20/12/2025
Exploration of Marlhole in Wexford
As a part of my project funded by ArtLinks.ie and County Wexford Arts Office, I have been exploring marl/ yellow clay in County Wexford.
Here are some images of my creation made beside another marlhole - this one is in Kilmuckridge.
Around 1700s to 1800s, Marl/ yellow clay was used extensively in Wexford as a buiding material and also for the purpose of soil improvement. As a result, you find few 'marlholes' where the clay was dug out mostly around Ballygarrett and Kilmuckridge area.
After watching RTE TV series 'Hands' (1978-1989) which introduced the works of potter Paddy Murphy who used the marl from Enniscorthy, I began dreaming of making art with this unique clay - not ceramics but site-responsive land art at the location where the clay comes from.
This marlhole is located at Rag Tree Equine Assisted Learning . The owner, Denis has generously let me visit the space since last June.
It is hard to describe the feeling I get whenever I visit the space. Stepping into it feels like visiting a sacred chapel. Its peaceful sate and otherworldly atmosphere enchant me like no other place.
In June and July, the hole did not have water. But this time, the water was surrounding almost half of the edge of the space.
Being so close to the winter solstice, I felt the pond and the plants were asleep. So, I created the artwork which does not disturb too many sleeps, hopefully. I imagined the gateway to the pond - something returning into it or coming out of it.
The space is adorned by many lives. Birds, horses, cat and dog visited me while I was there. I imagined myself as a bird, collecting these smalls twigs from fallen branches after the recent storms.
I enjoyed listening to Denis's story about his connection to the land - the evolution of it since the time of his childhood. I also appreciated his ancestor's presence in the space. The urn with ashes was seated on a beautiful bench, overlooking the entire sanctuary. I felt at easy, as if I was minded whenever I was there.
My heartfelt gratitude goes to Denis Rag Tree Equine Assisted Learning and Michael Fortune folklore.ie for his transmission about marlholes in Wexford and introducing me to Denis.
