Folklore Screenings by Michael Fortune

For this years Festival of the Sea, Wexford artist Michael Fortune will present three collections of folklore
which he recorded with people from Wexford, Waterford, Tipperary, Mayo and Offaly over the past five years.
Never before have these collections been presented side by side in Ireland and this is a wonderful
opportunity to immerse yourself in a world of contemporary and ancient superstition and belief.

For this years festival, Michael and the Festival of the Sea have teamed up with seven libraries from the
South East of Ireland to host the screening of this comprehensive folklore collection. For the duration
of this year’s festival, the works will be screened continuously in each of the participating libraries where members of the public can view the works at their own leisure.

The works can be only be viewed during library opening hours, so please contact individual libraries for
exact times.

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Michael Fortune (B.A., M.A.)

His work is presented widely nationally and internationally in a variety of contexts, ranging from gallery presentation through to single screen presentations in film and video art festivals.  Since the beginning
of 2007 his work has been presented in over 120 shows in a total of twenty-eight countries spanning from
Armenia to Venezuela and from Kilnaboy to Claremorris. His folklore collections are housed in numerous universities in North America and Europe. He has visited Newfoundland on two occasions and has had his
work included in The Nickle Film Festival in St. Johns as well as presenting various lectures on his work in
the Folklore and Fine Art Departments of Memorial University in St. Johns and Cornerbrook.

He is currently working on three significant commissions throughout Ireland. The first - a commission by
the Arts Council in conjunction with, Bealtaine, The National Library and the Goilin Traditional Singers,
the second - a new collection of folklore from Donegal and Derry which has been commissioned by Regional Cultural Centre Letterkenny and The Nerve Centre Derry and the third - a new Public Art Commission
from Offaly County Council and the NRA.

For further information on Michael and his work visit www.michaelfortune.ie or www.folklore.ie

THE THREE FOLKLORE COLLECTIONS

The Fall of the Leaf (2010)
Commissioned by The Arts Council in conjunction with Anam Beo and Offaly County Council, this collection
was recorded with people in Day Care Centres in Birr, Tullamore, Clara, Edenderry and
Ballinagar in early 2010.

Half for You, Half for Me (2008)
Commissioned by Wexford and North/South Tipperary County Councils this compilation is derived from four larger collections which were recorded in Raheen and Castlebridge, Co. Wexford in 2005 and 2006 and Cahir and Nenagh, Co. Tipperary in 2007 and 2008.