Ireland: A Dataset

About

Ireland: A Dataset is a 50-minute multimedia performance by Jennifer Walshe, given its live world premiere at hcmf// on 24 November 2023. Originating in 2020 as an online project, it examines Irish identity through nationalism, representation, and inclusion, asking: “what do we include in the dataset?”. Conceived as a boisterous radiophonic play for the concert hall, the work fuses narrative, projected imagery, musical elements, and radio-drama routines. The live premiere brought together the vocal ensemble Tonnta, saxophonist Nick Roth, sound engineer Úna Monaghan, and lighting designer Aedín Cosgrove. In performance, they collaborated with AI processes fed by cultural references such as Enya, Riverdance, and the Dubliners. The result is a vivid meeting of live performance and algorithmic listening, where humor, critique, and nostalgia illuminate questions of Irish identity in the age of data.