Tolka Nights was a series of public art events, funded under the Per Cent for Art Scheme, in three distinct sites along the river Tolka.
The events consisted of sound, film, performance and discussion, and explore the river's significance as an ecosystem, to communities, to diverse histories, and to regional and national current affairs.
Tolka Nights emerged through the individual and collaborative practice of six artists brought together specifically for the commission: Matt Green, Sven Anderson, John D’Arcy, Jennie Guy, Conan McIvor, and Stuart Sloan.
Fingal welcomed the second installment of Tolka Nights to Tolka Valley Park/Brookhaven, which presented audiovisual work by the six artists on a full-scale outdoor screen with an immersive sound setup. Video works and live performances will merge over the course of the evening. The event setting is at the riverside deep within the Tolka Valley Park behind the Blanchardstown shopping centre.
Featuring the experimental film "Our Lady of the Tolka" by Conan McIvor that attempts to chart the timeline of the river through a collection of vignettes; a journey through the mythical, spiritual, historical, and contemporary stories associated with the Tolka.
Tolka Nights was commissioned under the Per Cent for Art Scheme relating to the creation of flood defence systems on the River Tolka in catchment areas across Dublin, Fingal, and Meath. This commission is supported by the Office of Public Works (OPW), Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council, Meath County Council, and Create.