New public sculpture to bring community life back to historic Plots 

The Well Gathering is a permanent stone artwork and community engagement project by traditional stonemason Dominic Keogh and multidisciplinary artist Anna King.

Rooted in the living history of the Plots in Ballaghaderreen, the work invites renewed community exchange and gathering, while drawing on the site's deep historical and cultural significance.

The Spring Well and the Plots are linked to key figures in Ballaghaderreen’s history, including the Dillon family, Anne Deane, a key figure in the Irish Land War, and Charles Strickland, whose influence shaped the town’s development.

For Anna King, this living history is the project’s driving force. For more information visit on this project, visit www.annaking.ie/ballaghaderreen-the-plots/public-art.

The Plots are at once intimate and historically resonant; a hidden landscape at the heart of Ballaghaderreen. Located in the backlands of Market Square, Pound Street and Barrack Street, the Plots form a unique arrangement of gardens, allotments and trees.

A series of public paths run through the Plots, leading to a central Spring Well, which was a former water supply for residents. Responding to the symbolism of these pathways, The Well Gathering sculpture also reflects Ballaghaderreen’s wider geography; a place where North Roscommon, East Mayo and South Sligo converge, carrying an extraordinary depth of history.

Dominic Keogh, from nearby Kilmovee, will create the permanent sculpture for the site. For him, this project is a deeply personal one, remarking: "The Plots and the Spring Well were the lifeblood of the town.” 

 In developing the sculpture design, Dominic immersed himself in the history of the area, particularly early Ordnance Survey maps, which reveal a carefully considered layout of paths and gardens, with the Spring Well at its centre.

Dominic’s choice of materials reflects the same rootedness: "The stone I will be using for the project is Irish limestone, as it is important to me to use Irish native stone, carrying on the rich tradition of stone cutting and carving that we have in our country.” 

Anna King will curate the research, writing, image-making and public engagement dimensions of the project. Central to their collaborative process is time spent together at Duff’s Well, where Anna and Dominic deepen their connection to the physical, symbolic and historical narratives embedded in the storied landscape of the Plots.

Both Anna and Dominic are passionate about ensuring that heritage speaks beyond the past. 

As Anna reflects: "In addition to showcasing Ireland’s long tradition of hand carving, this project highlights the importance of heritage spaces within local communities.

“The project celebrates Ballaghaderreen as a place of cultural and historical significance, while exploring how heritage can remain meaningful in contemporary life, particularly for younger generations, through creative engagement and shared experience,” concluded Anna.

This commission is also an unique artist development opportunity where Roscommon Arts Office and Creative Places Ballaghaderreen have teamed up to incorporate mentorship for the awarded artists Anna and Dominic, with established Public Art Artist Cathal McCarthy, who will support both artists in developing the work for the space.

By bringing together sculpture, storytelling and community engagement, The Well Gathering complements the wider Plots Town Park development, funded through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund in partnership with Roscommon County Council and Creative Places Ballaghaderreen.

The project sits within the broader initiative ‘Enabling the Potential of the Ballaghaderreen Plots’, which is transforming this historic backland into a living community resource. The public are invited to share stories, or family memories of The Plots and Spring Well by contacting anna7king@gmail.com