Memory of a Free Festival at Ormston House Revisits Ireland's Carnsore Anti-Nuclear Protests
Memory of a Free Festival, curated by Pádraic E. Moore, is on display at Ormston House in Limerick from 17 April to 20 June. This exhibition presents commissioned pieces and archival materials related to the Carnsore folk festivals held between 1979 and 1981, which opposed a proposed nuclear facility. Among the artists showcased are Brian Duggan, who presents wall-mounted cut-slate 'plates' and a documentary, Alanna O'Kelly with her photographic diptych Breath (1983/2026), Orla Barry's two-channel video KODAK MOON (2026), and Cóilín O'Connell's photographic series on the aftermath of megalithic sites. Archival footage from 1978 includes German antinuclear activist Petra Kelly. The exhibition emphasizes the power of solidarity through speech and performance and will be featured in ArtReview's September 2026 issue.
Key facts
- Memory of a Free Festival runs 17 April – 20 June at Ormston House, Limerick
- The exhibition is curated by Pádraic E. Moore
- The Carnsore folk festivals took place between 1979 and 1981
- Protesters opposed a planned nuclear plant on Ireland's southeast coast
- Four artists are featured, with the list amending as the show tours venues
- Alanna O'Kelly participated in 'Sounds Around the Base' at Greenham Common in 1983, joined by up to 50,000 women
- Orla Barry's KODAK MOON (2026) features original music by composer Paul Bradley
- Cóilín O'Connell's photographs were selected from an open call
- Archival 1978 footage shows Petra Kelly, a founding member of the German Green Party with Joseph Beuys
- The show is covered in ArtReview's September 2026 issue
Entities
Artists
- Pádraic E. Moore
- Brian Duggan
- Alanna O'Kelly
- Orla Barry
- Cóilín O'Connell
- Petra Kelly
- Joseph Beuys
- Paul Bradley
- Jed Niezgoda
- Declan Long
Institutions
- Ormston House
- ArtReview
- Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
- German Green Party
- Greenham Common
Locations
- Limerick
- Ireland
- Carnsore
- Greenham Common
- Belfast
- Germany