Song Ties

Song Ties

Following the success of our Song Ties music project for Tradoodle 2020, Ceol Connected and Tradoodle Festival are delighted to return to Castleross Nursing Home for more Song Ties magic.

Musician specialists Julie Tiernan and Ann Blake will specially craft interactive performances with the residents in a day long residency, exploring the joy of music making and song ties that connect us together.

Kindly funded by Creative Ireland and Monaghan County Council.

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

Pigeon on the Gate

Pigeon on the Gate

Pigeon on the Gate 

a new traditional music series for young children

Have you ever met a pigeon who has their very own TV show? No? Well, now’s your chance! Pigeon on the Gate is an 8-episode traditional music series created especially for young children. 

Live from Clocktower Studios, Pigeon on the Gate is presented by none other than the charming, funny, and relentlessly curious Elfin the Pigeon! Get ready for exquisite music, singalong songs, toe-tapping dance, and delightful banter with Elfin and some of Ireland’s finest traditional musicians and singers. 
Elfin loves music and he loves meeting new people.  Every day he looks forward to chatting to musicians who sit on his bench in Clocktower Studios.

“Who who who are you?” he coos when his special musical guest arrives.  Across this 8-episode series of Pigeon on the Gate, Elfin will interview four fabulous musicians – Áine McGeeney, Caitlín Nic Gabhann, Síle Denvir, and Barry Kerr – who have composed brand new music and songs for the occasion.

 
Sign-up now to watch all episodes from Monday 8th November (for a limited time only):  https://tradoodletv.thinkific.com/courses/pigeon-on-the-gate

Who’s who on Pigeon on the Gate 

Artistic Director: Thomas Johnston 
Elfin voiced by: Thomas Baker
Musicians:  Áine McGeeney, Caitlín Nic Gabhann, Síle Denvir, Barry Kerr
Set design and animations: Emma Fisher-Owen
Puppet design and construction: Thomas Baker
Carpenter and scenic artist: Colin Bartley
Lighting design: Sebastian Pizarro
Sound engineer and mixing: Tomás Donaghy
Animation assistant: Ivan Fisher-Owen
Recorded at: An Taibhdhearc
Videographer: Gary de Búit at Studio 8 Labs

Pigeon on the Gate is a Ceol Connected production for Tradoodle TV.  Developed with the support of Monaghan County Council, Draíocht Arts Centre, and Music Generation Tipperary.  Funded by the Arts Council through the Traditional Arts Commissions Award.

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