Artists turn to Dublin’s forests to explore community benefits and climate impacts

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Creative Ireland dlr and Dublin Mountains Partnership announce new forest-based art commissions

For the past few months, three professional artists have been developing new work that creatively responds to the public forests of the Dublin Mountains, while also exploring the impacts of the climate crisis on these ecosystems.

Commissioned under the ‘Nature and Place’ initiative and funded by Creative Ireland dlr, the Dublin Mountains Partnership, and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, details of the artworks were announced by the project partners today (18.02.26). 

In developing their work, the artists have spent time in the forests of Ticknock, Tibradden, Barnaslingan, Carrickgollogan, Kilmashogue and Ballyedmonduff, speaking with people who use them every day – walkers, runners, mountain bikers, horse riders and families – about what draws them to these landscapes and what the forests mean to them. To ground their work in environmental context, the artists have also met with foresters and other environmental experts.

The resulting artworks are:

‘Forest Songs’ by the artist duo Cracking Light Productions, comprised of Maeve Stone and Alex Gill, which presents three love songs to the Dublin forests, created in collaboration with award-winning composer Tom Lane, alongside accompanying videos. The lyrics and melodies of each song are built from interviews with forest users, exploring their motivation to spend time in the forests, what it changes in them, and what they feel needs to be protected for the future. The accompanying videos feature macro photography of forest life, from the species inhabiting the forest floor to the sky, capturing the rhythms of the landscape.

Visual artist Louis Haugh’s multimedia work ‘Shared Terrain’, which invited forest users to actively contribute to the creation of a video work and accompanying artist book. Participants were asked to pose a question to the forest, as a way of remembering and celebrating Ireland’s deep spiritual connection to trees and woodland. These questions form the audio track of the video and appear throughout the artist book as text overlays. The project combines public participation, visual storytelling and environmental research, and includes contributions from climate and forestry experts.

Speaking about ‘Forest Songs’, Maeve Stone said: “We wanted to create work that uses real conversations to create music. When you use words from conversations to form lyrics, it forces you to listen in a new way. The restorative and healing power of spending time in nature was a common theme across many of our conversations, highlighting people’s instinctive desire to reconnect with it. We believe that, ultimately, this love for nature will help us to protect it. For those who regularly spend time in forests, we hope our songs will mirror their experience.” 

Louis Haugh added: “Ireland has an incredibly rich cultural history embedded in forests and trees, which we seem to be slipping away from. Against the backdrop of the ongoing climate crisis and misinformation, my work seeks to reawaken people’s love for our woodlands and the natural world. It invites people to notice both the beauty and social value of these places, as well as the erosion and damage caused by our changing climate, and to reflect on how we might respond as a community.”

Commenting on the commissions, Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Jim Gildea said: “Our public forests are among the most valuable shared spaces in the County, supporting biodiversity, recreation and wellbeing. The ‘Nature and Place’ initiative demonstrates how the arts can help people connect more deeply with these environments and reflect on the challenges they face in a changing climate. We are delighted to support these artists and to see the conversations and creativity that have emerged through this programme.”

Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Frank Curran added: “These commissions reflect the Council’s ongoing commitment to climate action, community engagement and the protection of our natural heritage. Building on the success of the first ‘Nature and Place’ projects, this new round brings together artists, forest users and environmental experts to create meaningful opportunities for people to consider how we care for and use our shared landscapes, now and into the future.”

Chair of the Dublin Mountains Partnership, Suzanne Furlong said: “The Dublin Mountains are a living, shared landscape that supports both biodiversity and recreation. At the Dublin Mountains Partnership, we are committed to protecting these environments while supporting sustainable outdoor recreation. ‘Nature and Place’ shows how creative engagement can encourage people to reflect on how we enjoy these spaces, while also caring for and protecting them. By bringing together artists, forest users and environmental expertise, this initiative reflects our commitment to a more responsible relationship with the mountains.”

The official launch of the ‘Nature and Place’ art commissions will take place during National Tree Week, with a public event hosted by dlr Arts Office and the Dublin Mountains Partnership in Ticknock Forest at 11am on Sunday, 8th March 2026.

From that date, the artworks will be accessible to forest visitors via signs with QR codes installed at selected locations in the forests. They will also be available online via the dlr Arts Office website.

Further information is available at dlrcoco.ie/arts/visual-arts-and-film/nature-and-place-commissions.

ENDS

Contact: Sebastian Enke, Enkom PR, Tel: 087-3239496 / Email: media@enkom.ie