Anna King

15/04/2026

A wonderful afternoon spent sharing ideas and walking the site of our new public art commission: 'The Well Gathering', at the Plots, Ballaghaderreen.

This collaborative project brings together traditional stonemason Dominic Keogh Memento Mori Stonework
and multidisciplinary artist Anna King
with support from public artist mentor Cathal McCarthy

By bringing together sculpture, storytelling and community engagement, 'The Well Gathering' complements the wider Plots Town Park development, funded through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund in partnership with Roscommon County Council and Creative Places Ballaghaderreen.

✍️ ANNOUNCEMENT: Members of the Ballagh community are warmly invited to share stories, family memories, and recollections of The Plots and Spring Well. To contribute, please contact [email protected]

There is also a lovely feature in the Roscommon Herald with more details on the project. Roscommon Herald or check out Anna's online dairy: https://www.annaking.ie/ballaghaderreen-the-plots

Follow along if you would like to keep updated with developments. ❤️

irishhistory

15/04/2026

Great piece in Roscommon Herald about our new public art commission in Ballaghaderreen.

The Spring Well and the Plots are linked to key figures in Ballaghaderreen’s history

02/04/2026

Voices from The Plots: Joe Egan

Anna sits down with Joe Egan, Acting Chairperson of Ballaghaderreen Town Team, for a cup of tea and conversation.

They chat about the past, present and future of The Plots.

Joe recalls how the space was once connected to The Secret Village, a mystical, eclectic music festival. He also touches on its links to traditional cures, herbal knowledge and local folklore, and considers how these threads might inform a future biodiversity project.

Click below to listen to our conversation.
https://www.annaking.ie/ballaghaderreen-the-plots/voices

'Voices from the Plots' is a series of conversations inspired by 'The Well Gathering', a permanent public artwork and community engagement project by traditional stonemason Dominic Keogh Memento Mori Stonework and multidisciplinary artist Anna King.

If you have any stories, photographs or memories of the Well and Plots, please email [email protected]

By bringing together sculpture, storytelling and community engagement, 'The Well Gathering' complements the wider Plots Town Park development, funded through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund in partnership with Roscommon County Council and Creative Places Ballaghaderreen.

The project sits within the broader initiative ‘Enabling the Potential of the Ballaghaderreen Plots’, which is transforming this historic backland into a living community resource.

Creative Places Ballaghaderreen Ballaghaderreen Past and Present Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Roscommon County Council Ballaghaderreen May Fair Ballaghaderreen Mens Shed Joe Egan Ballaghaderreen TownTeam Ballaghaderreen Women's Shed Page

29/03/2026

Announcing ‘The Well Gathering’

A hidden network of gardens, pathways and a historic well lies at the heart of Ballaghaderreen's Plots.

This unique townscape forms the inspiration for a new public art and community engagement project, by multidisciplinary artists Dominic Keogh Memento Mori Stonework & Anna King

Anna leads the research, writing, image-making and public engagement, while Dominic will hand-carve a permanent public artwork for the site using native Irish limestone.

Alongside the development of the artwork, a reflective online diary will trace the project as it unfolds, gathering fragments of research, process, and a growing collection of images, sound and video.

To meet the artists and hear more about their approach to the work visit:
www.annaking.ie/ballaghaderreen-the-plots/public-art

This commission forms part of the wider Plots Town Park development, funded through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund in partnership with Roscommon County Council and Creative Places Ballaghaderreen, under Enabling the Potential of the Ballaghaderreen Plots.



Image 1. Photo by Joanna Hopkins
Image 2 - by Anna King

Creative Places Ballaghaderreen Ballaghaderreen May Fair Ballaghaderreen Women's Shed Page Ballaghaderreen Mens Shed Ballaghaderreen Community Art Group Ballaghaderreen Past and Present Roscommon County Council

14/09/2025

Meet the wonderful Margaret Garvey, whose act of saving the last cherry tree at Dillon House inspired 'The Cherry Blossom Tales' art project, created in collaboration with St Nathy's College students.

Explore our online art and heritage exhibition on my website and listen to an audio of Margaret’s passionate words at the opening of our event at the Ballaghaderreen Arts Festival

Click the link:
www.annaking.ie/the-cherry-blossom-tales/ladieslandleague

💛 Thank you Margaret, for your kindness, encouragement, and support throughout this project.

Funded by Creative Ireland Roscommon County Council

Photo: left Margaret Garvey, right Anna King.
Students: Meeko Yu, Sonya Radchenko.
Photos of Margaret and cherry tree taken by Eithne Gallagher Photos

Creative Places Ballaghaderreen Ballaghaderreen Past and Present Ballaghaderreen TownTeam

28/08/2025

Thank you Roscommon Herald for featuring our project. An online version of the student's paintings can be viewed at: https://www.annaking.ie/the-cherry.../ladieslandleague
Creative Places Ballaghaderreen Creative Ireland

Project seeks to shed light on her legacy

22/08/2025

First shown at the Ballaghaderreen Arts Festival, 'The Cherry Blossom Tales' exhibition is now available online.

Explore the story of Anne Deane, the Ladies’ Land League, and the incredible creativity of St. Nathy’s students, via the link below:

https://www.annaking.ie/the-cherry-blossom-tales/ladieslandleague

Photo featured: Anne Deane, oil painting, by Meeko Yu. Michael Davitt oil painting, by Sonya Radchenko.

Creative Places Ballaghaderreen Creative Ireland Ballaghaderreen Past and Present Ballaghaderreen Arts Festival Michael Davitt Museum Ballaghaderreen TownTeam Conor O'Connell Art

04/08/2025

After months of creative exploration inspired by the legacy of Ballaghaderreen’s Anne Deane and her involvement in the Ladies’ Land League, Anna King and students from St Nathy's College shared their work at the Ballaghaderreen Arts Festival

The Cherry Blossom Tales Exhibition & Presentation.

The idea for The Cherry Blossom Tales was sparked in 2024, when Margaret Garvey shared a story of how she had saved the last cherry tree in Dillon House from being cut down. That simple act of care, along with Margaret’s deep love for Ballaghaderreen’s hidden histories, planted the seed for this project. Fittingly, she opened the event with lively and moving stories about the town’s past, reminding us of the importance of place-based storytelling.

This Creative Ireland-supported collaboration gave the students an opportunity to share their creative work in a public exhibition for the very first time, and to stand proudly as young artists. The exhibition featured bold oil paintings, sensitively executed acrylic works, experimental pieces, photography, and thoughtful reflections.

A process video was also screened, showing the students performing a fictional tale written by Anna about a conversation between Anne Deane and Michael Davitt beneath the last cherry blossom tree in the garden of Dillon House.

Over the coming weeks, Anna will be sharing more of the students’ work, along with some of the historical narratives and creative insights explored throughout the project.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended. We were genuinely delighted with the large turnout!

Special thanks to all the students featured at the event:
Painters:
Brooke Coleman, Meeko Yu, Sonya Radchenko, Maya Villarojo Omaui & Leo Horan.
Video Performers: Henry Black, Brooke Coleman, Jack Cummins, Oisín Llewellyn & Aaron Fox. Musicians: Megan Walsh, Aisling Maloney, Luke Halvey
Thank you
Creative Ireland (Aine Butler) and Roscommon County Council (Rhona McGrath & Mary Smyth), St Nathy's College & Father Martin Henry; Conor O'Connell Art Margaret Garvey, Ballaghaderreen Arts Festival Michael Davitt Museum National Library of Ireland Creative Places Ballaghaderreen
Thank you Eithne Gallagher Photos for your pics.

26/07/2025

You are invited to 'The Cherry Blossom Tales' exhibition at the Ballaghaderreen Arts Festival!

Join us as we celebrate creativity, courage, and connection to place.

What happens when a story sparks a creative journey?

'The Cherry Blossom Tales' began with a story I wrote imagining a conversation between Anne Deane and Michael Davitt during the disbanding of the Ladies’ Land League.

From that seed grew something extraordinary, and I am delighted to share the imaginative responses created by students from St. Nathy’s College.

Our exhibition includes bold paintings, a process-based video created and edited by the students, and a series of photographs that trace the energy behind their creative process.

Join us for the unveiling of this collaborative work:

SAT, 2nd August | 2pm
Upstairs at Durkin’s Restaurant, Ballaghaderreen.

Be part of a moment where past and present entwine and creativity gives voice to forgotten histories.

Your presence will make the story complete. Book your FREE entry ticket via the link
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/ballaghaderreenartsfestival2025

Funded by Roscommon County Council Creative Ireland Programme 2025.

Thank you St Nathy's College
Conor O'Connell Art
Creative Places Ballaghaderreen Ballaghaderreen Arts Festival


Ballaghaderreen Past and Present Ballaghaderreen TownTeam