A medieval ruin, Rushen Abbey on the Isle of Man was recently transformed by hire and event specialists Event Lighting Services (ELS) for a private function, with the aid of solutions from GDS LiteWare.
Rushen Abbey dates back to 1134 and sits by the Silverdale Burn in what is now Ballasalla. Acquired by the Manx Government in 1998, it is the most substantial and important medieval religious site in the Isle of Man.
Event Lighting Services supplies lighting, audio and special effects equipment and was commissioned to provide the audio and lighting for a private wedding party that was held in a marquee at the medieval site. The client requested the ancient ruins be illuminated, creating a stunning back-drop for their evening event.
ELS faced a host of challenges whilst specifying equipment for this unusual venue. It is an historic site and open to the public, so careful consideration had to be given to both health and safety considerations as well as historic preservation. ELS had to adhere to strict restrictions on running cable, using generators and the position of equipment. Twelve GDS LiteWare UL fittings were chosen for the job of illuminating the historic relic.
GDS LiteWare UL is a battery powered RGB uplighter with wireless DMX control, and is described as a standalone controllable light-source with up to 25 hours run time (16 hours run time for the HO version). The cable-less fitting is available in UL 40W or HO 80W versions and is a flexible lighting solution for any event. IP45 rated for internal or external use and W-DMX or SHoW DMX controlled, it can be used as a standalone unit charged by an individual power-supply or multiple fittings can be charged in LiteWare’s custom 4- or 6-way charging flightcase.
Other equipment used included five Chavet Colorado 3 outdoor batons.
“We recently purchased twelve LiteWare units for our hire stock,” said Justin McMullin, managing director of ELS. “Since then, the fittings have proved to be invaluable; they have solved many problems with difficult and challenging applications. LiteWare fittings are flexible, versatile and easy to use. We program them off site before the event, saving us valuable time and man hours. LiteWare was the ideal choice for the Rushen Abbey event and helped us overcome the constraints of working in a historic venue”.
