The Stones of the Hollow Hill

This video tells the story of The Stones of the Hollow Hill, a series of 18 carved stones by artist James Winnett that can be found at Kerdiffstown Park near Naas, County Kildare, Ireland. The video can be viewed as a standalone artwork or can be used as a guide to the story within the stones by walking through them in sequence. The carvings draw on Irish mythology, the folklore of the surrounding landscape and the recent history of Kerdiffstown landfill. 

The tale involves two heroic figures named Brigid and Fionn who set out on an epic quest to recover a stolen fire. The character of Brigid references traditions connected to both Brigid the goddess of pre-Christian Ireland and Saint Brigid. The character of Fionn draws on the stories of Fionn Mac Cumhaill, the great warrior of Irish mythology who is said to have lived nearby on the Hill of Allen. 

The carvings tell of Brigid and Fionn’s journey through a landscape punctuated by several hills that each have their own rich mythological connections. Some of these are visible from the park. 

The story imagines the hill of Kerdiffstown Park, ‘the Hollow Hill’ as a sídhe – a mysterious subterranean Otherworld that is home to Kerdiff the Giant. The artwork also references the 2011 fire at the site which burnt underground for a month, as well as broader themes around waste, climate crisis and healing. 

Voiceover: Aron Hegarty and Sorcha Hegarty, Candlelit Tales

Photography: Mark McGuire 

The project was commissioned under the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage Per Cent for Art scheme, with additional funding from Kildare County Council for the Kerdiffstown Landfill Remediation Project.