NEWS 2026
In 2001 Shirley, at the age of 56, returned to her home town, Ballymena* in Northern Ireland, to spend time with her aging parents and to be a Baglady. Her ‘creative protest’ against plastic over 10 years of travelling across Northern Ireland made an impact at a local level. Northern Ireland introduced a plastic bag levy of 5p per bag in April 2013, not long after Shirley left. *Ballymena – google Ballymena today and you will see a town riven by racial violence. Shirley’s story offers a different Ballymena. The interview was filmed on Danug and Gundungurra land. Background: Shirley graduated Trinity Collage, Dublin and began her working life as a journalist. In the 1980’s she moved to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains and practiced acupuncture and homeopathic medicine while she raised a family. She published a memoir (‘Notes on My Madness’ 19 ) about her training in China and later immersion in a cult which resulted in life long injuries from a near fatal motor bike crash. Shirley has two grandchildren she calls her inspiration, “We owe it to them to live as sustainably as possible … “
In these four episodes, illustrator Amy Bell, through the character of Daisy The Bear, uses a combination of collages and drawings to express her vision of the world. Through Daisy’s perspective, the audience is invited to see reality in a way that feels both imaginative and deeply unsettling, especially in relation to environmental issues. The visual style not only reflects Daisy’s inner thoughts but also highlights a growing concern about the state of the planet, presenting a world that is fragile and increasingly at risk.
Shirley calls on all artists, volunteers, and participants of the Blue Mountains music festival to be mindful of their waste disposal during the event and encourages more volunteers to become part of this festival.