Artists – Catherine Weld & Michael Greenlaw
Ned the Donkey
Castletownbere Community Hospital
Ned the Donkey began with work initiated by Michael Greenlaw, sparked when a staff member brought in a pair of old cart wheels. From this beginning emerged the creation of a both a milk car—and a donkey to pull it!
First the cart…
In the summer of 2025, a staff member brought a pair of old milk car wheels into the hospital, and inspired artist Michael Greenlaw to build a cart to go with them!
Together, Michael and the residents drilled, sanded, and painted, sharing stories as they worked. The importance of the donkey and cart in people’s everyday lives became clear. The group chatted about the ritual of making the daily journey from farm to creamery with a few churns on board. While waiting for the milk to be taken and checked, the neighbours gathered, talked, and shared the news.
The donkey and car was also used to collect turf from the bog. Residents spoke about farmers, who before making the journey to the bog, took the wooden wheels off the car and soaked them in the river. This would swell the wood and keep the wheels tight to the metal rim. As Michael noted, ‘there would have been nothing worse than being out in the bog collecting the turf and the wheel rim falling off the wagon – except perhaps the midges!!’
As the group finished constructing the cart, one participant said, ‘what are you going to do about a donkey?’
…then the donkey!
As Michael’s time creating the car drew to a close, artist Catherine Weld suggested that the group make their own donkey. Met with great enthusiasm, what followed was a project that combined making, storytelling, and shared experience.
One of the central challenges, given the large scale of the donkey, was finding ways to involve participants at every stage. It was important that the project remained accessible, not only through hands-on activity but also through conversation, memory, and imagination. Maintaining momentum and engagement over time required balancing practical work with opportunities for discussion, reminiscence, and connection.
Many fascinating stories emerged from the early lives of participants, at a time when donkeys were central to the working life of the farm. They were the ‘poor man’s tractor’, taking milk to the creamery, collecting turf from the mountains, and plenty of other small jobs around the place.
One resident recalled: “Ned was the donkey’s name, I was very fond of him. He pulled a milk car made by my grandad to the creamery stand by the church in Adrigole. Then we we’d go four miles up the Healy Pass to the the turf bog. If you were lucky you got to sit on the car on the way up. We took tea in a bottle in a sock to keep it warm. Bread and butter and cheese for lunch. Boil the water on the reek of turf.”
Bringing the donkey to life!
A particularly memorable highlight came with the visit of two live donkeys, who spent time in the dayroom and on the wards. Their presence brought a sense of energy and excitement and for many it was an experience that sparked stories, laughter, and a renewed sense of engagement with the project itself.
Inclusivity remained at the heart of the process. To ensure that residents who were unable to attend dayroom sessions could still take part, the donkey was fitted with castors, allowing it to be brought directly to bedside. These regular visits created opportunities for individuals to follow the donkey’s progress, offer suggestions, and share personal memories—many of which centred around donkeys from earlier times in their lives. In this way, the project extended beyond making, becoming a platform for storytelling and connection. When the donkey was finally complete, it was hitched to the milk car, bringing the project full circle. Together, the donkey and car took a place in the dining room, where they became part of the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Timeframe
May to November 2025
This project was supported by the Arts for Health Partnership Programme, West Cork.
Images by Catherine Weld.