers with Michael O’Byrne
Composer and Musical Director: Tiye Giraud
Produced by Mary Brady, Director Institute for Choreography and Dance
Project Manager: Trish Hawley
Dance/Theatre/Etcetera Dancers: Shannon Hummel, Olase Freeman
With the Safe Harbour Community Choir
Participants: The Butter Exchange Band, Boomerang Theatre Company, Cork City Ramblers, Meitheal Mara Curragh Club, the World Children’s Choir and Olympic Karate Club and multiple local schools
Opening Blessings: Priest from the North Cathedral, Dean of St Finn Barre’s Cathedral, Pastor Kola Oladejo from London.