waterford

Dr Moira Sweeney

BA (HONS), MA, PhD

Course Leader, Higher Diploma in Television and Media Production | Portais Film Supervisor

[email protected]

Location

Waterford

Campus

An Rinn

Room name or number NEMETON TV, AN RINN
Website or blog View Details
Research centre or group Analysing Social Change Research Group
Other Research centre or group Creativity & Culture Research Group
Social Media

Biography

I am a filmmaker, broadcaster, researcher and educator. My documentaries blend observational and participatory modes of storytelling and have been screened on RTÉ, BBC, TG4 and Channel 4, at the London, Rotterdam, Melbourne, Berlin, Dublin and Edinburgh film festivals and in the Yokohama Museum (2016), the Tate Modern (2017), the Lab Gallery, Dublin (2017) and the National Gallery of Art, Washington (2018). My work has been nominated for Best Documentary at Boston Irish Film Festival, the Radharc Awards, the Irish Film and Television Academy Awards and most recently for a Business to Arts Special Recognition Award for Starboard Home (RTÉ, 2019). Mná na bPíob (TG4, 2021) premiered at DOCS Ireland and is available on the TG4 Player. "What distinguishes Mná na bPíob from many other traditional documentaries is that it brings mostly unfamiliar figures to light" (Journal of Music, 2021).

I was the Film Supervisor for Portalis, a SETU School of Humanities led transdisciplinary pilot project mapping the story of the first human journey between Ireland and Wales dating back to the Mesolithic period. It builds on the work of WIT's Creadan research project, led by Joy Rooney and for which I directed Creadan: A Sense of Place (2021).

My recent research on transformations in working life in Dublin Port has been presented at Media and The City, Milan (2012), the Geographers Conference of Ireland (2014, 2016, 2018), the Royal Geographic Society International Conference, London (2016) and UCD’s Women and The Sea Symposium (2016). The research has been published in Media & The City: Urbanism, Technology and Communication (2013) and Mind the Gap: Working papers on practice based doctoral research in the creative arts and media (Bell 2016). I was invited to contribute aspects of the research to The Geographical Turn (Kearns 2015), a forum in which geographers and artists are brought together to learn from their separate explorations of the common themes of space, place and environment. A welcome and insightful case study of my lens-based ethnographic research on Dublin’s port can be found in Research in the Creative and Media Arts: Challenging Practice (Bell 2019).

I hold a BA (Honors) in Fine Art from the University of Northumbria and an MA in Television Drama at Goldsmiths University, London where my film The Gift was awarded a Fuji Film Script Scholarship. I received a Fiosraigh Doctoral Scholarship from Technological University Dublin to research my thesis Keepers of the Port: Visualising Place and Identity in a Dublin Dock Community.

2016 - Present: Course Leader, Higher Diploma in Television and Media Production,

School of Humanities, WIT

2006 - 2016: Lecturer, Higher Diploma in Television Production, School of

Humanities, WIT

Guest Lecturer

2018 BA Geography, Maynooth University

2016: MA in Social Practice and the Creative Environment (MA SPACE),

Limerick Institute of Technology

1996-99 Performing Arts Centre, Dublin

1996 Trinity Arts Club, Trinity College, Dublin

1990 North Staffordshire University

Birbeck University of London

Trondheim Art Academy, Norway

Current Research

2022 Film Supervisor for Portalis, a SETU School of Humanities led transdisciplinary pilot project exploring the earliest connections between Ireland and Wales. Portalis maps the story of the first human journey between Ireland and Wales dating back to the Mesolithic period. It builds on the work of WIT's Creadan research project, led by Joy Rooney and for which I directed Creadan: A Sense of Place (2021).

2019 'Keepers of the Port: Visualising Place and Identity in a Dublin Dock Community', Doctoral Thesis, Technological Uniiversity Dublin.

2016 ‘Dublin Docks: Visualising Changing Identities, Communities and Labour Practices’, in Bell, D. (ed), Mind the Gap: Working Papers on Practice Based Doctoral Research in the Creative Arts and Media. Distillers Press, National College of Art and Design: Dublin.

2015 ‘Dublin Docks: Visualising Changing Identities, Communities and Labour Practices’ in The Geographical Turn, Kearnes, G. (ed.) [online] Available at: https://geographicalturn.wordpress.com/2015/11/03/guest-blog-3-moira-sweeney-dublin-docks-visualising-changing-identities-communities-and-labour-practices/[Accessed 10 December 2018].

2013 ‘Space and the Geographical Imagination on the Dublin Docklands’, in Giaccardi, C, Tosni, S. and Tarantino, M. (eds), Media and The City: Urbanism, Technology and Communication, Cambridge Scholars Publishing: Newcastle upon Tyne.

2012 ‘Space and the Geographical Imagination on the Dublin Docklands' Media & The City, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan: http://www.academia.edu/1428785/ECREA_Media_and_The_City_TWG_Paper

Key Broadcast and Film Credits

2021 Mná na bPíob, Tyrone Productions for TG4 Director

2021 Creadon: A Sense of Place, Nemeton TV and WIT Director/Producer

2020 Longings with Lynnes Sachs Writer

2020 The Tenuous We with the Still | Moving Collective Co-director

2019 Starboard Home, Spirit Level/Southpaw for RTÉ Director/Producer

2017 Keepers of the Port, Spirit Level, Irish Film Institute Director/Producer

2017 Tracks and Trails, Sherwin Media for RTÉ Director

2016 Cleas Act, Tyrone Productions, RTÉ for TG4 Director/Producer

2015/17 Logainm, Nemeton for TG4 Director

2014 Rhythms of a Port, Spirit Level Productions Director/Producer

2013 Opry an Iúir, Big Mountain, BBC NI/ TG4 Series Producer

2013 Aniar Aduaidh, Independent Pictures, RTÉ Director

2012 The Road Back, Spirit Level Productions, Director/Producer

2005-10 Laochra Gael, Nemeton for TG4 Director

2009 Teens in The Wild, Firebrand for RTÉ Director

2009 Cósta Uí Catháin, Independent Picturess for TG4 Director

2008 Imeall Geal, Big Mountain for BBC Series Producer

2007 Feud, Independent Pictures for RTÉ Director

2006 Cártaí Poist, Adare for TG4 Producer/Director

2003-06 An Tuath Nua, Independent Pics for RTÉ Director

2001-02 Léargas,RTÉ Producer/Director

1999-2001 Spórtiris, RTÉ Producer/Director

1996-99 Cúrsaí Ealaíne, RTÉ Producer/Director

1994 Coming Home, Spirit Level for Channel Four Producer/Director

1990 Imaginary, Spirit Level, ZDF TV Producer/Director

Distinctions, Awards, Commissions

2021 Mná na bPíob, HD Dcumentary Film, Premiere, Docs Ireland

2019 Starboard Home, HD Documentary Film, Premiere, TradFest

Business to Arts Judges’ Special Recognition Award for Portfolio of Investment:

2018 Keepers of the Port, Nominee Best Documentary Kerry Film Festival

2018 Dublin Port Company Commission for Starboard Home, Documentary Film

2012-14 Fiosraigh PhD Scholarship: Dublin Institute of Technology

2012 Dublin City Council/Tall Ships Dublin 2012:

Commission for Audio Visual Installation Stevedoring Stories

2008 Crann Beatha, Solo Touring Photographic Exhibition

Tree Council Of Ireland and OPW

2009 Teens in the Wild:Nomination for TV Now Awards

2004 Laochra Gael: Shortlist Best Documentary - Boston Irish Film Festival,

Nomination for Irish Film and Television -Best Sports Documentary

2004 Léargas, Na Caitlicigh is Fearr: Radharc Best Documentary Nominee

2003 Léargas: Irish Film & TV Academy, Best Documentary Nomination

2000 Cúrsaí Ealaíne: Irish Film & TV Academy, Best Documentary Nominee

2005 TG4 Commission for Oirialla

2000 Arts Council of Ireland/Tinahely Courthouse Centre:

Solo Photographic Show - Gold and Blue

2000 Wicklow County Council Arts Fund:

Photographic Series – Communion

1996 Arts Council of Ireland/ Arts Council of Northern Ireland:

Tyrone Guthrie Centre – Artist Residency

1995 Banff Centre For the Arts, Canada:

Re-Telling Tales-Artist Residency

1995 Fuji Film Production Award for The Gift

1994 Channel Four Artist Film Commission - Coming Home

1991 North West Arts (England): West Africa

1990 Arts Council Of England: Artist Film Award -Coming Home

1990 Trondheim College of Art, Norway- Artist Residency

1990 British Council Travel Awards: Philippines, Brazil, Norway, USA,

France, Switzerland, Norway

1990 Imaginary: Cork Film Festival – Certificate of Merit

1989 Imaginary: Retina Film Forum, Hungary - Honorary Screening

1989 British Council Travel Award: Hungary

1988 British Council Travel Award: Yugoslavia

1987 British Council Travel Award: Hungary

1988 Arts Council Of England: Artist Film Award for Imaginary

1987 Arts Council Of England: Artist Film Award for Message from Budapest

Solo Photographic, Film Exhibitions and Installations

2017 Keepers of the Port, port | river | city series, Irish Film Institute

https://vimeo.com/292588093

2014 Rhythms of a Port, Film Installation, Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin

PhotoIreland 2014 and Riverfest

http://2014.photoireland.org/program/moira-sweeney/

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/video?vid=1.1851488

2012 Stevedoring Stories, Film Installation,Georges Dock, Dublin

Tall Ships Races 2012 and Photo Ireland 2012.

http://2012.photoireland.org/program/stevedoring-stories/

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2012/0823/1224322748689.html

2008 Crann Beatha Photographic Series:

Airfield Trust, Dundrum; Enfo, Dublin; Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin

JFK Arboretum, Wexford; Leixlip Library, Co Kildare

2000 Gold and Blue Photographic Series:

Signal Arts Centre, Bray; Ardowen Centre, Enniskillen; Clotworthy Art Centre,

Antrim; Tinahely Courthouse Centre, Co Wicklow

1999 Lúnasa Photographic Series: Brownes, Sandymount; Escape, Bray

Bray Arts Club, Bray

1995 Film Retrospective: Banff Centre For the Arts, Canada

1988 Film Retrospective: Zagreb Center Za Film and Belgrade Studenski Center

1985 Moira Sweeney Films: Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle Upon Tyne

Public Collections

Maynooth University, Geography Department

University College Dublin, Scholl of English, Drama and Film

Arsenal Cinema , Berlin

Yokohama Museum, Japan

Institute of Contemporary Art, London

San Francisco Canyon

Photographs held in private collections in England, Ireland, France, USA

Published Photographs

2003-2004 Stinging Fly, Feasta, the sHop

2000-2002 Freacneac Mearcair & Scuais

1984-85 Undercut, Iron

Education

2018 PhD in Cultural Theory & Social Documentary Practice, Dublin Institute of

Technology

1995 MA TV Drama, Upper Second Class Honors Goldsmiths University of London

1986 BA Honors Fine Art, Northumbria University

2021 Mná na bPíob, Docs Ireland, Belfast

2021 Creadan: A Sense of Place as part of Creadan - a new understanding of Ireland's Ancient South East

2019 Starboard Home, TradFest, Iirsh Film Institute

2018 Keepers of the Port, The Lab Gallery, Dublin

2018 Art and Geography, Geographers Conference of Ireland, Maynooth University

2016 Nexus Thinking, Royal Geographic Society International Conference, London

2015 Women and The Sea, Dun Laoghaire Maritime Museum: https://soundcloud.com/ucd-humanities/panel-5-arts-of-the-sea-women-and-the-sea?in=ucd-humanities/sets/latest-podcasts

2015 Art and Geography, Geographers Conference of Ireland, Queens University

2013 Stevedoring Stories: A Contemporary Symphonic Experience:

MeCCSA, University of Ulster, Derry

2013 Art and Geography, Geographers Conference of Ireland, Galway University

2012 Space and the Geographical Imagination on Dublin’s Docklands

Media & The City, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan:

http://www.academia.edu/1428785/ECREA_Media_and_The_City_TWG_Paper

2004 Boston Irish Film Festival

2003 First Wicklow Open, Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray

2002 Christmas Crackers - Signal Art Gallery, Bray

ART+action, Rubicon Gallery, Dublin

2000 Glendalough Visitors Centre, Bray Arts Club

1996 L’Alternativa, Barcelona

1994 Galway Film Festival; British Short Film Festival

1990-92 ICA, London; Yokohama Museum, Japan; Berlin Film Festival, Manila Super

8 Film Festival; Melbourne Film Festival; Bonn Experi; San Francisco Art

Institute Cinematheque; Hallwalls Art Centre, Buffalo; Millennium, New

York; Tokyo Image Forum; Lightcone Paris; Viper, Lucerne; Osnabruck;

Edinburgh Film Festival; Paris Rencontres

1989 International Experimental Film Congress, Toronto

World Tour: Erotic Films by Young European Women

1988 Oberhausen Film Festival; British Art Show, Vienna

Madrid Experimental Film Festival

1987 London Film Festival; British Avant Garde- Musarnak Museum, Budapest

1986 Light Years, London Filmmakers Coop

Off The Map, Chisenhale Gallery, London

Feminale, Germany, Tokyo Image Forum, Japan

1985 Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, York College of Art Foyer Gallery,

Newcastle Upon Tyne Polytechnic

1984 Sheffield Expanded Media Show; Leicester Super 8 Festival;

The Basement, Newcastle Upon Tyne

1984 Foyer Gallery, Newcastle Upon Tyne

List of Publications

2019 In 'Creative and Media Arts: Challenging Practice' (Desmond Bell, 2019)

2019 'Keepers of the Port: Visualising Place and Identity in a Dublin Dock Community', Doctoral Thesis, Technological Uniiversity Dublin.

2007 ‘A Tribute to Michael Davitt', Cork Literary Review, Vol. XII

2005 ‘From Lahas to Riverstown', the sHop, Issue 19

2002 ‘Shirin Neshat at IMMA', Bray Arts Journal, Jan 2002

1990 – 2000 ‘Three Poems', Cúirt Literary Journal,

1996 ‘Light Years Ahead - Contemporary Avant Garde Film', The Film and Video Umbrella,

Arts Council/BFI, Autumn

1990 ‘Signs of the Times - Contemporary British Film & Video Art', Undercut, Issue 19, Autumn, pp. 36-40

1990 ‘Signs of the Times - Contemporary British Film & Video Art ICA Biennial of British Film and Video Art

1990 ‘Towards a New Erotica: Cross Currents in Culture', Variant, Issue 7, p.50, 1990

1987 ‘An Eye for Ireland’ Independent Irish Film & Media, Jan, Issue 73, pp 20 1988

Selected Reviews

Bell, D. (2019) ‘Lens-based ethnography: documenting Dublin’s docklands (case study)’ in Research in the Creative and Media Arts: Challenging Practice, Routledge: Abingdon, England.

Tipton, G. (2012) Life on the Water in The Irish Times, [online]. Available at: https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/art-and-design/life-on-the-water-1.541880

2009 Teens in the Wild, Irish Times, Irish Independent

2006 Cartaí Poist, Foinnse

2003 An Tuath Nua, Irish Times

2003/2004 Laochra Gael, Irish Times, Foinnse

2002 ‘Sé Seo m’Oileán, Irish Times, Foinnse, Sunday Times,

Sunday Independent

2002 I Dream of Jeannie, Sunday Tribune

2001 An Fhírinne Faoi Cheilt, Sunday Times

2000 Lúnasa Photographic Exhibition, RTÉ Guide

1999 Cúrsaí Ealaíne, RTÉ , Sunday Business Post

1998 Safe Harvest, RTÉ, Sunday Tribune

1997 Dorothy Cross on Cúrsaí Ealaíne, Sunday Business Post

1994 Coming Home, Time Out, The Guardian, Film Ireland

1990 Imaginary, San Francisco Bay Reader, Variant, Village Voice, City Limits,

Performance, Undercut, Art Monthly, Time Out, ICA Biennial

1987-90 Hide and Seek, Art Monthly, Independent Media, Rote, Kusse, Paris Rencontres

1990 Looking For the Moon, Paris Rencontres, San Francisco Bay Reader