A year of shared storytelling by women in Baltinglass was celebrated with the launch of a new booklet and sound recording at the Lalor Centre. Whispers Through Time — Voices from the 1901 Census to the Present Day’was created by The Biddies of Baltinglass, a community storytelling group developed through Creative Places Baltinglass with support from Wicklow County Council. The launch evening featured readings, conversation and refreshments, as those involved shared stories and reflections gathered through the project. Co-led by theatre artist Carmel Stephens and
Leisa Grey, the group brought women together to explore their own experiences alongside the lives of people who came before them, drawing inspiration from the 1901 Census through to the present day. What began as three storytelling workshops developed into an ongoing creative group, with sessions also including solo storytelling and drama games. Themes explored by the women included constraints, finding one’s voice, childhood, nature and courage. Cllr Avril Cronin, who attended the launch, said the project was significant not only for the stories collected
but for the process through which they were created. “What’s really lovely about this project is not just the stories themselves, but the way they were created — women coming together, sharing experiences, listening deeply to one another, and building something together over time,” she said. The women are planning to carry the project forward into the autumn and beyond with the support of Wicklow Arts Office and Creative Places Baltinglass.
Wicklow, Baltinglass, Lalor Centre, Biddies of Baltinglass, Whispers Through Time, 1901 Census, storytelling, sound recording, Creative Places Baltinglass, Wicklow County Council, Wicklow Arts Office