‘Into the War, Into the Water’ 

Written as part of the ‘To The Mountain’ commissions for the Iron Mountain Literature Festival 2021:

‘Into the War, Into the Water’ was written by Ailie Blunnie and produced by Daragh Dukes, with video by Edwina Guckian & Dreoilín Productions

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The text of this piece is based on interviews from two RTE Radio One documentaries about coal-mining in Ireland: ‘‘From the Miners to Prosperity’ (1972) and ‘‘The Long Strike’ (2009).

The song is inspired by the Sliabh an Iarainn, Lough Allen, and Arigna areas of Co. Leitrim & Roscommon.

Huge thanks to Daragh Dukes for his beautiful production work, to Edwina Guckian for creating the wonderful video, filmed in the Derreenavoggy coal mines in Arigna. With special thanks to Vincent Woods, the Iron Mountain Literature Festival, The Arigna Mining Experience & Leitrim Arts.

Watch all seven ‘To The Mountain’ commissioned pieces here – by Róisín Kelly, Séamus O’Rourke, Alice Lyons, Stephen Murphy, Michael Harding and Pat McCabe