Ashford Heritage Centre

The final wall-piece for the Ashford Heritage Centre which officially opens this Friday, and which focuses on the late Seamus Heaney and his long-time presence in the Ashford community and surrounds. I was honoured to contribute and to writing his words;

"…driving down from Dublin to Wicklow in spring or early summer – or indeed at any time of the year – I get this sudden joy from the sheer fact of the mountains to my right and the sea to my left, the flow of the farmland, the sweep of the road, the lift of the sky. There’s a double sensation of here-and-nowness in the familiar place and far-and-awayness in something immense…” 
Seamus Heaney (1939 - 2013).

Anyone that takes that drive knows exactly what he means! The stress of the city just evaporates when you see the Sugarloaf on the bend of the M11....the Irish Sea at the next bend....

The accompanying triptych of photographs are from a local photographer (name to follow) specifically commissioned to emulate Heaney's words. Thanks Deirdre Burns, Heritage Officer, Ronan McDonnell, Graphic Designer, Sheila Clarke - Ashford's local historian and 'Superwoman', John, Ray, Rory and all the gang working tirelessly this week and the fun, tay and sandwiches that went with it!