Soundscape recorded at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance building, University of Limerick, during Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan (the Munster Fleadh Cheoil), Sunday 21st  July, 2013

Munster Fleadh 2013

THE HODGES EFFECT (Miller/ Taylor 2021) can be described as “an existential crisis of being that may occur after a sudden collision between a Homosapien subject and extra-terrestrial materials. The Hodges Effect is an emerging creative concept in the domain of Homosapien encounters and current responses to environmental change”. 

On November 30, 1954, 34-year-old Ann Elizabeth Fowler Hodges (Alabama, USA), was struck by a meteorite while sleeping. The meteorite crashed through the roof of her home in Sylacauga, Alabama, bounced off a radio, and hit her on her hip. Ann Hodges became the first and so far, only recorded human to be directly stuck by an extra-terrestrial object. Flann O’Brien in his book 'The Third Policeman' came up with the notion of the molecular theory which describes how the molecules of people who spend a lot of time on their bicycles become merged with the molecules of the bicycles themselves. Did you Ever Hear of Anne Hodges? imagines an explanation of the Hodges Effect as an existential conversation by artist Sean Taylor with himself!

Did You Ever Hear Of Ann Hodges?

Radiant Ra Point is a sonic homage to Ann Elizabeth Fowler Hodges (Alabama, USA), was struck by a meteorite while sleeping. The meteorite crashed through the roof of her home in Sylacauga, Alabama, bounced off a radio, and hit her on her hip. Despite being bruised and shaken by the incident, she survived and simultaneously became the first and so far, only recorded human to be directly stuck by an extra-terrestrial object.

Radiant - Ra - Point

Recording made by the artist in Suwayama Park, Kobe, Japan, 2009 with woodpecker, crows and joggers.

Suwayama Park, Kobe

Recorded by the artists strolling down Motomachi Avenue in Kobe, Japan, 2009

Motomachi Stroll

For World Listening Day 2014, Softday ventured slightly to the west of Limerick City, to the Westfield Park. It is an interesting wedge of land, between the North Circular Road and the River Shannon, bisected by the busy Condell Road, (the main road to Shannon Airport, Ennis and Galway)with a variety of wildlife, and it is a designated special area of conservation. There is a small lake at the centre of the site, walkways  through the site, and a viewing platform for observing waterfowl on the lake. This track was recorded at the observation platform.


Westfield Wildlife Sanctuary Limerick, July 2014

Composed entirely of original field recordings undertaken during an art residency at Lynder's Holiday Home Park, in Portrane, Co.Dublin. During the Resort Residency-Case Study 1. I was invited to spend a week long period in August 2014 at the Mobile Home Park,and to use this time to explore the area, its unique geography, history and community. Daily soundscape recordings were made in and around the mobile home park using a variety of microphones and recording devices including the Zoom H6n and H2n as well as hydrophone microphones to record underwater sounds at nearby beaches.This composition may be listened to as an audio diary of my week long residency. The residency was generously supported by Caroline Cowley, Public Art Co-ordinator, Fingal Arts Office.

A Week In The Park

Constructed entirely from field recordings undertaken on various public demonstrations/marches during 2014, in Cork and Limerick. The soundscape of the public demonstration is one of the few liminal and utopic spaces left for concerned citizens to engage with the democratic process.

Protest Music1

Soundscape excerpt recorded live in Glenstal Abbey at Christmas Eve vespers 2015. Monks in procession through church at end of vespers.

Glenstal Abbey Christmas Eve Vespers

Crowd singing, recorded live just before the kick off of the first Heineken Cup Rugby match of the new season between Munster and Edinburgh at Thomond Park, Limerick, Ireland, on Sunday 21st October 2012 at 12.45pm.

Stand up and fight

Sound poem by the artist, premiered as part of a live performance by Softday at the West Cork Arts Centre during the Skibbereen Arts Festival 2012

Dead Zoner

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