Caught In The Furze | Cork Midsummer Festival

A major new commission from Cork Midsummer Festival and The Glucksman by an artist at the height of her creative powers.

The wren the wren the king of the birds
On Stephen's day was caught in the furze
Her clothes were all torn - her shoes were all worn
Up with the kettle and down with the pan
Give us a penny to bury the 'wran’

Amanda Coogan, one of Ireland’s most celebrated performance artists, returns to Cork Midsummer Festival with an extraordinary new durational work.

Caught in the Furze is a seven-day performance within an immersive installation of furze (gorse) bushes.

Drawing on ancient folk traditions and contemporary performance, Coogan navigates the spaces between history and memory, myth and modernity. Evolving and shifting each day, the work invites audiences to step in and out, and to witness moments of stillness, transformation, and raw physical endurance.

Amanda Coogan is internationally renowned for her powerful, immersive durational performances. Her work explores contested histories, embodied memory, and resilience - using gesture, time, and site to create unforgettable experiences.

Live Performer Amanda Coogan
Original Composition Elliot Murphy
Creative Producer Susan Holland
Curatorial Support Katie O’Grady
Horticultural Support Cork City Council