Up on the Greenfort

A film project  based on collected interviews with local residents, community groups and historians about the Greenfort in Sligo.

Artist Grace Weir became interested in local people's thoughts about the ancient archaeological site, the Greenfort. She comments:

"There is a certain mystery about the site, it has always been a bit inaccessible or seeming remote but I think there exists the idea that it is a place of importance without always knowing why. It has become a place where people's imaginations are loosened and different stories unfold across its grassy height."

The Greenfort was an ancient site of strategic importance for the defence of Sligo. Perched above the town, it affords a clear view across the surrounding landscape, both North towards Ben Bulben, and South from Sligo Bay to Knocknarea and the Ox mountains beyond. After the Battle of the Boyne William of Orange's armies spread west, and with the fall of the Greenfort the soldiers fled to France. This became known as the Flight of the Wild Geese. Now overgrown and a bit inaccessible, it retains an air of mystery.

The film captures beautifully not only the panoramic views from the vantage point of the Greenfort, but people's personal recollections of a place for the imagination.

Grace Weir studied at the National College of Art and Design and at Trinity College Dublin, where she won an award for her Masters in Multi-Media graduation project. She co-represented Ireland at the 49th International Venice Biennale in 2001 with her video installation Around Now. She has exhibited widely both nationally and internationally in the UK, Australia, Denmark, France, Hong Kong and the USA. Other commissions include an interactive work Little Bang by the Nordic Institute of Contemporary Art (NIFCA) in Helsinki, Finland, two film works Dust Defying Gravity and Bending Space Time in the Basement by Cornerhouse in Manchester UK and Sight Unseen by Breaking Ground in Ballymun, Dublin. In May 2005 she was elected a member of Aosdana. Her work is held in many collections including the Irish Museum of Modern Art.

Local people interviewed and volunteered to help with filming, loaning horses etc.