"A Grand Experience" as barge sets off on historic canal journey

Members of the public have been invited to participate in a public art project that will see a barge travel the Grand Canal from Shannon Harbour to Edenderry next month. The 68 metre historic Lora Marie barge will be recorded on its journey for a film documentary to be called "A Grand Experience" and members of the public are invited to visit it at a number of locations and dates. Passengers on board for the trip will include well known playwright and Pule Mure writer Eugene O'Brien from Edenderry, singer songwriter Wayne Brennan from Daingean and photographer and installation artist Veronica Nicholson from Rhode. "A Grand Experience" by Martina McGlynn and Garret Daly of Mixed Bag Media in Daingean will follow the exploration of the three on-board artists as they embark on a journey to engage in their own artistic response to the canal they navigate. The project will see them exploring the fields the canal touches, the lives it encourages and the inspiration it creates. The canal journey is one of three being funded by Offaly County Council under the percent for art scheme. All projects are aimed at placing a national spotlight on the Grand Canal in Offaly as a cultural corridor. The film documentary being made as part of the barge journey is planned for release later this year. Members of the public including community groups and school children have been invited to visit the Lora Marie for a cup of tea, a chat or even just to wave at the following locations and dates. Monday, March 19: Shannon Harbour 10am - 4pm, arrive Belmont at 6pm Tuesday, March 20: Depart Belmont 10am, arrive Pullough 3pm Wednesday, March 21: Rahan from 10am until 2pm, arrive Tullamore at 5pm Thursday, March 22: Tullamore until 1pm, arrive Ballycommon 6.30pm Friday, March 23: Arrive Daingean 11.30am Saturday, March 24: Arrive Edenderry 3pm Organisers behind "A Grand Experience" would love to hear from you if you feel there's a member of the Grand Canal community they really should meet along the way. They can be reached on email at info@mixedbagmedia.com or on Facebook by visiting the page "A Grand Experience".