Installation featuring 10,000 handwritten messages of peace unveiled at Kilkenny Cathedral

Peace Doves, an acclaimed community artwork by sculptor Peter Walker, makes its Irish debut at St Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny.

10,000 handwritten messages of peace are now suspended high above the medieval interior at St Canice’s Cathedral in an art installation created in collaboration with the local community.

The participatory artwork was created over recent months with local schools, community groups, businesses, individuals and visitors to the cathedral. It features thousands of handwritten messages of peace on bespoke white-paper doves.

The paper doves are now cascading above the cathedral's crossing in the 800-year-old interior of St Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny. The contemporary artwork, accompanied by original music from David Harper, is open to the public until November 7th.

The delicate flight of doves suspended three metres above St Canice’s checkered-tiled floor will transform the medieval interior into a dappled landscape of handwritten messages that echo the community's wishes.

The Dean of Ossory, the Very Reverend Stephen Farrell, said the installation has completely transformed the Cathedral.

“These thousands of doves look mesmerising in this beautiful space, but more than that, spending time with them will help us to look up, beyond ourselves, and encourage us to seek peace and understanding.

Each dove carries a personal story of hope, remembrance, grief or peace. Under the beautiful cathedral ceiling, they have created a new canopy that combines light, sound, and the emotions of thousands of people who have contributed to this community artwork.“

Peace Doves, by acclaimed British sculptor Peter Walker, is making its Irish debut. Over half a million people have already seen the project in venues across the UK.

The artist, Peter Walker, remarked,

“It looks glorious within this remarkable building. The artwork offers the opportunity to reflect when there's so much going on in the world around us. Here in this space, we reflect on the fact that so many thousands of other people have the same thoughts and take comfort in each other.

“That's really the heart of the message behind the artwork. I think contemporary artwork like this in an ancient space like St Canice’s Cathedral brings everything into harmony, and I hope that people will enjoy it within the serenity of the cathedral.”

Musical series inspired by the Peace Dove installation

Over the coming weeks, the installation will provide an extraordinary backdrop for a programme of live music, featuring some of the most iconic music of all time, an unforgettable evening of Queen’s greatest anthems in September and a tribute to Pink Floyd in October, performed live by candlelight at St Canice’s Cathedral.

The Lie Down and Listen, Piano Bliss experience at St. Canice's Cathedral is an immersive, sound-healing, classical-piano concert where attendees lie down on luxurious mattresses beneath the doves in search of inner peace.

To mark World Mental Health Day, Grow Mental are hosting a night of songs and stories with renowned tenor Paul Byrom and Guests.

For eight weeks, visitors will enjoy 360 views of the Peace Dove installation, accompanied by original music composed by David Harper. St Canice’s Cathedral will host a series of evening concerts to accompany the Peace Dove artwork.

For more information, visit www.stcanicescathedral.ie. Entry from €6.50.

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