We are Lisa and Rena, guardians of this beautiful land near Ballybunion on the Wild Atlantic Way.
Here we believe in the transformative power of growing food, protecting nature, celebrating creativity and supporting community.
We feel it is so important to listen and learn from the land. We have spent years co-creating together with the land and a team of amazing volunteers. The old Gaelic name for the land is Barnadarrig meaning the red gap, probably derived from hawthorn trees with rich red berries in Autumn. The nineteen acres have evolved over the years to include artist studios, woodlands, meadows and organic fruit and vegetable gardens. Last summer we created a Lovelochán, a heart shaped wildlife pond.
Here at The Barna Way we welcome diverse community groups through social farming and live food and creative events, while protecting habitats for wildlife. We are propelled by an accelerated sense of urgency around food insecurity, the climate crisis, biodiversity loss and forced migration.
Rena Blake
My mother and my grandmother were born here. For generations my family were focused on feeding and sustaining themselves from the land. I learned a lot from my grandmother about growing food.
Now we are privileged to be able to share the space with nature. When the hedgehog, hares, foxes, badgers and deer, showed up over the last few years, I felt so happy. I just see magic everywhere.
When I was 16 I emigrated to America. I was the co-founder of the The Rising Café. a lesbian cafe in Brooklyn. I didn’t expect to return to Ballybunion years later and to find muself here at The Barna Way. As well as growing food I am interested in wildlife and social documentary photography. For the last few years I have been the lead photographer with ‘Brilliant Ballybunion’, a creative climate action project supported by Creative Ireland.
As well as our environmental activism, Lisa and I were very involved in campaigning for the Marriage Equality referendum. My latest body of photographic work called ‘The Rings of Kerry’ documents LGBTQI couples who have gotten married over the last ten years in Kerry and explores how the referendum has impacted on their lives. I am also very involved in social farming and love supporting people with all different abilities to connect with nature and farm life.
Lisa Fingleton
When I came here first over twenty years ago, I felt in love with the energy of this place. It continues to inspire ideas, drawings, films and artworks ever since. I am so grateful for the constant generosity of the land, as the seasons and years unfold.
I have loved being the embedded artist with Brilliant Ballybunion for the last few years. It was wonderful to have this creative climate action project based here at The Barna Way. There have been so many magical moments including the Ballybunion Bean Festival and the recent visit of President Connolly. We were delighted to present her with our new book ‘What if we were brilliant?”
Most of my work explores deep-rooted connections between art, food and farming. I am currently the Kerry Visual Artist in Residence and work creatively with communities around the county.
What if we were brilliant?
For the last two years we have hosted the Brilliant Ballybunion Creative Climate Action project here at the Barna Way. We have focused on growing food, protecting nature and being creative, all at the same time.
Last summer we held the Ballybunion Bean Festival focusing on the birds, the beans and all things sustainable!