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Following the Artist-led Creative Workshops which took in place in Kilcoole in June 2024 as part of Tern the Tide, Aisling McNamara a local participant created her poem ‘Tern the Tide’ - after having been inspired by the process.
"I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience, from the insightful knowledge shared by Birdwatch Ireland to the hands-on process of creating a sculpture for our shared space on Kilcoole Beach. The Tern the Tide project has been a fantastic opportunity for our community to come together creatively in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. It’s also been instrumental in raising much-needed awareness about the challenges facing the Little Terns." Aisling McNamara
An excerpt from Aisling’s poem will feature as a core part of the project advertising campaign due to take place nationally across Iarnród Éireann trains and platforms. The intention for these posters is to celebrate the NPWS Little Tern Colony in Kilcoole, and encourage the reader to engage with Little Tern's in a new way - and the project team thought Aisling's poem did this in a novel way. Read the full poem and a sample of the advert below.
Tern the Tide, by Aisling McNamara
The terns are on the tide again,
Dipping wings arrow-borne into cresting waves,
Returning north against the wind,
Beaching to find a safe place of pebbled earth,
Laying amongst the stones’ disguise,
Speckled orbs on the oceans’ edge.
Chattering, the Sea Swallows’, shrieks pierce the air.
Forked-tipped tails, dart and dive with fierce precision.
Beaks arch and rip plunder from the unsuspecting sea.
Emerging, their prized Sandells writhing, clamped tight.
From egg to fledge the journeys’ end anews,
Fletched bones shed soft, downy layers.
Pampered chicks quiver in the gusting currents,
Learning on baby legs the mission of flight.
Trajected shapes press-out, frissing against the sky,
The Little Terns present a farewell sight,
Angled south, the tropics are calling them home,
Leaving their archery imprinted on our human hearts.
Learn more about Aisling McNamara’s creative practice on her website.
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