AT THE 1916 MEMORIAL GARDEN IN BLACKROCK PARK
DANNY MAC CARTHY’S CUT OUT PEOPLE SCULPTURE [AT THE 1916 MEMORIAL GARDEN IN BLACKROCK PARK]
The carpark at Phoenix Terrace caters for 18 cars. It features an entry and an exit gate. These gates feature similar imposing granite piers and substantial original metalwork to the entrance at Elm Cliff. Access paths from the carpark lead to a 1916 memorial garden and towards the eastern side of the park to the cycle/walking route that parallels the railway line.
Danny McCarthy: A Pioneer of Sound and Performance Art in Ireland
Danny McCarthy is a leading figure in Irish sound and performance art. A founding director of Cork's Triskel Arts Centre and the National Sculpture Factory, and a director of Cobh's Sirius Arts Centre, McCarthy's influence on the Irish arts scene is considerable. This article explores his career, focusing on his "Cut Out People Sculpture" in Blackrock Park’s 1916 Memorial Garden, and his involvement with key arts organisations and projects.
Born in Mallow, McCarthy spent his formative years in Huntington Beach, California, before returning to Ireland to study at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin. His diverse artistic practice encompasses sound art, performance, installations, and curatorial projects. He innovatively uses sound, incorporating acoustics, electronics, and environmental elements, creating work described as both engaging and challenging. His painting style often features shaped canvases, such as rainbows or clouds, depicting human figures in playful departures from traditional representation.
McCarthy’s influence extends to arts education. He lectures in sound art and listening on the MA in Experimental Sound Practice at University College Cork's Music Department and is a visiting lecturer and workshop facilitator at other institutions. Further insights into his sound art are available in the book and CD LISTEN HEAR (Farpoint Recordings), and his exhibition/installation The Memory (Box) Room was shown at London’s Soundfjord Gallery and Cork’s Guesthouse. The Crawford Art Gallery commissioned his exhibition Beyond Silence: A Bell Rings in an Empty Sky, further cementing his reputation. Collaborations include the live sound performance Wa(l)king The Dream with Viv Corringham at the Sirius Arts Centre, where he also created the installation Sounding The Town.
The “Cut Out People Sculpture”, located in Blackrock Park’s 1916 Memorial Garden, commemorates the centenary of the Easter Rising. The garden, opened on 24 April 2016 by Councillor Barry Saul, features a bronze replica of the 1916 Proclamation. While details about the sculpture's materials and dimensions are unavailable, its presence in this commemorative space adds a layer of artistic commentary, prompting reflection on individual experiences within historical events. The “cut out” figures may symbolise the fragmentation and loss of conflict, alongside the resilience of the Irish spirit. The garden’s creation was supported by a Dublin City Council 1916 Commemoration Fund grant, facilitating historical research and public engagement. The garden is also associated with Number 40 Herbert Park, the home of 1916 Rising figure The O’Rahilly.
McCarthy’s involvement with key arts organisations is extensive:
National Sculpture Factory (NSF), Cork: As a founding director, McCarthy has been instrumental in providing studio space, technical support, training, and resources for large-scale artworks. The NSF supports artists through residencies, lectures, cultural exchanges, and workshops. Current programmes include Simon Kidd's Factory Fragments (26 November 2024 – 26 November 2025), TEK to Tech; Ancient Bronze Casting Workshop (6-20 July 2024), and Material Laboratories: Metal Fest (1-5 October 2024).
Triskel Arts Centre, Cork: Another founding directorship for McCarthy, this multidisciplinary arts centre, housed in a refurbished Georgian church, hosts diverse events, including music, cinema, visual art, and literary events. Current film screenings include Chasing the Light, Small Things Like These, Naked Lunch, All We Imagine As Light, Howards End, Queer, Maurice, and Heat and Dust. Triskel also has a partnership with the Cork Traveller Women's Network (CTWN).
Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh: McCarthy is a director of this multidisciplinary organisation, housed in the former Royal Cork Yacht Club. It hosts exhibitions, concerts, performances, workshops, and residencies. Named after the SS Sirius, the first steamship to cross the Atlantic from Cobh to New York, it fosters cultural exchange. Current exhibitions include Alice Rekab: Clann Miotlantach / Mythlantics (23 November 2024 – 8 March 2025).
McCarthy has also been involved in several other notable projects:
Sound Out: Co-curated with sound artist and writer David Toop, this project explores sound and listening in various contexts.
Sonic Vigil: As a director, McCarthy has been central to this annual improvisation marathon in Cork, often co-curated with Mick O'Shea (with whom he founded the Quiet Music Ensemble). Sonic Vigil has included events at St Fin Barre's Cathedral and the Drunk Pig Cafe, featuring the Irish premiere of Daniel Weintraub’s Pauline Oliveros documentary Deep Listening and Andrew Deutsch’s short film Memory Echo.
Just Listen: This seminar and installation series focuses on the art of listening and exploring sound in everyday life, featuring performances by artists such as David Toop, The Quiet Club, Pauline Oliveros, and John Godfrey.
These diverse activities demonstrate McCarthy’s significant contribution to the Irish arts landscape.
The carpark at Phoenix Terrace caters for 18 cars. It features an entry and an exit gate. These gates feature similar imposing granite piers and substantial original metalwork to the entrance at Elm Cliff. Access paths from the carpark lead to a 1916 memorial garden and towards the eastern side of the park to the cycle/walking route that parallels the railway line.
Danny McCarthy: A Pioneer of Sound and Performance Art in Ireland
Danny McCarthy is a leading figure in Irish sound and performance art. A founding director of Cork's Triskel Arts Centre and the National Sculpture Factory, and a director of Cobh's Sirius Arts Centre, McCarthy's influence on the Irish arts scene is considerable. This article explores his career, focusing on his "Cut Out People Sculpture" in Blackrock Park’s 1916 Memorial Garden, and his involvement with key arts organisations and projects.
Born in Mallow, McCarthy spent his formative years in Huntington Beach, California, before returning to Ireland to study at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin. His diverse artistic practice encompasses sound art, performance, installations, and curatorial projects. He innovatively uses sound, incorporating acoustics, electronics, and environmental elements, creating work described as both engaging and challenging. His painting style often features shaped canvases, such as rainbows or clouds, depicting human figures in playful departures from traditional representation.
McCarthy’s influence extends to arts education. He lectures in sound art and listening on the MA in Experimental Sound Practice at University College Cork's Music Department and is a visiting lecturer and workshop facilitator at other institutions. Further insights into his sound art are available in the book and CD LISTEN HEAR (Farpoint Recordings), and his exhibition/installation The Memory (Box) Room was shown at London’s Soundfjord Gallery and Cork’s Guesthouse. The Crawford Art Gallery commissioned his exhibition Beyond Silence: A Bell Rings in an Empty Sky, further cementing his reputation. Collaborations include the live sound performance Wa(l)king The Dream with Viv Corringham at the Sirius Arts Centre, where he also created the installation Sounding The Town.
The “Cut Out People Sculpture”, located in Blackrock Park’s 1916 Memorial Garden, commemorates the centenary of the Easter Rising. The garden, opened on 24 April 2016 by Councillor Barry Saul, features a bronze replica of the 1916 Proclamation. While details about the sculpture's materials and dimensions are unavailable, its presence in this commemorative space adds a layer of artistic commentary, prompting reflection on individual experiences within historical events. The “cut out” figures may symbolise the fragmentation and loss of conflict, alongside the resilience of the Irish spirit. The garden’s creation was supported by a Dublin City Council 1916 Commemoration Fund grant, facilitating historical research and public engagement. The garden is also associated with Number 40 Herbert Park, the home of 1916 Rising figure The O’Rahilly.
McCarthy’s involvement with key arts organisations is extensive:
National Sculpture Factory (NSF), Cork: As a founding director, McCarthy has been instrumental in providing studio space, technical support, training, and resources for large-scale artworks. The NSF supports artists through residencies, lectures, cultural exchanges, and workshops. Current programmes include Simon Kidd's Factory Fragments (26 November 2024 – 26 November 2025), TEK to Tech; Ancient Bronze Casting Workshop (6-20 July 2024), and Material Laboratories: Metal Fest (1-5 October 2024).
Triskel Arts Centre, Cork: Another founding directorship for McCarthy, this multidisciplinary arts centre, housed in a refurbished Georgian church, hosts diverse events, including music, cinema, visual art, and literary events. Current film screenings include Chasing the Light, Small Things Like These, Naked Lunch, All We Imagine As Light, Howards End, Queer, Maurice, and Heat and Dust. Triskel also has a partnership with the Cork Traveller Women's Network (CTWN).
Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh: McCarthy is a director of this multidisciplinary organisation, housed in the former Royal Cork Yacht Club. It hosts exhibitions, concerts, performances, workshops, and residencies. Named after the SS Sirius, the first steamship to cross the Atlantic from Cobh to New York, it fosters cultural exchange. Current exhibitions include Alice Rekab: Clann Miotlantach / Mythlantics (23 November 2024 – 8 March 2025).
McCarthy has also been involved in several other notable projects:
Sound Out: Co-curated with sound artist and writer David Toop, this project explores sound and listening in various contexts.
Sonic Vigil: As a director, McCarthy has been central to this annual improvisation marathon in Cork, often co-curated with Mick O'Shea (with whom he founded the Quiet Music Ensemble). Sonic Vigil has included events at St Fin Barre's Cathedral and the Drunk Pig Cafe, featuring the Irish premiere of Daniel Weintraub’s Pauline Oliveros documentary Deep Listening and Andrew Deutsch’s short film Memory Echo.
Just Listen: This seminar and installation series focuses on the art of listening and exploring sound in everyday life, featuring performances by artists such as David Toop, The Quiet Club, Pauline Oliveros, and John Godfrey.
These diverse activities demonstrate McCarthy’s significant contribution to the Irish arts landscape.
AT THE 1916 MEMORIAL GARDEN IN BLACKROCK PARK