A message from our Artistic Director
Welcome to the third year of Tradoodle Festival Monaghan.
When we began to plan this year’s Tradoodle Festival in early 2021, which now seems like a lifetime ago, we could never have imagined the challenges and change that would lie ahead. Since Spring, children and their adults across the county and further afield have no doubt experienced various degrees of uncertainty, confusion, and unease about what lies ahead. It has also been a trying time for the arts, with artists, arts workers, festivals, and arts organisations working hard to bravely navigate an ever-changing landscape.
Amongst this uncertainty, and in this year like no other, what has become crystal clear is that it is more important than ever for children to have opportunities to connect with and discover meaning, creativity, comfort, and joy through the arts.
In response to changing levels and associated restrictions, Tradoodle Festival’s plans have changed, and changed again. What hasn’t changed however has been our commitment to bringing high quality experiences of the traditional arts, as well as a range of other art forms, to children across Co. Monaghan and further afield. During these strange times, we’re more determined than ever to sing and dance, to play and create, and to wonder and be curious,
So, let’s get to it! This year’s theme is TREEHOUSE, so everyone – get ready to grab climb your rope ladder, jump onto that old rubber tyre, and swing right in!
Tradoodle Festival is ready to bring a wide range of online events to school and family audiences across the county. Our exciting programme led by a team of wonderful and inspiring artists features:
Dancing in the Treetops sean-nós dancing
Curious Creatures visual arts workshops
Song Ties inter-generational project
Whistle in the Wind outdoor musical trail and installations
TREEHOUSE 360 immersive gig theatre experience
Sensory Songs multisensory musical gifts
Butterfly Sing early years workshop
Tunes for Tiny song workshops
We hope that you’ll get to join us, sing, dance, laugh, be curious and wide-eyed, explore, learn some new things, and see what else Tradoodle has to offer!
A sincere thanks to our funders and supporters. Tradoodle Festival is funded by the Arts Council and Creative Ireland, and supported by Monaghan County Council and local partners.