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The Barna Way

 

The Barna Way is an eco-social arts project, organic farm and woodland near Ballybunion Co Kerry. It is co-ordintated by photographer Rena Blake and artist Lisa Fingleton. The house and lands are steeped in history, song and tradition. Both Rena’s mother and grandmother were born here.

The Barna Way has been featured on many programmes including RTE Nationwide, Homegrown and Food Matters for its creative climate action, food and biodiversity initiatives. Lisa and Rena are the current Farming for Nature Ambassodors and are also members of Talamh Beo. A new woodland was established in 2020 with over over 10,000 trees (Oak, Birch, Scots pine, Rowan, Hawthorne and Holly), supported by Greenbelt, Supervalu and the Native Irish Woodland Scheme.

From here they engage with the diverse community groups through social farming and live food and cultural events, while protecting habitats for wildlife. This seventeen year project is propelled by an accelerated sense of urgency around food insecurity, climate crisis, biodiversity loss and forced migration.

The Barna Way is currently the hub for the new Brilliant Ballybunion project funded under the IGNITE, Creative Climate Action Fund, which is managed by Creative Ireland.  The project wengage the local community to creatively explore the future for Ballybunion in terms of protecting biodiversity and local food systems.

The project works with diverse community collaborators to grow food, protect habitats and create a vision for the future in the context of climate change and biodiversity loss. The project is coordinated by Grainne Toomey from Ballybunion Community Forum in partnership with The Barna Way, Lisa Fingleton (Artist), Rena Blake (Photographer/Grower), Dr Joanne O Brien (Ecologist) and Dr Clare Watson (Evaluator).

Lisa and Rena host a number of creative experiences and workshops in conjunction with the MOYA festival including ‘Art in Nature’ ‘Songs for the Spirit’ and ‘Living Lens’. In their respective studios, they create work that reflects their passion for food and their commitment to biodiversity and climate action. Lisa is currently the Kerry Visual Artist in Residence with Kerry County Council Arts office. Lisa’s book ‘The Local Food Project’ is inspired by working on the land and is about the power of eating local food to increase health and well being; to reduce plastic and carbon; and to support local food producers.

The Barna Way welcomes artists/writers in residence, volunteers and interns from all other the world who are passionate about creating a sustainable and inclusive world. Lisa and Rena have travelled extensively and have lived in many countries. They value intercultural exchange and the sharing of knowledge through ‘thinking global and acting local’. They strive to ‘BE the change they wish to see in the world’ though their work in ‘The Barna Way’ and welcome others to join them in their journey.

For the next two years The Barna Way will be a hub for the new Brilliant Ballybunion project funded under the IGNITE, Creative Climate Action Fund, which is managed by Creative Ireland. The project will engage the local community to creatively explore the future for Ballybunion in terms of protecting biodiversity and local food systems. The project will work with diverse community collaborators to grow food, protect habitats and create a vision for the future in the context of climate change and biodiversity loss. This project will have multiple elements in terms of creating long term transformative change in 4 stages: Information; Exploration; Inspiration and Expression. The project is coordinated by Grainne Toomey from Ballybunion Community Forum in partnership with The Barna Way, Lisa Fingleton (Artist), Rena Blake (Photographer/Grower), Dr Joanne O Brien (Ecologist) and Dr Clare Watson (Evaluator).</p> <p>Rena is one of the coordinators of the ‘Ballybunion Community Market’ every Saturday morning in July and August. The Barna Way also works with people with disability through the Kerry Social Farming Project.</p> <p>Lisa and Rena host a number of creative experiences and workshops in conjunction with the MOYA festival including ‘Art in Nature’ ‘Songs for the Spirit’ and ‘Living Lens’. In their respective studios, they create work that reflects their passion for food and their commitment to biodiversity and climate action. Lisa recently published her highly acclaimed new book ‘The Local Food Project’, about the power of eating local food to increase health and well being; to reduce plastic and carbon; and to support local food producers.</p> <p>The Barna Way welcomes artists/writers in residence, volunteers and interns from all other the world who are passionate about creating a sustainable and inclusive world. Lisa and Rena have travelled extensively and have lived in many countries. They value intercultural exchange and the sharing of knowledge through ‘thinking global and acting local’. They strive to ‘BE the change they wish to see in the world’ though their work in 'The Barna Way' and welcome others to join them in their journey.
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NEW AND RECENT PROJECTS AT ‘THE BARNA WAY’ 2025

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New and recent PROJECTS AT 'THE BARNA WAY' 2024<br /> Brilliant Ballybunion 2024-25</p> <p>Studio Lisa Fingleton</p> <p>Studio Rena Blake<br /> Creative Climate Action Project: A Creative Imagining</p> <p>The Local Food Project<br /> Kerry Social Farming<br /> 30 Day Local Food Challenge<br /> 30 Day Local Food Challenge<br /> Ballybunion Community Market<br /> Natural Dyeing with Katerina Gribkoff at The Barna Way 22nd July 2023<br /> Ballybunion Arts Festival: Colour Me Natural, 23rd July 2023<br /> Ballybunion Arts Festival: Living Lens Photography Workshop with Rena Blake, 23rd July<br /> Drawing with Nature, MOYA festival, Ballybunion, 29th April 2023<br /> Creative Climate Action Project: A Creative Imagining
New and recent PROJECTS AT 'THE BARNA WAY' 2024 Brilliant Ballybunion 2024-25 Studio Lisa Fingleton Studio Rena Blake Creative Climate Action Project: A Creative Imagining The Local Food Project Kerry Social Farming 30 Day Local Food Challenge 30 Day Local Food Challenge Ballybunion Community Market Natural Dyeing with Katerina Gribkoff at The Barna Way 22nd July 2023 Ballybunion Arts Festival: Colour Me Natural, 23rd July 2023 Ballybunion Arts Festival: Living Lens Photography Workshop with Rena Blake, 23rd July Drawing with Nature, MOYA festival, Ballybunion, 29th April 2023 Creative Climate Action Project: A Creative Imagining
The Barna Way Meadow View
The Barna Way Wildflowers
The Barna Way Healing Herb Garden
Studio, Lisa Fingleton
Studio, Lisa Fingleton
The Barna Way Garden entrance
The Local Food Project, Picnic, Lisa Fingleton
For the next two years The Barna Way will be a hub for the new Brilliant Ballybunion project funded under the IGNITE, Creative Climate Action Fund, which is managed by Creative Ireland.  The project will engage the local community to creatively explore the future for Ballybunion in terms of protecting biodiversity and local food systems. The project will work with diverse community collaborators to grow food, protect habitats and create a vision for the future in the context of climate change and biodiversity loss. This project will have multiple elements in terms of creating long term transformative change in 4 stages: Information; Exploration; Inspiration and Expression. The project is coordinated by Grainne Toomey from Ballybunion Community Forum in partnership with The Barna Way, Lisa Fingleton (Artist), Rena Blake (Photographer/Grower), Dr Joanne O Brien (Ecologist) and Dr Clare Watson (Evaluator). Rena is one of the coordinators of  the ‘Ballybunion Community Market’ every Saturday morning in July and August. The Barna Way also works with people with disability through the Kerry Social Farming Project. Lisa and Rena host a number of creative experiences and workshops in conjunction with the MOYA festival including ‘Art in Nature’ ‘Songs for the Spirit’ and ‘Living Lens’. In their respective studios, they create work that reflects their passion for food and their commitment to biodiversity and climate action. Lisa recently published her highly acclaimed new book ‘The Local Food Project’, about the power of eating local food to increase health and well being; to reduce plastic and carbon; and to support local food producers. The Barna Way welcomes artists/writers in residence, volunteers and interns from all other the world who are passionate about creating a sustainable and inclusive world. Lisa and Rena have travelled extensively and have lived in many countries. They value intercultural exchange and the sharing of knowledge through ‘thinking global and acting local’. They strive to ‘BE the change they wish to see in the world’ though their work in 'The Barna Way' and welcome others to join them in their journey.
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