Community Invited to Carve the Story of the Lingaun Valley Through Unique Slate Workshops
As part of the Lingaun Valley Solstice Festival 2026, a series of hands-on relief carving workshops will invite participants to explore the stories, landscapes and heritage of the region through the ancient craft of stone carving.
Titled “Wayfinding the Lingaun Valley”, the three-day workshop programme will see participants create their own relief carvings on locally sourced slate from Ormonde Quarry in Kilkenny and Tinnokilly Quarry in Ahenny, Co. Tipperary. The workshops form part of this year’s festival theme, “Where Light Meets the Land”, which celebrates place, creativity, community and connection in the lead-up to the summer solstice.
Designed for adults of all experience levels, the workshops encourage creativity, imagination and a deeper appreciation of the landscapes and traditions that have shaped the Lingaun Valley over generations. Participants will work alongside experienced stone sculptor Martin Lyttle, creating carvings inspired by local stories, heritage and the natural environment.
The completed carvings will become part of a larger community exhibition at Ormonde Castle on Sunday, 21 June. Members of the public are invited to visit the castle between 11am and 4pm to view the collection of relief carvings before a special ticketed festival finale later that evening, where the artworks will be displayed alongside community-created light lanterns as part of a spectacular solstice celebration.
Workshop Schedule
Friday 5 June
Windgap Community Hall (R95 K57T)
Participants will begin the day with a visit to the local slate quarries, where historians Pat O’Gorman and Jimmy Walsh will share the history of slate extraction in the area. Meet at the quarries at 9.45am for a 10am start.
Friday 12 June
Windgap Community Hall (R95 K57T)
Saturday 20 June
Ormonde Slate Quarry (E32 DF86)
Workshop sessions run from 10am–12pm and 1pm–3pm each day. Places are limited to ten participants, and attendees are encouraged to take part in all three workshops.
Tea, coffee and refreshments will be provided. Participants should bring their own lunch or avail of facilities at the Windgap Community Café.
About the Facilitator
The workshops will be led by acclaimed stone sculptor Martin Lyttle, whose work is inspired by geology, landscape and the natural processes that shape our environment.
Originally trained as a geologist, Martin pursued a lifelong ambition to become a stone sculptor, studying at the Portland Sculpture and Quarry Trust in England and the Salzburg International Summer Academy of Fine Arts. His work ranges from small hand-held pieces to major public art commissions across Ireland.
A regular exhibitor with Richard Scott Sculpture at Ballymaloe House and a member of the 9Stone Artists collective, Martin has exhibited extensively through the Royal Hibernian Academy and was awarded the prestigious ESB Moran Award for Outstanding Sculpture in 2018. His public commissions can be found in Enniscorthy, Hollywoodrath and Skerries, among other locations.
Accessibility
Festival organisers are committed to making all workshops and events as accessible and welcoming as possible. For visitors attending the exhibition at Ormonde Castle, displays will be available on both the ground floor and upper levels of the castle.
For further information or to book a place, contact Cait at cait@workhouseunion.com.
This project is supported by Kilkenny LEADER Partnership and South Tipperary Development Company through the LEADER Programme.
