Sounding the Senses artist residency

Sounding the Senses artist residency

Project 1: Lullaby LEAF

What is it like to live on a giant leaf?

Prepare for whooshing winds, gigantic raindrops, busy bugs, and bursts of colourful canopy in this joyful multi-sensory workshop designed for young children with complex needs.  With the gentle unfurling of a leaf, a soothing sensory world is brought to life through music and song, light, smell, movement, and touch.

About Lullaby LEAF

Lullaby LEAF is an immersive, inclusive, and highly participatory workshop designed specifically for very young children with complex needs. It is inspired by LEAF multisensory theatre production which Ceol Connected developed in 2017 as Theatre Company in Residence in Draíocht.

Watch original LEAF trailer here:


In partnership with Cavan County Council and Creative Cavan, Ceol Connected is bringing this very special multisensory workshop experience to the Holy Family School in Cootehill in a week-long residency.

We are delighted to collaborate with Music Generation Cavan Monaghan to provide the opportunity for their musician facilitators to work with the Lullaby Leaf team. At the heart of this process is their exploration of how multisensory experiences – sound, touch, taste, smell, light, movement, etc. – could be meaningfully embedded in music workshops to most effectively engage children who have a range of additional needs.

Lullaby LEAF is a captivating, fun-filled, and immersive sensory experience for the very young and their teachers/carers.

Key Personnel

Director: Joanna Williams
Musical Director: Thomas Johnston
Co-creators: Thomas Johnston, Orla Kelly, Joanna Williams
Facilitators: Claire Crehan, Orla Kelly, Music Generation Cavan Monaghan musicians
Music Composition: Thomas Johnston
Sensory object creation: Orla Kelly
Creative Producer: Brioni Gallagher

Project 2: Sounding the Senses (ASD focus)

Following their September residency at the Holy Family School, which awed us with the sounds of the seashore and the colours of the forest floor, community musicians Julie Tiernan and Ann Blake return with another ASD focused workshop series.

Using multisensory experiences and intensive interaction, these workshops explore the realms of non-verbal, in-the-moment, meaningful communication and engagement.


This residency is kindly supported by Cavan County Council and Creative Cavan

Library Tour

Library Tour

Ceol na Sióg with Gráinne Holland

The fairies are inviting you to visit the magical world around us: the natural world. You’ll find them among the flowers, hiding in tops of the trees, in the shade of the full moon or under the waves. The fairies are waiting to share their magical songs with you.


Singer / songwriter Gráinne Holland, originally from Belfast, now lives in the beautiful Kingdom of Mourne in County Down. She is surrounded by mountains, forests, lakes, rivers and the sea and draws inspiration from this beautiful landscape. Gráinne has recorded 4 albums to date, 1 of which was released on the Gael Linn label. She has recorded both traditional songs and her own original songs. Her latest publication, Book/ CD Ceol na Sióg, meaning the music of the fairies is about the magic of the world around us. Published by An tSnatháid Mhór and illustrated by Mr Ando it is a collection of 13 songs written in Irish by Gráinne and can be enjoyed by all ages. It has been shortlisted for the Réics Carló Irish Language Children’s Book of the Year Award.

Join Gráinne and her band as they perform songs from Ceol na Sióg. You will also have a chance to get a copy of this beautiful Book/ CD. Bilingual event. 

Thursday 11th November – The Market house

Time: 10.30am

Location: The Market House in partnership with Monaghan Town Library

Age Range: 4+

Duration: 40 mins

Capacity: Limit according to each branch.

Price: Free

Booking: Contact Monaghan Town Library on 04781830

Thursday 11th November – Clones Library

Time: 1pm

Location: Clones Library

Age Range: 4+

Duration: 40 mins

Capacity: Limit according to each branch.

Price: Free

Booking: Contact Clones Library on 04774712 

Friday 12th November – Carrickmacross Library

Time: 10.30am

Location: Carrickmacross Library

Age Range: 4+

Duration: 40 mins

Capacity: Limit according to each branch.

Price: Free

Booking: Carrickmacross Library on 0429661148 

Friday 12th November – Castleblaney Library

Time: 1pm

Location: Castleblaney Library

Age Range: 4+

Duration: 40 mins

Capacity: Limit according to each branch.

Price: Free

Booking: Castleblayney Library on 0429740281