Ella De Burca

Working through performance, sculpture and writing she will spend time at Milford House developing a new work that explores the local histories of womanhood specifically in relation to the Civil War era. She will to research the legacy of this historic house and to talk to experts who can illuminate to me the condition of life for women in Tipperary during the early 1920’s. This research will then be filtered and reflected up, feeding into a performance that speaks to the history and legacy of the area as well as continuing the ark of her practice.

This project will be shaped by the research made on site and through local libraries and via reaching out to elders in the community who may remember their parents speaking about life at that time

I have been researching songs that are from this period changing some of the words in the songs but staying true to the melody. I will use a loop pedal to add harmony and dischords. I plan to create a soundscape that incorporates whispers and cries, responding aurally to the site of Milford house where the piece is based. Different women from different backgrounds who had important and not-important roles during the civil war era will be referenced. 

I have been painting areas in Milford house where I imagine women held secret conversations, for example the fireplace, the sink, the stairs. I plan to incorporate these life size paintings into the performance as a backdrop. 

I am communicating with the Nenagh historical society to collaborate, and to invite contributions/talks about women of Tipperary during this era on the evening of the final performance. 

This project is funded by a Tipperary Council Decade of Centeneries grant