'Step into nature, stories, and shared learning' at Mount Briscoe HedgeRow Fest
‘Artists in Hedges’ is how a festival taking place in Daingean this month is being described. The Mount Briscoe HedgeRow Fest invites guests to “step into nature, stories, and shared learning”, says curator, Margaret Edgill.
Mount Briscoe Organic Farm unites a collective of artists, poets, authors, creatives, foragers, farmers, ecologists and specialists bringing to life our hedgerows visually, through the spoken word, music, poem or prose and visual art.
Among the performers at the event on September 6 and 7 is Andy Brooks – better known as Testament, a British rapper, beatboxer, playwright and writer, who is giving a poetry workshop on the Saturday. As a lyricist, his critically acclaimed work brings together rap, song and spoken word, said Margaret.
The Delmaine String Quartet present ‘The Company of Trees – A Celebration in Words and Music’ on Sunday September 7. The show celebrates our long and complex relationship with the forest world through literature and music. Also, Patrick Deeley poet, memoirist and children’s writer, will read from his new memoir Seeing Through Trees.
Award winning conservationist, professional hedge layer and host of the popular CountrySlide podcast, Richard Negus, will read from his new book Words from the Hedge.
Margaret said the festival will also provide an opportunity to experience nature journaling, forest bathing, forest school, wild food foraging, mushroom foraging, master classes in hedgelaying, art workshops and exhibitions.
It is centred on creativity, nature, hedgerows and slowing down. Margaret said: “We hope to inspire people from urban and rural backgrounds alike to visit Mount Briscoe and listen to our contributors unveil the hidden world around us.”
For festival programme see mountbriscoe.ie/hedgerow-festival-2025.
This project is supported by Offaly County Council through the Creative Ireland Community Grant Programme and the Heritage Council, and is free to attend. Booking is essential and the ticket price, less booking fee, is refunded on presentation at the event.