Take Me to the River 2026

TAKE ME TO THE RIVER 2026 EVENTS

A collaborative vision between Solstice Arts Centre and architectural practice Cineál Research & Design, Take Me to the River is a creative public engagement project bringing communities together in the fostering and long-term preservation of our local waterbodies in County Meath. It combines artistic activities, scientific knowledge and playful activism, to raise awareness about our relationships and responsibilities to our local waterways as citizens and residents of the county.

Join us with a network of artists and environmental experts engaged in research and community participation, and experience our rivers from a creative perspective through a series of free workshops in May, June and July. Listen, create, record, and engage within local areas of the Boyne and River Nanny. Collectively respond by mapping these sites through print, sound, film, sculpture, and spoken word for a 'Creative Catchment Map', a visual, sensory and audio display to celebrate and expand knowledge of our natural water resources.

Supported by Creative Ireland, The Arts Council, Meath County Council, Swift Cultural Centre, BirdWatch Ireland, and Inland Fisheries Ireland.

Solstice Arts Centre                         Swift Cultural Centre                                                          

Take Me to the River 2026: Assembly_Breath_Resonance

Location: Teltown House & River Blackwater

Date: Sunday 14th June 2026

Time: 10am - 1pm

Price: Free, booking essential

Participants: Adults

An outdoor gathering taking place in the grounds of Teltown House, and along the River Blackwater in the Boyne Valley, this quiet, reflective assembly invites participants to connect with the site’s deep cultural history and living ecology in advance of the summer solstice. Guided by historian Anthony Murphy, ecologist Emma Reeves, and sound artist Chloe McHugh, the event weaves together myth, landscape, biodiversity, and wellbeing. Participants will hear about the ancient Tailteann Games, explore river habitats and wildlife, and experience a restorative sound bath by the river. The event encourages mindful listening, reflection, and a renewed sense of ecological and cultural responsibility.

Event Link: https://solsticeartscentre.ie/event/take-me-to-the-river-2026-assembly-breath-resonance

Take Me to the River 2026: Ancient_Rhythm_Connect

Location: Girley Bog

Date: Sunday 26th July 2026

Time: 10am - 12pm

Price: Free, booking essential

Participants: All ages

Celebrating International Bog Day this free, outdoor event for all ages takes place at Girley Bog, one of the few remaining raised bogs in County Meath. Guided by peatland geographer Kate Flood and artist Penelope Lacey, explore this unique wetland landscape where water, land, and folklore intersect. Combining gentle walking, storytelling, ecological learning, and creative reflection, discover the bog’s biodiversity, cultural history, and vital role in our river systems, while tuning into seasonal rhythms and sensory experiences inspired by Fraughan Sunday. The event encourages deeper awareness of peatlands, their benefits, the threats they face, and how communities can support their protection and renewal.

Event Link: https://solsticeartscentre.ie/event/take-me-to-the-river-2026-ancient-rhythm-connect

Take Me to the River 2026: Picnic in the Park

Location: Brú na Bóinne National Park 
Date: Sunday 23rd August 2026 
Time: 11am - 4pm 
Price: Free, booking essential 
Participants: All ages - adult & family engagements 

Taking place in the new Brú na Bóinne National Park during National Heritage Week, on Water Heritage Day, enjoy storytelling, creative workshops, walks, and seasonal traditions. Discover connections between biodiversity, archaeology, Irish culture and heritage, while reflecting on our past, present and future relationship with this land wrapped around the northern banks of the river Boyne.

Part of Solstice Arts Centre’s Take Me to the River 2026 programme, the day brings together families, artists, ecologists, craftspeople and historians for hands-on exploration of this iconic Boyne Valley landscape. A gathering of community, explore our collective care and environmental responsibility to this historical site for future generations.

Event Link: https://solsticeartscentre.ie/event/take-me-to-the-river-2026-picnic-in-the-park