PhD Research

What is my research?

I am currently a PhD research candidate at the South East Technological University in the Ireland, funded by the South East Regional Development fund and co-supervised by Dr Tony Woodcock and Dr Ciara Healy. My research investigates the value that creative practitioners (artists) can add to the agri-foods sector in Ireland at a time of ecological and climate crisis.

Q: How Cross-disciplinary collaboration between the visual arts and agricultural industries can help create a more sustainable future in a time of climate change?

Case Study:

Deirdre O’Mahony is one of my case studies for this research. Her practice is invested in working with multiple-stakeholders of rural agricultural landscapes where she engages specialists from all fields in co-created and collaborative work. One of Deirdre’s most recent pieces of work, MODEL PLOT, is an example.

MODEL PLOT, a collaborative sculptural planting by artist Deirdre O’Mahony and The Loy Association of Ireland commissioned as part of Field Exchange at Brookfield Farm, County Tipperary through the Creative Climate Action fund, an initiative from the Creative Ireland Programme in collaboration with the Irish Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Photograph Brendan Keogh, courtesy Deirdre O’Mahony, 2022.

Deirdre mediates discussions and conversations where the art is often the generative vehicle to bring stakeholders together. The notion of trans-disciplinarity is therefore key to the success of Deirdre’s research-led practice, and one that is adopted by many other Irish artists working in this field.

My research investigates the value and importance of creative practitioners (artists) whose practices are engaged in rural agricultural discourses in Ireland. Peripheral questions I am considering include: How does an artist have an impact on the agri-foods sector? Why is this research necessary and suited to Ireland? What value can creative practitioners add to the agri-foods sector?

Culturally, Irish people have a very acute understanding and close relationship with rural agricultural landscapes. In talking with Irish people, many have a tangible connection to the land, often through a family link. The cultural significance of this is unparalleled in Western Europe in my view. Therefore, Ireland is pre-disposed to respect and work with the land. For me, doing this research, I believe that Ireland already has the foundations laid to become a leading exemplary model of what 21st Century agriculture could be: An agricultural model of practice which makes conscious and carefully targeted minimal use of artificial inputs whilst responsive to individual local landscapes, animals and people.