Cill Ard is a musical composition that brings to life the hidden archaeological and geological world of the long-neglected historical, monastic site of Cill Ard.
In 2021, Sarah Duffy was an International artist-in-residence at Artlink, Fort Dunree. Duffy was keen to investigate how we can detect and reveal the hidden and layered histories of the spaces we inhabit, leading her to a fortuitous meeting with local artist and historian, John McCarron.
As a member of The West Inishowen History and Heritage Society, John McCarron works alongside Archaeologist and society chairman, John Hegarty. In 2021, Hegarty engaged geophysics organisation, Earthsound, to undertake an electromagnetic survey of a field he believed to be the historical site, Cill Ard. For decades, the site’s true identity has remained obscure, but this survey established that it contains the foundations of a significant medieval monastery that was likely attacked by Viking invaders.
Duffy took the electromagnetic data and converted it into musical notes using a process called Data Sonification. This technique is used as an alternative to data imaging, allowing scientists to pick out nuances in the data that cannot reveal themselves in an image. The stark differences in low and high notes throughout the composition represent the changes in soil resistivity as the geophysical instrument moves across the field – the high notes indicating areas of dense soil and stone, and the low notes revealing ditches and loosely packed soil.
For the 2021 Inishowen Walking Festival, Duffy led a group on a trail to listen to the music in situ, from Artlink, Fort Dunree, to a viewing point overlooking the field of Cill Ard. You, too, can now download the music and discover the hidden history that lies beneath the soil.
There are three ways you may have come across this project. Either directly through the Artlink website, by picking up the postcard map at Artlink, or by discovering the viewing/listening point sign on your walk around Fort Dunree.
If you have found this project directly through the Artlink website, you can pick up a map and follow the trail on your next visit to Artlink Fort Dunree.
If you picked up a map at Artlink, please download the music and follow the map to the viewing/listening point. When you reach the sign, press play.
If you are already at the viewing/listening point sign, please download the music and press play.
Download Instructions:
As we are unable to guarantee good phone reception once you reach the viewing/listening point, it is advised that you download this file in advance rather than stream it. You can do this by clicking the downwards-facing arrow button in the right-hand corner of the audio player below.
For Android Phones: Once downloaded, You can access the mp3 through your File manager or downloads app.
For Iphone: Once downloaded, You can access it by selecting your files app and then selecting the downloads folder.
