Kerry Arts and Human Rights festival and interviews with artists from Tintreach

This edition of the Smashing Times Arts and Human Rights Radio Show looks back at the inaugural Kerry Arts and Human Rights Festival, which took place on 18 and 19 July 2026 in Cahersiveen and Valentia Island on the beautiful Iveragh Peninsula. Presented by Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality, the festival brought together artists, writers, community members and audiences to celebrate creativity, culture and human rights. The event was officially opened by Kerry TD Michael Cahill and Councillor Norma Moriarty of Kerry County Council. Both speakers delivered inspiring addresses highlighting the importance of protecting and promoting human rights while paying tribute to the many women and men from across Kerry who have stood up for justice, equality and the rights of others throughout history.On the radio show, we feature an in-depth interview with three of the contributing artists to Edition VII of Tintreach: The Smashing Times Arts and Literary Journal. Enjoy an engaging and fascinating interview with visual artist Dominika Piekarska, and novelists June O'Sullivan and Ita Ryan as we explore their work, creative practices and the inspirations that come from the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry.A key event at this year’s inaugural Kerry Arts and Human Rights festival was the launch of Edition VII of Tintreach: The Smashing Times Arts and Literary Journal which is out now. The event was launched by Councillor Teddy O’Sullivan Casey. This is a special bilingual edition themed ‘Muintearas: Macallaí Uíbh Ráthaigh/Belonging: Echoes of Iveragh’. The edition was launched with a powerful presentation by Councillor Teddy O’Sullivan Casey. Incorporating both Irish and English, the edition includes the work of six artists with a connection to the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry. The edition’s themes include belonging, identity, history, place, community, art, the Irish language, nature, and more. The contributing artists are Paddy Bushe (poetry) and Dominika Piekarska (visual art) – who make up the edition’s Featured Artists – as well as June O’Sullivan (short fiction), John Goode (poetry), Marie O’Shea (non-fiction), and Ita Ryan (short fiction). Also included are works by bonus artists with an excerpt from one of the region’s – and indeed Ireland’s – most famous poems: ‘Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire’ by Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill. This special edition of Tintreach contains two poems by Mary Moynihan, a writer, poet, and creator of art and photography, and Artistic Director of Smashing Times, who has been visiting Valentia Island for nearly two decades. Furthermore, the edition holds an Arts in the Community Profile and Interview with the eco-social artist, researcher, and educator Dr Anita McKeown who is based in Cahersiveen.Edition VII of Tintreach is available to purchase here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.