That was the night our Taoiseach (P.M.) announced that Ireland was going into full lockdown. In the face of a death wreaking virus, we were instructed, starting from midnight, to restrict travel to within a 2km radius for exercise and grocery shopping.
Our lives changed dramatically in that moment. I packed my bags that night and moved in with my partner and his children, for how long we didn't know. Little was known at that stage about this new coronavirus.
The Silence
Overnight, an unusual silence descended on our towns, villages and cities. Photographer Rob O'Connor took to the streets of Cork to capture those moments through his lens. His work sparked an idea for colloborattive project called The Silence.
I am one of the 45 artists invited by Art In Many Forms curator Pat O'Carroll to contribute my reflections on those unusual events. Together with the photography of Rob O'Connor, our art workand poems would tell a story of our collective experience.
"I hope the entire project will be brought to life in 2021, with actors reading the words which have been contributed to a backdrop of images by Rob O'Connor who has inspired The Silence."
Pat O' Carroll
My contribution to The Silence is a poem: 'Stay In' - which you can read below.
In Memory & Gratitude
Coming together as a nation with a common goal of keeping each other safe required a lot of effort and sacrifice. I'd like to offer sympathies to those who lost loved ones during that time, it was the most difficult experience of all I imagine.
Also, my thanks to those who worked tirelessly, and not without worry, on the front lines throughout the pandemic.
Explore a fine selection of books at the The Visual gallery in Carlow book shop. My own books are available there too, amongst books on topics of art, local history, culture.
The Visual, opened in 2009, is home to contemporary art and the George Bernard Shaw Theatre, where you can also enjoy a beverage or a fine meal, with a stylish bar and restaurant on site.
The building is the designed by architect Terry Pawson with expertise in designing buildings for the arts and cultural sectors. It is reported to be Ireland’s largest gallery space, 3130m² in total, comprising four principle gallery spaces, the largest white cube gallery space in the country and houses a 335-seat theatre.
The Visual provides high-quality national and international contemporary art, plus a host of performances and events in multiple disciplines.
The next time you visit Carlow, take time to visit the gallery and check out the book store.
Visual Carlow Books by Caroline Cunningham
Seven C’s to Calm Reader Review:
"An extremely helpful book for dealing with your anxiety in a non-judgemental way, along with outlining specific ways in which you can manage your anxiety better. I loved reading this book and found Caroline’s approach to anxiety genuinely helpful and very knowledgeable."
Deborah Byrne, Psychologist, Wexford, Ireland
The Whisperings of Nature Reader Review:
Tranquillity, harmony and a restored connection with nature all in one little book of poems! ‘The Whisperings of Nature’ is a wonderful and inspiring little poetry book written by Caroline Cunningham. This is Caroline’s first published book of poetry and it represents her journey in discovering her authentic self and her reconnection with nature which transcends beautifully through her written work.
Carlow Library a Valuable Resource for Creativity & Wellbeing
Carlow town and county has a great resource in the form of it’s County Library (Tullow Street, Carlow). Formerly a Presentation Convent school, the building has been adapted to combine with the County Musuem and Tourist Office.
While the main library is bright, airy and modern, it has also retained a room of special character from the buildings original use as convent school. This room is known as The Shaw Room in acknowledgement of Carlow’s connection with acclaimed writer George Bernard Shaw who bequeathed part of his legacy to Carlow town enabling the beginnings of Carlow Library.
The Shaw Room is a valuable asset of the library and may be provided for use by local community groups and individuals for the purposes of education, exhibition and demonstration (this requires advance booking and consultation with the library).
As a creative Carlovian, I have been very fortunate to have had use of the Library’s Shaw Room on a number of occasions. I have used it to launch my art collection ‘The Sacred Lives of Trees’and two self-published books and to present a well-being workshop and a singing performance (all within a 12 month period).
During these events, I have had the full support of the library staff. I am sincerely grateful for their warm welcome and assistance on every occasion. Although they tell me I am no trouble to them at all, they always made sure I had everything I needed.
Through Carlow County Library, I made very useful connections with other groups such as ‘Glor Ceatharlach’ (promoting Irish Language) and Carlow Mental Health association (Mensana).
When RTE’s 'Nationwide' reporter, Helen Mc Inerney invited me to be featured as an author on topic of anxiety, I was delighted to share that limelight with my friends at Carlow County Library.
An atmosphere of mutual support and promotion is something to be encouraged and it is especially welcomed by those of us in the arts, who provide inspiration and well-being benefits in our wider community.
Visit Carlow Library on Facebook Page or via their Website or simply drop in to their fine building on Tullow Street, Carlow to find out about their range of services and events which includes genealogy and learning supports.
And the good news is that my books are on their shelves too:
Easons Carlow for my books including Seven Cs to Calm
Eason’s book store in Carlow now stock my books, ‘The Whisperings of Nature’ (poetry) and ‘Seven C’s to Calm – Reclaiming your Anxiety-free Self’.
Both books can be found in the ‘Mind Body Spirit’ section of Eason’s in Carlow’s Fairgreen Shopping Centre.
‘The Whisperings of Nature’ offers poetry inspired by nature and is an ideal accompaniment to my self-care book ‘Seven C’s to Calm – Reclaiming your Anxiety-free Self', which offers support and encouragement for people who suffer with anxiety (a workbook is included also).
I experienced a lot of anxiety in the past, including panic attacks. Nature has been a great source of comfort and healing in my life. In my books I share my learning with readers who seek inspiration for their own path to authenticity.
Despite the challenges that anxiety can present, it is possible to make positive changes that allow us to move towards the things that bring us greater happiness and peace.
Consider buying my books if you are some who appreciates the comfort and wisdom offered by nature or if seeking inspiration to ease your anxiety. Also ideal for a friend or family member who may need encouragement in dealing with anxiety.
Marie Lehtman was one of the first people to purchase a copy of The Whisperings of Nature as soon as it was published. I had just annnounced the news of my first published book on Twitter. Maria spotted my tweet and connected with me right away.
I found out months later, Maria had been recovering (during that time) from a sudden and debilitating illness which had caused huge upheaval in her life. Eventually, she recovered sufficiently to start working on a book project of her own, a project which she kindly invited me to collaborate on with her.
The 'Dreaming Doors' is a collection of Maria’s poems (mostly in English), combined with her photography to create a thought-provoking reflection on the theme of doorways and dreams.
Doorways are also a fascination of mine. My 'Indian Heart Way' art collection features two interesting doorways which I encountered on my travels in India. I wrote two poems for Maria’s book and submitted images of two of my paintings for inclusion.
"Being authentic allows you to connect people, who share your passion, with the possibilities of working towards common goals."
Caroline Cunningham, Artist
Authentic People
Like myself, Maria is also passionate about promoting Nature as a source of inspiration and well-being. It’s a clear sign that it pays to be authentic, as you're more likely to connect people, who share your passion, with the possibilities of working towards common goals.
Maria is the owner of my painting The In Between and it has been a pleasure to collaborate with her through the digital realm. Along with being a leader in digital marketing in the telecoms sector, Maria is also multi-talented in any art forms herself.
Find out more about Maria and the Dreaming Doors in our interview below. Her book The Dreaming Doors is a lovely keep-sake or a gift for those of you who love travel and the stories they inspire.
Do you have a dream? Is there some idea or inkling that beckons you at various times, making you wonder if there is another pathway you should be exploring? What stories or inventions lurk inside you that could make life better for us all?
In 2017, I officially became a self-published author and that gives me a great sense of achievement. I’m proud to be a self-published, ‘Indie’ author of a book of nature poems and a self-care book to help people who suffer with anxiety.
The way I see it, life is incredibly short. I had a close call with death as a pedestrian one year. While I was crossing the road, the driver of a stopped car decided at the last minute, to turn the corner. In that moment as the car accelerated towards me, I screamed one word. ‘NO!’ I had not completed the work I was sent to do. I knew instantly that my life had changed forever.
"I knew instantly that my life had changed forever."
Listen to Your Heart & Get on With the Show:
From that moment, I paid more attention to my heart’s desires and instincts. I increased my momentum of learning, making decisions and taking action. In the years that followed:
I started to paint and exhibit my art-work and honoured trees as a source of my well-being.
I paid heed to an instinct that told me I should travel to Peru. Going there was hugely inspiring and caused me to start writing about my journey there and sharing it with others in my first blog Wild Star Landing. I didn’t even know what a blog was before then and I had never let people see into my world like that before.
My confidence as a writer grew after my blog became a finalist in the Ireland Blog Awards. I started blogging for my therapy business too, these posts also reached the finals in the business sections for a few years in row.
I went from being quite reserved and in-ward looking to being more open and wanting to inspire others to experience the joys of life.
What being Self-Published Means to Me
Being self-published means, I can publish my books when I choose and I get to keep all the profits of my hard earned work. I’m certainly open to the traditional publishing route of agents and editors, but not at the expense of waiting forever, to know if my work is going to be accepted or rejected.
The fact is, there are people out there who love what I do. Some of them have even taken time to review my books in their blogs or by leaving helpful comments on various sites like Amazon or social media platforms. My books have been purchased by people from all over Ireland and the world.
I’m grateful to have discovered this gift even though the truth is I suspected it was there but always told myself I was too busy to explore the ideas. Time is precious but I was too busy doing menial things and told myself things like ‘it doesn’t pay the bills.’ Regardless of what bills it pays it puts my sense of wellbeing in a very strong place. Our mental health is especially important, I wouldn’t put a price on it. I want to do it all! Live, love and be the best I can be so that others will be inspired to do the same.
"I want to do it all! Live, love and be the best I can be so that others will be inspired to do the same."
Take Action While You Can.
Miraculously, I survived that accident with the car. I was thrown through the air and landed in a heap on the road. It was a wake-up call. I’ve had a few of them in my life. If you’re reading this far perhaps you’ve had some similar experiences. Do you have a dream too? Are you ready to explore them more?
I work with people who want to find expression for their authenticity, to realise their goals and dreams. I provide books, courses and personalised coaching programmes to help you get started or back on track. Check out the options below or join my newsletter for Authentic Path Inspiration.
There's no imaginable excuse for missing out on my last tour of The Sacred Lives of Tree's that's because I made THIS VIDEO especially for you to enjoy (:
2025 Update
The Sacred Lives of Tree's exhibition tours were warmly received all over. While many of original paintings are now in good homes around Ireland and Europe, there's still some opportunity to obtain a piece in the form of print or painting. If you liked the virtual tour, pop over to my online gallery and discover your own perfect tree art work.
Radio Interview - Discussing Anxiety & Seven C’s to Calm
Teresa Quinn of Book Line onLiffey Sound 96.4 FM kindly invited me to her live radio show to discuss my book and my authentic path, a story of recovery and transformation.
Many people suffer silently with anxiety. It’s a condition that can deplete your energy, deprive you of sleep and can lead to loneliness and depression. Anxiety makes life very restrictive for many people.
By learning more about anxiety and implementing better coping strategies you can start the process of restoring calm and wellbeing and ultimately achieve a richer life experience. The reason I know this is possible is because I’ve already succeeded in doing this for myself. In our interview Teresa agrees with me that more people need to know that they too can succeed.
Book Line Presenter Teresa Quinn
About My Book
In Seven C’s to Calm – Reclaiming your Anxiety-Free Self, I share the strategies that helped me to restore calm and to begin to live a more fulfilling life. My book is purposefully written to avoid over-whelm. There are supportive suggestions and a work-book is included to make the exercises easy to use.
Creative events during autumn 2018 in Carlow town, brought to you by Caroline Cunningham.
event
Autumn Leaves and Dreams Venue: The Shaw Room, Carlow Library
September 29th to October 6th 2018
Art of Caroline:
View my artwork inspired by nature and dreams on a theme of well-being and simplicity. Explore original paintings from The Sacred Lives of Trees, including a selection of limited edition prints, books and greetings cards.
Wellness Workshop:
I'l be providing a self-care workshop designed to support people who live with the discomfort and restrictions of anxiety. I'll be out-lineing the ‘Seven C’s to Calm’ as per my book of the same title.
"Art and creativity are as important as the bees for our continued survival."
An Art Client’s Comment
An Evening of Poetry & Singing
To finish week of creative events, I provide an evening of songs in the Irish and English language, along with poetry from my book The Whisperings of Nature.
Thank You to Carlow Library
My creative and wellness events have been offered free of charge to allow the public the opportunity to sample and benefit from my work. I'm a self-funded artist and have been very fortunate to have the support of Carlow Library who've generously provided me with a beautiful space to host my creative events. By purchasing my art work and books you allow me to continue on this creative path of giving to others.
My art is an expression of stories that awaken dreams and keep them alive. I love vibrant colours and the freedom of allowing imagination to seep through reality.
Explore my artwork in the interest of feeding your own dreams and keeping them alive. You'll find landscapes, trees, scenes from lands such as India and Portugal. Choose from original paintings in a variety of sizes or a range of prints including some limited editions.
See something you like, get in touch, make it yours!
Book of Nature Poems - Wisdom, Comfort and Inspiration
Finding Comfort & Inspiration in Nature
Nature has been my comforter and teacher ever since I can remember. Being inspired to write came naturally but the courage to share my words came much later in life. I'm sure I’m not alone in this regard, sharing personal thoughts and creations was daunting at first.
Making a Start
When I decided to start my own business I experimented by making hand-made greetings cards using my label ‘Love is Real’ which I sold at local art and craft fairs. I got the idea to present some of my poems on the cards and presented them as attractive fridge magnets. Even though I enjoyed my work immensely, seeing the joy my words and cards gave to others, the profits for the amount of time consumed was not sustainable. It was a good learning experience all the same. I realised that my poems and creations had significance to others.
"The Whisperings of Nature' is a collection of 15 nature inspired poems which have appeal for nature lovers seeking wisdom, comfort and inspiration from the beauty that is found in Nature."
A few years later after gaining more confidence and knowledge it was time to take bolder steps. I decided to publish my first book. 'The Whisperings of Nature' is a collection of 15 nature inspired poems which have appeal for nature lovers seeking wisdom, comfort and inspiration from the beauty that is found in Nature.
In preparation for publishing I approached a number of nature and poetry lovers and a few established poets to get their impressions of my work. I got lots of favourable comments and supportive suggestions for minor edits.
Carlow Library provided me with a beautiful space to launch my book and I was blown away by the amount of people who game on the night to listen to recitals of my poetry. It was a very special event and I had a great sense of achievement from the experience.
The Whisperings of Nature has been purchased by readers all over the world from Cavan to U.S.A. and Finland. I even got a request from a library in Cork who wanted to purchase copies for their readers. The president of Ireland has a copy too.
Wellness bloggers who purchased my book have kindly written about it in their blogs. Thanks to Gloria Mc Breen of We are Holistic and Krystal Long of Krystal’s Journal.
Connecting Inwards & Restoring Calm
I have found nature poems useful for helping me to switch off from the busy world, allowing me to connect inwards to restore calm. My book is a useful for setting the scene for meditation and it is a nice gift idea for someone who appreciates nature.
"I warmly recommend ordering and reading Caroline Cunningham’s books. The Whisperings of Nature is filled with profoundly beautiful poetry & Seven C’s to Calm is a great mindfulness companion."
Krystal’s Journal, Cork, Ireland
"I'm so proud of this lady and all she has accomplished to date so far. It really is an honour to have my short review printed on the back of her publications. Look out <br>Krystal Long."
Craig U.S.A.
"Caroline I received your book and I love your poetry. I’m inspired by walking through woods and hidden places, your writing paints a picture of the natural world. I’m honoured to have the first U.S. copy."
William Boone, Wild Wilful Heart, Author, U.S.A.
"The author is a gentle soul, her poems celebrate nature, love and the universal human sense of belonging. Caroline’s poetry is open and honest and from the heart of supreme goodness. Short in length the reader is left desiring more of the author’s being. Great Spirit is felt."
Sinead O’Gorman, Actor, Wexford, Ireland
"Caroline is a writer who conveys a deep affinity with nature and humanity"
Brenda Bergin, Seniorpreneurs Ireland
"These poems are for people of all ages who love Nature, as I do. I especially like to read them at the close of my day. I am also the proud owner of Caroline’s lovely artwork."
Jonathon King, Poet & Humanitarian, Ireland
"An Inspirational, thought-provoking read. Fine poetry should be cherished."
The Whisperings of Nature - Book Launch
Daring to be Authentic Has Many Benefits for Yourself & Others
Creative expression is good for us, it helps us to understand who we are and connects us with others. In addition, by daring to be authentic you pave the way for others to allow their authenticity to come through. Being authentic gives you access to greater wellbeing.
The stories I tell here through my blogs are about the journey of daring to be more authentic. These are stories of healing, recovery and empowerment. I value what I’ve learned on this journey, I call it my Authentic Path.
After a lot of transformative work, I reached a point where I dared to step into the spot-light to not only exhibit my paintings but also to launch my books. Thanks to Carlow Library I had access to a beautiful space to host the visitors who attended my launch and poetry recital. Walks along beaches, time spent in forests, moon-gazing from city roof-tops and far away travels have provided inspiration for the poetry in my first book.
"The Whisperings of Nature' is a collection of 15 nature inspired poems which have appeal for nature lovers seeking wisdom, comfort and inspiration from the beauty that is found in Nature."
"I warmly recommend ordering and reading Caroline Cunningham’s books. The Whisperings of Nature is filled with profoundly beautiful poetry & Seven C’s to Calm is a great mindfulness companion."
Krystal’s Journal, Cork, Ireland
"I'm so proud of this lady and all she has accomplished to date so far. It really is an honour to have my short review printed on the back of her publications. Look out <br>Krystal Long."
Craig U.S.A.
"Caroline I received your book and I love your poetry. I’m inspired by walking through woods and hidden places, your writing paints a picture of the natural world. I’m honoured to have the first U.S. copy."
William Boone, Wild Wilful Heart, Author, U.S.A.
"The author is a gentle soul, her poems celebrate nature, love and the universal human sense of belonging. Caroline’s poetry is open and honest and from the heart of supreme goodness. Short in length the reader is left desiring more of the author’s being. Great Spirit is felt."
Sinead O’Gorman, Actor, Wexford, Ireland
"Caroline is a writer who conveys a deep affinity with nature and humanity"
Brenda Bergin, Seniorpreneurs Ireland
"These poems are for people of all ages who love Nature, as I do. I especially like to read them at the close of my day. I am also the proud owner of Caroline’s lovely artwork."
Jonathon King, Poet & Humanitarian, Ireland
"An Inspirational, thought-provoking read. Fine poetry should be cherished."
Connecting Inwards & Restoring Calm
I have found nature poems useful for helping me to switch off from the busy world, allowing me to connect inwards to restore calm. My book is a useful for setting the scene for meditation and it is a nice gift idea for someone who appreciates nature.
