Field recordings with creative micro-businesses exploring sustainability and regenerative design.
Recorded in spaces and places on Rathlin Island including the Manor House Rathlin and the Rathlin Co-operative.
We pop into Rathlin Co-operative, the shop that has everything including a range of creative objects made by Rathlin islanders and friends of the island. Aoife runs the shop and we join her as she works and chats and tells us about life on the island, younger and older creative entrepreneurs and what it's like to run a business on a small island.
We speak with Oscar and his mum, university course director Jessica on what it's like living away from the mainland and working remotely, the joys of play and discoveries on the island and about childhood on Rathlin.
Creatives and craftswomen Donna and Penny have both moved to this island for different reasons, travelling here from the USA and New Zealand. For Donna, she has found deep connection and meaning to the land of her ancestors and the peaceful stillness of Rathlin at night and Penny found a community on the island that looks after each other through the sunshine and the - literal - storms. Donna sews beautiful quilts and soft furnishings with finesse and Penny explores metals, stones and the natural environment to create unique jewellery pieces imbued with meaning.
With special thanks to:
Tania McFaul and Rauri Morgan who connected me with all the amazing guests on the Rathlin episodes. They have recently launched the Rathlin 360 website to celebrate the people and businesses of Rathlin.
The Manor House Rathlin, where we had meals, teas and great conversations.
Dr. Pamela Whitaker, MSc Art Psychotherapy Lecturer at Belfast School of Art and Design Fellow, Future Island-Island.
Rathlin Part One: Ancestral / Retreat
Rathlin Part Two: Wild / Life
Recorded in spaces and places on Rathlin Island including a ferry shelter, the Branson Centre and the West Light Seabird Centre.
The episode opens with a reading by children’s book author and illustrator Paddy Donnelly and creator of the book “The Golden Hare.”
The first conversation features Tom McDonnell, a Rathlin-based wildlife photographer whose passion for capturing photos of creatures great and small has taken him all over the world, from Alaska to Finland and his passion for visiting wild landscapes.
We hear the bustling sound of a workshop in the Branson Centre led by Alison Gault and Anna Duffy on creating small wall hangings made from naturally dyed Rathlin wool and a special guest - Rathlin’s Marianne Green - sharing the story of Rathlin Wool and her collaborative work with Lynn Finnegan. We travel to Rathlin’s West Lighthouse and hear how Johnny Mitchell from Picture Perfect Rathlin manages to highlight the creatures we would normally ignore.
With special thanks to:
Dr. Pamela Whitaker, MSc Art Psychotherapy Lecturer at Belfast School of Art and Design Fellow, Future Island-Island.
Additional thanks for the retreat goes to:
Nikki Isles, Tania McFaul and Rauri Morgan of RSPB who were key supporters and organisers of the craft retreat and helped connect us with the podcast guests. They have recently launched the Rathlin 360 website to celebrate the people and businesses of Rathlin.
Katherine McDonald, Director of Craft NI who provided training and mentoring to participants in the craft package.
Dr. Susann Power, Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality from the Ulster University Business School.
Last, but by no means least, my deepest gratitude goes to Gillian Colhoun, Strategic Business Development Manager at Future Island-Island (Ulster University), Founder of Kindlings and my Co-Investigator on the FI-I Design Fellowship for her thoughts, inspiration, ideas, words and the wonderful conversations we have had throughout this project.