A murmuration of words is one way of describing the latest art exhibition at the Solstice Art Centre in Navan where the darling starling takes pride of place. Some of you will already have experienced a night of reflection and shared musings in early May in response to these works in words and visuals by poet Annemarie and visual artist Ní Churréain.
Niamh McCann and they have produced a fine little book titled “Boy Dancer” (available at Solstice). For a reason only the artists can define, their work is dominated by the starling – 20 of the 33 poems have a direct mention of the little bird or an allusion to it. And who could take issue with that?
In November going on to early Spring haven’t we caught sight of these amazing and spectacular murmurations near Nobber, a great gathering of the tribes of starling swirling and swooping in perfect formation over the County Meath countryside?
Other starling antics offers this picture of a boy –
If offered a book, a starling boy can impress
A bog-spun nest of brothers and sisters
With a repertoire of tricks picked up on the air;
How to hang upside down from a top bunk,
How to lift lids, pick locks, peck on glass,
How to twist soft wires into cunning hooks,
How to filch a cigarette out of a bum pocket
Ní Churréain is a poet from the Donegal Gaeltacht and her books are published by Doire Press, The Salbage Press and The Gallery Press. McCann is a visual artist from Dublin currently showing work in ReMemory: Sydney Biennale 2026”. The Solstice exhibition goes on until 6th June.
