The Peaceful Snake:
How a Community Created a Living Artwork for St. Patrick’s Day 2026 in
Skibbereen.
Every year,
St. Patrick’s Day transforms towns and villages across Ireland into a
kaleidoscope of green, gold, music, and laughter. Streets are filled with
fiddles, parades, and the occasional rogue leprechaun. But this year, Uillinn:
West Cork Arts Centre and the local community decided to up the ante. They
asked themselves: what if, instead of just watching the parade, the town
became
part of it?
That project
became The Peaceful Snake, a large-scale community art installation that
brought together people of different ages, cultures, and creative backgrounds.
By the time St. Patrick’s Day arrived, the snake had become far more than a
sculpture—it had become a symbol of diversity, inclusion, and the powerful
connections that emerge when a community creates something together.
The Vision
Behind the Peaceful Snake
The question
that started it all was deceptively simple: “What kind of artwork could
truly represent a community?”
The answer:
something that moves, something that transforms, and something that might make
you laugh if it suddenly flopped over mid-parade. Inspired by traditional
Chinese ceremonial snake dances—but with an Irish twist—the snake was
envisioned as a contemporary, community-powered marvel.
In many
cultures, snakes symbolise transformation, resilience, renewal, and balance.
Here, the snake shed its stereotypical slimy and scary image and became
a peaceful emblem of harmony and collective strength.
Unlike a
single artist’s art piece, this snake had many hands behind it, each adding its
own quirks and colours. It would not just hang around in a gallery—it
would move, ripple, and interact with the streets and people, alive in
every sense.
A Project
Rooted in Diversity, Inclusion, and Laughter
At its heart,
The Peaceful Snake was about community. Workshops welcomed participants
of all ages, languages, and artistic skill levels. Some people had never
touched paintbrushes since primary school; others had perfected the art of abstract
finger painting at home. Everyone was encouraged to bring curiosity, humour,
and a willingness to embrace PVA glue sticky fingers.
The workshops
became spaces of collaboration, conversation, and laughter. One moment, a 10-year-old was painting a scale; the next, he was arguing passionately that snakes have souls and deserve our handprints. The result? A patchwork of
creativity, colour, and community spirit.
I never
thought I’d be part of a giant snake parade, laughed Elisabeth, a parent, who recently relocate to
West Cork from Belgium I came to Art Centre to check it out, and now, I’m
basically a snake expert.
Creative
Journey
The project
officially started in January. Meetings were held, materials were gathered, and
word spread like wildfire—or at least like a well-timed Facebook and Instagram
post. Everyone was invited to join. The goal was simple: if you wanted to be
part of a living artwork, you could. No strings attached.
The creation
of The Peaceful Snake unfolded gradually over two months, transforming
from an idea into a vibrant reality.
Design
Workshops
In the early
creative sessions, participants explored the snake’s symbolism: peace, unity,
cultural diversity, and how many shades of green can we actually fit on one
segment? Large sheets of paper became a riot of sketches, doodles, and
surprisingly convincing technical drawings.
I suggested a segment with realistic scales all over it, and someone else suggested painted scales in the shape of hearts, and another one suggested adding googly eyes, giggled one of the adult participants. Somehow, it all worked. The snake has personality now, she
added.
Colours were
chosen collectively: bright greens, deep blues, occasional yellow splashes and
glitter (because why not?), and every segment had its own identity while
contributing to the snake’s overall flow.
Creation
Workshops
Once designs
were finalised, the real magic—and glue—began. Newspaper, glue, paint, chicken
wire and cardboard structures filled tables as participants built the snake,
segment by segment. Some focused on strength and stability (so the snake
wouldn’t collapse mid-parade). Others painted intricate patterns or created
wearable snake headpieces.
The
atmosphere was lively and collaborative.
Every time
when I’m passing through the workspace I can feel and hear fantastic energy, recalled Jackie from Front of House.
By early
March, the snake had grown into a vibrant, multi-sectioned artwork filled with colour,
movement, and unmistakable community spirit.
Preparing
for the Parade
As St.
Patrick’s Day approached, rehearsals began. Carrying a giant snake in a
coordinated way is harder than it sounds. (especially when we had to bring the
snake downstairs from the workspace on level 2) There were trips, slips, and
the occasional snake collapse, but mostly, there was laughter.
It felt like dancing with a very large, very flexible friend, said Sylwia, the Leading artist. And no
one judged my questionable coordination.
Oh, Lodrie
-how we get that monster down the
stairs, laughed Mark, a visual artist.
The Day
the Snake Came to Life - Dancing Through the Drizzle.
Parade day
arrived. Skibbereen didn’t let a bit of
drizzle dampen the St. Patrick’s Day spirit; if anything, the soft rain only
made the colours brighter and the smiles bigger.
Streets were lined with banners, music, and
green everywhere. And then… The Peaceful Snake appeared.
The colourful
sculpture slithered through the parade route. Children with headpieces jingled
bells and chanted along, while adults guided the snake’s flowing segments. The
audience didn’t just see an artwork—they witnessed a living symbol of
collective effort, creativity, and good-natured chaos.
Despite the
weather, the group which created the snake showed up with joy and
determination, carrying the giant creature through the streets with pride. The crowd reaction, the cheers, the claps, the laughter, and the delighted pointing from children made every drop of rain worth it.
I felt like a tiny part of something enormous, said the parent of a child participant, and it was magical… and slightly terrifying because the snake is heavy, but magical mostly.
Why the
Project Mattered
Beyond its
visual impact, The Peaceful Snake created a shared experience, was visually
striking, but its deeper value lay in the experience it created.
By drawing
inspiration from multiple cultural traditions, the project demonstrated how art
can bridge cultures and celebrate shared creativity.
For many
participants—especially young people—contributing to a public artwork fostered
confidence and pride. Seeing their work in the parade made them feel recognised
and valued.
It reminded
everyone that art can be messy, funny, and joyful – and that’s exactly how it
should be!
Perhaps most
importantly, the project created new relationships. People who might never have
met discovered common ground through creativity, and Art became a language
everyone could share.
“ It’s funny; it is sticky (PVA glue). It's fabulous," said Ruthann, a volunteer from The Leap Scarecrow Festival
Team.
The Team
Behind the Project
The project
was led by artist Sylwia Migdal, who worked as both Lead Artist and Project
Assistant. From the beginning, her vision was to create something open and
welcoming — a space where people of all ages could come together, share ideas,
and take part in making something exciting as a community.
The project
grew thanks to the support of Uillinn’s team.
Justine Foster, Programme Manager, and Ann
Davoren encouraged Sylwia to bring her idea to life and share it with the local
community. Stephen Canty generously opened the doors to his technical room, allowing us to borrow tools and materials to help build the snake.
During the
parade, Louise Forshyt made sure everyone stayed safe and cared for, keeping
spirits high with water, encouragement, and plenty of positive energy. The
Front of House team - Colin, Jackie, and Charlie - also played an important
role, warmly guiding parents and children to the workshop space so they could
join in the creative process.
Sylwia was
joined by a wonderful group of volunteers and collaborators who helped shape
the workshops: visual artist Mark Beatty, Maeve and Ruadh Bancroft from West
Cork Campus – Cork College of FET, Ana Marie McCarthy, Uillinn’s Art Project
Assistant, Elena Baranova, Uillinn’s Art Project Assistant, Ruthann Sheahan and
Maureen O’Neill from The Leap Scarecrow Festival Team.
Most
importantly, the project came alive through the participation of families, Skibbereen
Community School students, and young people who brought their creativity,
curiosity, and energy to the workshops. Together, what began as a simple idea
slowly grew into a shared artistic journey — one built by many hands and filled
with imagination, collaboration, and community spirit.
A Living
Symbol of Community
By the end of
the Parade, the Peaceful Snake had already achieved something
extraordinary. It had reminded everyone that art doesn’t need a single creator.
Sometimes, the most powerful creations emerge when many hands, minds, and
laughs come together.
The snake may
have slithered off the streets, but it left a lasting impression: when a
community comes together, differences become strengths, diversity becomes
beauty, and laughter becomes part of the artwork.
Massive thanks to everyone who built, carried, and cheered for our giant snake. Days like
this remind us why community matters. We turned a grey March afternoon into
something bright, bold and unforgettable.
Honestly, said Sylwia I didn’t just join a parade—I joined a
giant, collaborative adventure. And I survived. That’s a St. Patrick’s Day win.
Here’s to
more moments like this where creativity leads the way and the whole community
gets to celebrate it – said
Ana Marie, Uillinn Art Project Assistant
HAPPY ST.
PATRICK’S DAY!
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