August 2026

The ‘rambling house’, once common in rural Ireland, often refers to an activity rather than a place – people dropping in and entertaining each other with stories; some old, some new, some made up and some told in song. Long before our history books and hourly news bulletins, the stories of our past were passed on in the spoken word, no doubt accompanied by a healthy dose of gossip.

While lost for a time with societal change, the enjoyment and wider benefits of belonging to a community that gathers and spends time together are again being realised and explored by groups such as Birr Men Together. This project proposes to create a short visual project that explores the tradition of the Irish rambling house, bringing together community voices, historical memory, and contemporary artistic practice.

Led by Birr Men Together in collaboration with local artists Hazel Greene and Christor, the project documents memories of the rambling house while re-imagining it in a modern context through a recorded ‘rambling house’ session. As few photographic records exist, most of this heritage survives through oral history. This project seeks to preserve those memories while creating a visually rich, accessible artwork that connects past and present.

Supported by Offaly County Council under the Creative Ireland Community Grant Programme 2026–2027