Between Two Thresholds is an art and storytelling research project by Cúan Cusack that illuminates Waterford’s darker history of fairies, rituals and how to ward off bad luck.
The project explores piseógs—supernatural beliefs surrounding luck, death and food. Often rooted in pre-Christian rituals. Piseógs were once central to life in rural communities they revealing much about poverty, subsistence farming and the culture of the time. The common belief in piseógs mostly died out in the 1940s, although some rural communities and older generations still carry out some of the rituals “just in case”. This event is an opportunity to hear stories from John Daily and Cúan Cusack and Hog & Dice about the lived experiences of piseógs, research findings from the project and seanachaí tales from our oral tradition. The project invites audiences to cross the threshold into a past alien to us today and hear about how to drive bad luck from your door and not draw the attention of the “good people”.
Piseóg from Grange co. Waterford
Cáit was an old woman; she was married to a farmer. One morning, she went out to the field under the cowshed to check on the cattle. She saw a strange man in the field; he had only one hand. He was hitting one of the cows with a quare stick. When he hit the cow, it turned into a sheep. Cáit ran in to tell her husband about what was happening, and when they went back to the field, there were no cows left, only sheep.
Cúan Cusack is a community-engaged artist and designer. They create through the mediums of drawing, community organising, printmaking, writing, and sound. They focus on themes of solidarity and metamorphosis. Inspired by DIY culture, history and our relationship with nature. Cúan’s praxis is a vehicle for collective action. They are currently a master’s student in NCAD studying Art and Social Action. Their work has been exhibited nationally and internationally at IP12 Chania—Breaking the Patterns Exhibition, Waterford Gallery of Art—Bodies exhibition, Smock Alley Theatre—Pride in Print, Gallery of Modern Art Waterford—Poster project exhibition and Aegis performance. Cúan has been an artist in residence at Butler Gallery, Kilkenny and Garter Lane Arts Centre.
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