ÉIST

Éist! is a project about story-telling in the Irish language, delivered in partnership with writer/facilitator Alison Ní Mháirtín across five libraries in Wexford in summer 2025: Wexford Central Library, Gorey Library, Enniscorthy Library, New Ross Library, and Bunclody Library. The project features an audio installation of small tents for children, each containing headphones enabling library visitors to experience Irish and Irish/English audio stories written and performed by artists in Ireland. The installation was attended by an estimated 1200 children. In addition to this, a bilingual Irish-language workshop was held in each library. The workshops invite young people to contribute to a brand-new Irish-language audio story inspired by their favourite Irish words. This story, Lá ar an Trá, was released at the end of the summer and shared with young people in Wexford via radio and through three more listening party workshops in libraries. You can listen to it for free now.

During the summer, lots of families attend libraries regularly, both for events and just for books. Past incarnations of this installation have demonstrated the appeal of the tents- young people love to sit in them, and are delighted to listen to the stories. We present a mix of stories fully in Irish and bilingual stories in Irish and English.

Through these activities, the project engaged with local young people and their families throughout county Wexford, encouraging them to listen to Irish-language stories, attend workshops in Irish, and even write their own stories in Irish. This is essential in order to shift their view of Irish from an enforced school subject to a medium of creativity and fun. The focus is not on ‘getting it right’, but rather on getting involved.

Thanks to Wexford County Council, the Glens Arts Centre and Wexford Libraries for their support.