Look into the eyes of Ireland’s ancient past. What an absolute pleasure to help a small, dedicated team of volunteers from the Old Irish Goat Society create a mini visitor experience at this centre in Mulranny, County Mayo, on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. With modest funding from Failte Ireland and the Heritage Council, we created a welcoming space that evokes the feel of the wild hills in which the goat – once thought extinct but discovered and resurrected as a breed as recently as 2022 – lives and thrives.

In addition to the graphics telling the key points in the goat’s past and hopes for the future, three digital interactive exhibits explore the features of these special goats, their place in our culture and heritage, and the work of the Old Irish Goat Society. An audio exhibit also gives options to listen to the goats themselves or stories and poems about them and their place in Irish history. Thanks to W19 Design for working with me on this project.

Pop into the centre if you are in the area and you can meet some of the resident goats – living as well as taxidermy! Further funding is being sought to add to the existing scheme, which has given the building blocks for expansion when the time is right.