Flax Threads of Time

2026 marks the 200 year anniversary of the sudden collapse of the flax industry in West Cork, particularly affecting the Clonakilty area.

Together, Wombat Media and Kathy Kirwan have created a multi-disciplinary flax experience which includes VR, a short documentary, artworks and on-site flax processes. Guided by the voices of those who once worked the land and looms, visitors are transported through time, walking through blue flax fields of centuries past, feeling the pulse of 19th-century mills, and witnessing the rise and fall of Ireland’s linen industry.

This deeply immersive journey blends poetic narrative and cutting-edge technology, bridging generations and inspiring a renewed connection to biodiversity and our rich heritage.

Conscious of inclusivity and accessibility, alongside the VR experience, alternative immersive and experiential offerings will be crafted to engage diverse audiences and open the work to multiple platforms of engagement.

Artists will present their flax works, the audience will be invited to participate in traditional flax processing and experience the biodiverse nature of the plant.