On Voyage of Uisneach with Emerald Lakes

Síofra Grant

Voyage of Uisneach, the multi-media production from the mind of Kevin Lyster, is returning to the stage, reimagined and boasting a cast of more than 100.

Voyage of Uisneach mixes film and live performance to deliver a story of survival, resilience and the rich and enduring tradition of Ireland.

It is an Emerald Lakes Community Group production, a free and voluntary group Kevin set up in 2009 that brings the arts to anyone who wishes to take part.

Voyage of Uisneach premièred in 2024. It had been a passion project of Kevin’s for a long time: “During my Irish dance career, I was quite ill and I had to give up dance for many years. I didn’t think I would ever qualify to be a dance teacher, never mind do something like this.

“I think when I sat idle for a couple of years when I wasn’t well, I really thought about how I’d love to do shows, I’d love to do production.”

While Kevin was thinking about that, the an opportunity that would prove inspirational arose: the hit TV show, Vikings.

“I got selected to be a dancer on the TV series Vikings, I was one of eight men selected and there were eight women and we did a lot of ritual and tribal stuff that would have taken place at certain times of the year.

“And when I was on set in Wicklow, I looked at what they were doing and I was amazed. It gave me a burning passion to bring that to Westmeath and to people around me.”

It was important for Kevin to bring the idea to Emerald Lakes as an opportunity for members. The fact that group members are volunteers and offer free dance lessons are other reasons Kevin was determined to bring this production to Westmeath.

“We run the classes all for free. They come in and what they get is an experience similar to what I would have seen on set, and I’m bringing that to them.

“There are a lot of people there who never thought they’d be in a production or ever be on a stage like the arts centre or ever be in a cinematic production.”

In preparation for the performance the cast of 100 filmed the cinematic aspects of the show at Belvedere, as Kevin made sure to utilise the natural beauty of Westmeath.

“Our first trailer was filmed here in Rochfortbridge, beside my house, and we just brought in a friend of mine, Dave Treacy, who has a drone.”

Kevin thanked fellow Emerald Lakes volunteers, Elaine Long and Ciara Doyle, who have been a huge help to him throughout production.

The Voyage of Uisneach is a story of the Famine and emigration. It follows the pilgrimage of two children played by Armandas Tavoras and Holly Walshe.

The story opens with the girl and the boy mourning their families. The funeral is the first time they meet.

“The story is about their families dying in the Famine, they’re from different families and they’re both orphaned. They looked at each other, realise they remind one another of their own siblings and become childhood friends.

“Then the person looking after them decides to send the children, along with their own daughter, to America for a new life.”

The children make the perilous journey across the sea to the land of opportunity.

“It follows them and the people they’ve met along the way, the cultural experience they’ve had, sharing their own music, stories and dance.

“But it also shows the harrowing parts of the journey as well through death and struggle, that’s all in it as well.

“Sometimes we often forget that the population of Ireland was nine million; today in Ireland we have 5.5 million. It’s never recovered.”

The story aims to show the endurance of Irish culture despite the odds.

“You can go to any country in the world and you will find a city that has Irish culture, a pub, an Irish dance school. Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, the United States, Indonesia, Australia, no matter where you go, you’ll find an Irish dance school.

“It’s about the resilience and the story of the Irish people, and the diaspora across the world. People don’t realise the impact of our culture on the world for such a small country, and we try to bring that home.”

• The Voyage of Uisneach is at Mullingar Arts Centre on November 20 and 21.