déirdre ní mhathúna

I’m a sculpture graduate, a singer and a Gael making work that spans art genres and disciplines, but is always rooted in my Gaelic culture. This foundation naturally leads to a conversational practice and often sparks a dynamic creative dialogue whether through English, Scottish Gaelic or my native Irish.
I often collaborate with artists of other disciplines. Projects over the years have included arts-in-health and wellbeing, such as young people’s transitions between primary and secondary education or a 26-week programme in a long-stay hospital with people with dementia. Since 2006 and through the vehicle of several collaborative projects, I've been exploring the Caoineadh, a traditional Gaelic practice of mourning which was almost exclusively the domain of women. Following that, my current research is focused on three Scottish Gaelic women poets from the 1400s to the 1800s whose rich style and inspiration show remarkable continuity through very different ages. By its nature, the output of this work is performative and vocal.
The Psalmboat Project/Pròiseact Bàta nan Salm has been a major part of my engaged practice (2007-2022), culminating in “Calman nan Loch/The Dove of Lochs“, the award-winning 30m documentary film (2022) which charts my 15 year collaboration with a very traditional Gaelic-speaking community in the Isle of Lewis. Featuring the Gaelic psalms sung at sea, traditional sailing and a deep dive into cultural and faith history in the Lochs area of the Isle of Lewis, the film illuminates an often hidden world, as perceived through my