8 Sep – Elaine Grainger – Performance 6pm
Saving Face | Performance by Elaine Grainger
Presented as part of Thinning the Veil, Saving Face is a 20-minute site-responsive performance that collapses linear time to explore historical and contemporary restriction. Taking place inside the Drawing Room of Malahide Castle, the piece stages a fictional dialogue by weaving together literary fragments from Virginia Woolf’s Orlando (1928) and Claire-Louise Bennett’s Checkout 19 (2021). By overlapping these texts, the performance folds nearly a century of feminist literature onto itself. Woolf’s exploration of the heavily encumbered, historically policed body collides directly with Bennett’s modern critique of constant self-curation, revealing that the societal pressures on women to maintain an unblemished public facade remain unchanged across generations.
In addition to attending the Performance, attendees will have the opportunity to visit the full exhibition ‘Thinning the Veil’ after.
- 6pm – Arrival
- 6:30pm – Performance
- 7pm – Event Ends
18 Sep – Cathal Dowd Smith, exhibition Tour for Culture Night 3pm and 4pm.
Join Malahide Castle’s Curator, Cathal Dowd Smith for this behind the scenes look at Thinning the Veil. This landmark contemporary art exhibition is installed throughout the rooms of Malahide Castle to mark fifty years of being open to the public. Featuring work by Susan Buttner, Ann Ensor, Elaine Grainger, Michelle Hall, Deborah Hewson and Laura Skehan and curated by Eamonn Maxwell. This exclusive tour offers a unique opportunity to see the exhibition and learn more.
22 Sep – Eamonn Maxwell, Curator’s Tour with Deborah Hewson artist. 5pm
Join Malahide Castle’s Curator, Cathal Dowd Smith for this behind the scenes look at Thinning the Veil. This landmark contemporary art exhibition is installed throughout the rooms of Malahide Castle to mark fifty years of being open to the public. Featuring work by Susan Buttner, Ann Ensor, Elaine Grainger, Michelle Hall, Deborah Hewson and Laura Skehan and curated by Eamonn Maxwell. This exclusive tour offers a unique opportunity to see the exhibition and learn more.
13 October – Ann Ensor, artist’s talk and tour of Exhibition
Join Ann Ensor on 13 October to learn more about her work A Rhapsody in Illumination Nos. 1-12 . (2026) as part of Thinning the Veil at Malahide Castle. A Rhapsody in Illumination is an installation of ceramic candelabra exploring the themes of Transcendence and Transformation. This work suggests we can rise above our afflictions and change our situation for the better. Taking inspiration from carvings around Malahide Castle and from the new butterfly house in the castle’s gardens Ann’s work provides an intriguing interplay between old and new.
In addition to hearing from Ann about her work, attendees will have the opportunity to visit the full exhibition ‘Thinning the Veil’.
The tour beings at 5pm and is expected to last 1 hour.
