‘Grianstad’Throughout this collection I explored the Irish Celtic pagan festivals and the historic ritual sites where stories of ‘The Otherworld’ come from. I blended themes of ancestry, ritual, and culture with the work of Irish sculptor Joseph Walsh whose contemporary pieces are streamlined and largescale. Comparing and integrating these sculptures to the Megalithic stonework art, such as stone circles and dolmens, establish monumental, structured shapes. The garments created within my collection are fitted with sculptural silhouettes. I have adorned these pieces with textural designs such as a built-up sculpture inspired by a ram’s skull, or line drawings which were reactionary to Drombeg Stone Circle in Glandore, Co. Cork which then were digitised, and 3D printed.‘The Otherworld’ in Irish folklore is where deities and fairies (An t-Aos Sí) dwell, making it is a key component within Irish Mythology. It is said that the colour red represents An t-Aos Sí in these folktales and that is why red is one of the two main colours I used in this collection. Taking inspiration from these ancient rituals and ritual sites has led me to create a collection which is a personal interpretation of my own contemporary Celticism.
