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Doireann Ní GhroighairDeclaration of the State Metropolis at Tara
UCD College of Engineering and Architecture
Doireann Ní Ghroighair's sculptural work takes its lead from monumental architecture in contemporary European cities. Through examining the materiality, form and aesthetics of these buildings, her work aims to probe at the psychological and physical consequences of this architecture for the individual in the city.
Declaration of the State Metropolis at Tara
presents a dystopian vision interrogating notions of Irishness and national identity based on Daithí O'Hainle's, 1940's plans for a new totalitarian Christian capital city on the Hill of Tara.
Ailtirí na hAiséirghe (Architects of the Resurrection) were an Irish fascist political party active in the 1940’s They envisioned a united Ireland where emigration as well as the speaking of the English language would be banned. Highly conservative and religious, they also saw women’s role as to produce as many offspring as possible in order to form a large army and imagine Ireland rising as a supreme leading nation after all other countries be decimated after World War II.
“Maoidheamh ar Árd-Cathair Stáit I dTeamhair” (Declaration of the State Metropolis at Tara) by the architect Daithí Ó hÁinle appeared in one of their regularly published periodicals and included “Speer-esque” urban planning and buildings such as a “National Avenue”, a stadium, “A Garden of Heroes” and a “Column of the Resurrection”. Later in his career, Ó hÁinle would progress on to be an architect for Dublin City Council, as well as designing the Garden of Remembrance and the Basilica at Knock.
The exhibition Declaration of the State Metropolis at Tara
was held at Pallas Projects, Dublin in 2019. Read an interview with Doireann Ní Ghroighair about the exhibition, published in The Dublin InQuirer.
3D printing completed using facilities at UCD College of Engineering and Architecture. A very special thank you to John Ryan from UCD School of Civil Engineering for his kind assistance.
Doireann talks about her work and plans for the residency at UCD which led to Declaration of the State Metropolis at Tara.
Biography:
Doireann Ní Ghrioghair (b. 1983) graduated with an MA in Fine Art from Chelsea College of Art & Design, London in 2010. She completed a long-term residency at Fire Station Artist Studios, Dublin from 2014-17. Solo exhibitions of her work have been held at MART Gallery, Dublin (2017); Platform Arts, Belfast (2017) & Eight Gallery, Dublin (2016) Notable group exhibitions include Urgencies, CCA Derry-Londerry (2019); Klimaweschel – MKH Biennale, Germany (2018); Fatal Attraction, Thames Side Gallery, London (2018); We Only Want The Earth, Adobe Backroom Gallery, San Francisco (2018); TULCA -The Headless City curated by Daniel Jewesbury (2016); After the Future, Eva Biennial (2012) curated by Annie Fletcher, Limerick. She was selected four times to exhibit at Creekside Open, APT Gallery, London (2017,2015, 2013 & 2011 curated by Alison Wilding, Lisa Milroy, Ceri Hand and Phyllida Barlow respectively). She recently completed a residency in the School of Architecture & Engineering, UCD as part of Parity Studios.