These events are now SOLD OUT.
Follow the Farset explores the hidden histories and possibilities of Belfast through one of our forgotten rivers, the Farset/Abhainn na Feirste. Audiences are invited on a bilingual (Irish/English) guided walking tour across the city centre to discover the history, ecology and mythology of the ancient river beneath Belfast’s High Street.
Everytime you say the word ‘Belfast’ you call back to the river Farset, who named our city. Belfast comes from the older Irish ‘Béal Feriste’ meaning ‘Mouth of the Farset/Mouth of the Sandbank’.
The water of the Farset and our other forgotten rivers, powered the mills of Belfast which through the Industrial Revolution built the foundations of our city as we know it today. Culverted, diverted and paved over, this river lies forgotten just 60 centimetres below the surface of Belfast.
Tracing the history of this river traces the upheaval of culture on these shores. As we journey along the route of the Farset we will move through a time when rivers were revered as sources of life, mythology and fertility, through to a time post-industrial revolution, where rivers are seen as resources to extract. The river that first gave us life, then gave way to pollution, disease and suffering.
This is a story we see repeated today. Governmental reports show that the majority of Ireland’s freshwater sources, North and South of the border, are not in ‘good’ ecological condition, and are continuing to decline every year.
In an age of climate breakdown, alienation from the land, language and each other, this event looks to reconnect us with the natural world and our communities.
Please arrive 15 minutes before the tour begins. This is an outdoor event so please dress weather appropriately. Please note that there are no toilets on the route. These tours will be bilingual, and are suitable for those with no previous experience of the Irish language.
Nochtar Follow the Farset stair ceilte agus féidearthachtaí Bhéal Feirste fríd ceann de na haibhneacha atá ligthe i ndearmad againn, Abhainn na Feirste. Tá fáilte oraibh ar chamchuairt treoraithe thart lár na cathrach le stair, éiceolaíocht agus miotaseolaíocht an sean-abhainn seo faoi phríomhshráid Bhéal Feirste a aimsiú.
Gach uair a deirtear ‘Belfast’, tá an abhainn a chloisteáil go fóill in ainm Gaeilge na cathrach, Béal Feirste. Sholáthar uisce Abhainn Feirste agus na habhann eile, cumhacht do na muilte i mBéal Feirste i rith an Réabhlóid Thionsclaíoch, agus ba seo a thógtar bunchloch na cathrach. Cuireadh an abhainn faoi smacht agus faoi choincréit, agus anois tá sí i bhfolach 60cm faoi dhromchla na cathrach.
Is ionann stair an abhainn agus athraithe móra cultúrtha ar an oileann seo. Agus muid ag leanúint sruth Abhainn na Feirste, bogfaidh muid tríd aos nuair a fheictear le meas ar na haibhneacha mar fhoinsí mbeatha, torthúlachta agus miotaseolaíochta, go haois nuair a fheictear ar na haibhneacha mar acmhainní le tochailt. Ar dtús thug an abhainn beatha dúinn, ach fágtar linn le truailliú, galar agus fulaingt.
Seo scéal a bhíonn ag titim amach arís agus arís eile. Léiríonn tuarascálacha an rialtais nach bhfuil stádas ‘maith’ ar an chuid is mó do na foinsí fionnuisce in Éirinn, ó thuaidh nó ó dheas, agus níl seo ach ag dul in olcas.
In aois den ghéarchéim aeráide, coimhthíos leis na tuaithe agus lena chéile, tá sé mar sprioc ag an imeacht seo muid a athcheangail leis an nádúr agus lenár bpobal.
Age 12+.
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