The TRADOODLE BIG BAND brings together young musicians from Monaghan and Cavan aged 10-15 to create a vibrant youth ensemble dedicated to performing traditional tunes from the Monaghan/Cavan region. This year, this inspiring ensemble have collaborated with the renowned band Garadice and will perform as part of Tradoodle Festival Family Day at Íontas Theatre on Sunday 2nd November.
Get ready to experience beautifully arranged music from Ceol Connected’s ‘The Very Curious Céilí’ which is currently in production!
The TRADOODLE BIG BAND, formed in 2022 in partnership with Music Generation Cavan/Monaghan, has grown from strength to strength and is now a key long-term project within MGCM’s overall programme.
The project brings together young musicians aged 10–15 to create a vibrant youth ensemble dedicated to performing traditional tunes from the Monaghan/Cavan region. To date, they have performed music from a range of Ceol Connected’s touring productions including The Quiet Tree, TREEHOUSE, The Land of a Hundred Little Hills (composed by Thomas Johnston and arranged by Áine McGeeney) and When the Moon Spun Round.
The TRADOODLE BIG BAND have performed alongside renowned bands such as Goitse, Téada and FullSet, and even appeared on The Late Late Show as part of the Guinness World Record for the biggest céilí band.
This year, they will collaborate with the outstanding Leitrim-based group Garadice, performing music from Garadice’s celebrated album Sanctuary alongside brand new compositions written for Ceol Connected’s The Very Curious Céilí, a joyful new show bursting with fun, magic, and community spirit.
The Tradoodle Big Band provides a unique platform for young talent to explore and celebrate the rich heritage of traditional music, while fostering a strong sense of community and artistic growth. Through this initiative, Tradoodle Festival in partnership with Music Generation Cavan/Monaghan aim to inspire a new generation of musicians, offering them valuable opportunities to learn, perform, and connect with the broader musical landscape.
Since graduating with a BA in Irish Music and Dance as well as a MA in Irish Music performance, Áine has captured the hearts of Irish Music fans all over the world with her unique and captivating voice. A founding member of the group Goitse, Áine has toured extensively around the world and recorded five critically acclaimed albums with the group.
Singing both in the English and Irish Language, she has been described as having “a voice of an angel” and was awarded ‘Female Vocalist of 2016’ by the Irish American news. Áine was awarded ‘Female Musician Of The Year’ by ALSR Celtic Music Awards for 2020.
Combined with her energetic, high octane fiddle playing she is a leading musician in Irish music today. Her teaching skills has been highly sought after and have seen her giving workshops on fiddle and vocals around the world.
Áine has also established herself as a highly regarded composer with many of her compositions featuring on several albums to date. She was commissioned to compose a suite of music to commemorate the centenary of the 1916 rising, which was performed by The Laois Folk Orchestra and in 2018 wrote a suite to recognise the passing of 100 years since the end of World War 1. In 2019, Áine wrote the music for a new dance show called Mná na hÉireann — ‘A unique celebration in music, song and dance of the women of the revolution which premiered at An Táin Theatre, Dundalk in Sept ’19’. Áine was also successful in the Arts Council’s Professional Development in 2020 and worked under the mentor ship of Ryan Molloy. Additionally, Áine recently composed a new suite of music called ‘I Am Not A Token’ as part of a residency with Dunamaise Arts Centre. In 2022, Áine arranged a 9-minute piece and appeared as Guest Artist & Ensemble Lead with Music Generation Waterford. This was performed at The Ireland Fund’s Monaco Performance Event 2022 for guests such as Michael Flatley, Andrea Corr and Prince Albert. Áine has recently orchestrated 3 pieces of music and song for a collaboration between Music Generation Waterford, Music Generation Carlow and Music Generation Laois.
Áine has also collaborated on several productions for young audiences created by Ceol Connected – a young and impassioned company that strives to create meaningful, and gloriously joyful work for young audiences. Such shows (and associated albums) include The Wonderful Tune, TREEHOUSE, WUNDERGROUND and The Land of a Hundred Little Hills which toured to 18 venues in 2023/2024. Áine is has toured extensively with Ceol Connected’s SongTales sa Spéir production and has recorded on several of Ceol Connected’s albums including TREEHOUSE and WUNDERGROUND. Áine was also commissioned by Ceol Connected in 2020 to compose a piece for young audiences as part of Ceol Connected’s Pigeon on the Gate project.
The TRADOODLE BIG BAND have been learning tunes originally composed by Thomas Johnston, Áine McGeeney, Darren Roche and Seán O’Meara for Ceol Connected’s forthcoming gig theatre production The Very Curious Céilí.
What is The Very Curious Céilí
The Very Curious Céilí is a heartwarming & moving gig theatre experience set in a private room of a busy & vibrant care home. At its centre is Eve, an elderly woman who is in the final stages of cognitive decline & her grandson Eddie, a troubled teenager unsure of his place in the world.
Every week, Eddie visits Eve, who spends most of her time asleep & unresponsive – until one day, a mysterious sound leads Eddie to uncover a box of forgotten memories beneath her bed.
In an unexpected twist, a younger version of Eve springs to life & invites Eddie on a magical journey to reclaim a lost song she began writing for him long ago. As they venture through Eve’s past, filled with music & memories, Eddie discovers not only the power of song but the deep connection between past & present & the unspoken understanding that binds generations.
The Very Curious Céilí explores the passage of time, the importance of family & the transformative power of music in a deeply moving & imaginative theatrical production.
The Very Curious Céilí is coproduced by Ceol Connected, Riverbank Arts Centre & the National Concert Hall. Supported by Monaghan County Council & funded by the Arts Council.
