Carlow Arts Festival

Name: Carlow Arts Festival
Start: 2026-05-30
End: 2026-06-01
Location: Carlow

The Carlow Arts Festival features the full production of "Mourning is a Muscle," a multidisciplinary work by artist Barry Fitzgerald. Running from May 30 to June 1, the event combines live performance with an installation to explore masculinity, queerness, and grief. The project uses ritual, music, and shared activities to examine how memory and loss manifest in daily life.

Date: May 30 - Jun 1, 2026
Location: Carlow

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Event summary

Highlights

Mourning is a Muscle multidisciplinary performance
Interactive installation featuring personal objects and music
Thematic exploration of grief and masculinity
Ritual tea-drinking and communal reflection space

Carlow Arts Festival presents "Mourning is a Muscle," a personal project by artist Barry Fitzgerald that blends performance art with a physical installation. The work originated from letters Fitzgerald wrote to his late father and explores the intersections of family, home, and identity. This production marks the full version of the piece following a work-in-progress showing at the 2024 festival, supported by VISUAL and the Carlow Arts Office.

The event is designed as a shared experience where attendees can move through the space together. It incorporates diverse cultural references, including line dancing, lip-syncing, and music from Neil Diamond and Annie Lennox. The artistic presentation shifts between various tones to reflect the nature of memory, using denim and "camp" aesthetics alongside more somber themes of mourning.

In addition to scheduled performances, the site functions as an installation where visitors can view objects, listen to music, and engage in the ritual of drinking tea. The work is deeply rooted in the Carlow landscape and aims to demonstrate that mourning rituals can be found in small, everyday actions rather than just formal ceremonies.

Practical details

Before attending

Check the sources below for current opening times, admission prices and registration requirements. A date range does not mean the event runs continuously or that admission is free.