Offaly perspectives shaped German artist's bog exhibition

By Rebekah O'Reilly

German artist Katja Striedelmeyer has said the perspective of local Offaly people helped to shape her bog exhibtion.

Katja first appealed to the people of the Midlands to share their bog stories with her in March of this year.

This prompted a huge response, including from Rhode weatherman Cathal Nolan and Ballinahown native contemporary visual artist Rosemarie Langtry.

"What stayed with me most was how open and generous people were in sharing their stories and memories about the bogs," Katja said. "These conversations shaped the project in ways I couldn’t have planned.

"It was meaningful to explore the bogs people felt connected to, and I’m very grateful to have included their voices and perspectives. I would have loved to share the final work with those who took part to celebrate together."

The German artist worked with a camera and an audio recorder to capture the landscape, sounds and stories of the bogs.

She added that she was especially pleased that she was able to connect personal experience and local knowledge to the exhibit.

"I’m really glad the project reached what I was aiming for: connecting artistic methods with personal and place-based knowledge. It showed me how this kind of work can make space for the layered nature of bog landscapes and gently invite interest in the environments, everyday lives, and histories connected to them."

Katja now plans to continue with Peat Stories Vol. 2: Germany and hopes to present it in 2026.

"Some visitors told me the exhibition made them want to know more about peatlands, and hearing that made me really happy," she said.

Katja extended her sincere thanks to the contributors Cathleen Connole, Sean Craven, Seamus Barron, Eamon Doyle, Tiernan Henry, Marie Gilmore, Francis McLoughlin, Brian Gorman, Jimmy Howard, Noeleen Hamilton, Angela Kelly, Ciara Eagan, Deirdre Lane, Rosemarie Langtry, Cathal Nolan for welcoming her to their bogs and sharing their stories.

The research was made possible through mobility support from Culture Moves Europe, funded by This work was produced with the financial assistance of the European Union.