“Unheard by Most: Soundscapes of Incarceration in Irish Prisons”

This FUAIM lecture provides an overview of PRISONS OF NOTE, a four-year research project that employs mixed-methods to investigate the multifaceted role of music within the penal systems of Norway, Iceland, and Ireland. One of the primary aims of this research is to contribute new, interdisciplinary knowledge on how music is used and is useful in prisons from a peripheral perspective, shifting from isolated, single-nation case studies to interconnected, transcultural experiences. This lecture offers a critical reflection on this research project in progress, underscoring both the unforeseen challenges and the innovative opportunities encountered during the research process.

Issue 28 - Moving Beyond the (De)Colonial Container: The Work of Film Festivals

Edited by Estrella Sendra and Sheila Petty

Contemporary jazz quintet

A successor to the celebrated ensemble, CEO Experiment, the band co-led by pianist Leopoldo Osio that brought a refreshing new voice to the Irish music scene nearly a decade ago and collaborated with influential American guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel at the peak of their work, Next Experiment is an impressive ensemble of musicians from around the world gathered by pianist and composer Leopoldo Osio – featuring his long-time collaborator, Irish-based bassist Peter Erdei from Hungary, Argentinian saxophonist Gianni Gagliardi, Spanish drummer Gonzalo del Val, and the exceptionally-talented Cork-based trombonist Paul Dunlea.

The First Frame initiative brings together students from over 50 film courses, universities, and further education institutions from around Ireland to view a curated selection of student films in competition.  

Title: “Dordán”

In 2012, Quiet Music Ensemble commissioned a work from one of Ireland’s most radical contemporary composers, Jennifer Walshe. The resulting piece, Dordán, was premiered at Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival 2013. In 2022, QME recorded the piece and commissioned renowned Irish experimental film maker Maximilian Le Cain to create a film version. This was not to be a documentation of a performance, but an artwork in its own right: the film was released by Diatribe Recordings in November 2024. In this Seminar, John Godfrey, artistic director of QME, and Maximilian Le Cain discuss the ensemble for which the piece was composed, the composition and the film.

In asscoiation with Trad Fest 2025, Fuaim is delighted to present Eithne Ní Chatháin

Eithne Ní Chatháin (Inni-K)’s music draws on her extensive background in sean-nós and traditional music, even as she ventures into new musical territories.  She is a singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, songwriter and teacher.

Dr. Síle Denvir, renowned singer, harpist, and scholar, will deliver this year’s Seán Ó Riada Memorial Lecture at UCC. A lecturer in Irish at Dublin City University, Síle’s work bridges the worlds of traditional music, language, and culture. A native of Conamara and founding member of the acclaimed group Líadan, she is celebrated for her contributions to Irish traditional music and her insightful scholarship. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of Ireland’s leading cultural voices.

This talk explores the documentary medium as a form of scientific enquiry, examining its potential to uncover overlooked urban ecologies and advocate for ecological renewal and protection.

Please join us for a conversation with the director of the film Sinéad O’Shea and Dr Maureen O’Connor, expert on the life and work of Edna O’Brien.

WHERE AND WHEN:

14:00–15:30 on February 11, in the Film & Screen Media Auditorium, Kane Building Basement [B10.B]

“an unnecessary stain on silence”

Founded in 2024, entr’acte comprises four of Cork city's most exciting artists: John Godfrey (musician, UCC Department of Music, Quiet Music Ensemble, Icebreaker, Crash Ensemble), Irene Murphy (Sound Artist, Strange Attractor, Domestic Godless, Cork Artists Collective, The Guesthouse), Mick O’ Shea (Sound Artist, Quiet Club, Strange Attractor, Domestic Godless, The Guesthouse) and Karen Power (composer/sound artist, creative field recordist, DAAD award winner, Natural Creators).