Waterford Gallery of Art presents new story performance work by artist Siobhán Clancy during Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2026

Capturing a Mermaid – A Breast Cancer Folktale 6pm, Saturday 10 October 2026 Waterford Gallery of Art Free event | Donations welcome to the Irish Cancer Society

Artist Siobhán Clancy will present Capturing a Mermaid – A Breast Cancer Folktale at Waterford Gallery of Art at 6pm on Saturday 10 October. Initiated during an artist residency and research-and-development period at.

Developed following an R&D Artist Residency at Réalta Centre for Arts and Health, University Hospital Waterford, Capturing a Mermaid explores the artist’s use of self portraits as a way of confronting and distracting from the anxiety of breast cancer treatment. Part performative photo lecture, part personal testimony, and with a smattering of art history, legend and folklore, the work invites audiences into the artist’s journey through cancer treatment, identity, and the search for moments of laughter and flow

Drawing together medieval art history, merrow legend and local lore, guerilla photography and cancer testimony, Clancy unravels a story about managing a mind in the face of strong fight or flight instincts.

The performance will be presented at Waterford Gallery of Art for the first time as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2026. The event also coincides with the closing night of the 2025–2026 AIB Portrait Prize Exhibition Tour.

Following the performance, audience members are invited to stay for a cup of tea and an informal opportunity to share health stories and photographs from their phone albums — celebrating the absurd, the everyday, absurd and tragi-comic moments that make up the roulette of life.

The event is free and donations to the Irish Cancer Society are welcome via https://fundraise.cancer.ie/fundraisers/siobhanclancy

Booking is optional. To reserve a place or for further information, contact waterfordgallery@waterfordcouncil.ie.