'Banais Righi - The High King Speaks' a film poem by Grace Wells

Описание: ‘Banais Ríghí - The High King Speaks’ is a five minute eco-poetry film exploring the re-establishment of a more reverent relationship with nature. The project came out of Tipperary, Ireland where poet Grace Wells lived for thirty years, constantly questioning ideas of spirit-of-place and eco-citizenship. The poem was initially conceived in early 2020 when she was one of four poets commissioned by Cashel Arts Festival to create a poetic response to the Rock of Cashel. On touring the site, a guide spoke of the original High Kings of Munster, and how their sovereignty depended on good relationship and annual sacred marriage to the land: the Banais Ríghí.
Grace says: "I sensed those High Kings would have something to say about Ireland’s current biodiversity emergency. I thought they’d want to give us a lecture about our negligence, but when I sat to the write the poem, the words that flowed were a song of praise. Towards the end of 2020, after almost a year of the artworld in lockdown, I set about filming ‘Banais Ríghí, the High King Speaks’ because it was a poem a lot of people were responding really positively to. I think it strikes an ancient chord in people because it resonates with the Song of Amergin, Ireland’s oldest poem."
This poem was commissioned by Cashel Arts Festival.
The film was supported by The Source Arts Centre, Thurles.
Project supported by Tipperary County Council and The Arts Council.