January 2022
Story, Song and other Shenanigans – Imbolg
Imbolc and Exploring the Influence of Landscape - a special Raking gathering
With lead contribution by deep ecologist Jenny O’Hare
To mark the beginning of 2022, we try a little something different. During this raking gathering, we invite you to join us as we weave worlds, marking the transition of the seasons with Imbolc, share Christian, pre-Christian and Pagan inspired poetry with you and hear what you’d like to share with us, for Imbolc & Exploring the Influence of landscape.
Firstly, we welcome back deep ecologist Jenny O’ Hare, who will help us to understand the beauty and mythos of marking this time of year and how we can align ourselves with the potent and significant seasonal transition of Imbolc.
Also, we are delighted to share Part 1 of a Poetry Video Series with you called - Exploring the Influence of Landscape. The poems in these short videos were composed by attendees of our Colmcille poetry writing workshops held in the autumn. These three workshops were facilitated by Irish poet Annemarie Ni Churreain and Scottish poet Charlie Gracie and were supported by the Colmcille 1500 grant scheme marking his 1500 birth year anniversary. Part two and three will be presented at our February March and/or April raking gatherings – more info on this to follow.
Find out more »February 2022
The Subject Tonight is Love – February 2022
An evening of sacred songs
With Chloe Greenwood
This is an invitation to join me for an hour on Sunday evening , to drop into a sacred space, with songs and poetry from the worlds spiritual traditions.
Find out more »RE: Solas Writer’s Retreat – SOLD OUT
An immersive weekend of poetry, landscape & stories in the heart of the Donegal Gaeltacht
With Annemarie Ní Churreáin
25th - 27th Feb 2022
This event has now reached full capacity. We are looking into running the event later this year depending on interest. If you are interested and would like to be put on a waiting list for this, please contact info@thesonghouseireland.com with your details.
The Song House is delighted to present a special weekend retreat for writers of poetry at all levels. Hosted by Donegal poet Annemarie Ní Churreáin, the programme will feature poetry workshops, readings and one-to-one feedback sessions. Unfolding over two nights and three days, this retreat will offer poets a space to explore, reflect, share, dream and(re)connect with your creative voice in the lap of Errigal Mountain, and among the echoes and shadows of the ancient mythological gods. Solas, meaning ‘light’, is the theme for this weekend and we’ll be illuminating page, space and imagination through language, literature and community.
Find out more »March 2022
Introduction to Mens Work
Connection, Community and brotherhood weekend in Donegal
With Niall Graham and Robin Botley
18th - 20th March 2022
"No man is an Island.” John Donne
What we will explore on this Introduction to Menswork weekend:
- Communication skills: The power of words and agreements.
- Understanding the masculine archetypes and how they affect your life: Lover, Warrior, Magician, King are some, and we will explore their qualities.
- Finding your ‘blind spot’/ Shadow, and how does it impact your life?
- What is initiation and rites of passage? Why and when are these events necessary and of value?
- The importance of Elders and Mentors in society.
- Purpose and Mission: The importance of having a focus and direction for men.
The Subject Tonight is Love – March 2022
An evening of sacred songs
With Chloe Greenwood
This is an invitation to join me for an hour on Sunday evening , to drop into a sacred space, with songs and poetry from the worlds spiritual traditions.
Find out more »Ecology – The Original Medicine
Being well with Nature in Mind, and Song in Heart
With Michaela Mc Daid
Thursday 31st March 2022
Creating time and space for connection to nature, others and self. Quiet your mind, rest your body, and soothe your soul with ecotherapy and song in beautiful Donegal.
Find out more »April 2022
Community Choir Leadership Course April 2022
Community Choir Leadership Course
Led by Candy Verney
If you are interested in leading singing groups and choirs, or seeking to build your confidence in this area, this series of workshops will cover all the basics and much more.
Candy has been running community choir leadership trainings for 13 years. Many previous participants have gone on to make this their full time profession.
Find out more »Tending the Wild – An immersive wild food and medicine journey on the Wild Atlantic way
With Lucy O’Hagan
Follow the path of your ancestors and learn how to gather and process wild foods and medicines from coast to forest, river to field and all the hedgerows along the edges.
Join ethnobotanist and ancestral skills teacher Lucy O’Hagan on this 5 day journey to explore our inner and outer nature. We will rewild our minds and bodies as we explore a new environment from which to harvest nature’s bounty each day. You will learn how to safely identify and sustainably forage from a range of plants, trees, fungi, seaweed & lichens. Autumn is perhaps one of the most exciting times to be a forager. The abundance is overwhelming as the fruits of the year ripen, the nuts fall to the forest floor, the roots swell with medicine and the fungi burst through the carpeted woodland. Our ancestors surely would have filled their stores in preparation for the long winter ahead. So too you will fill your basket and process plants into salve, syrup, vinegar and pickles to take away with you.
Contact Lucy - at wildawake.ie for booking and further info.
Find out more »Spring, Song and Seaweed
With Lucy O’Hagan and Candy Verney
22-24 April 2022
Singing and Foraging go hand in hand and heart in heart
As you learn how to safely identify, sustainably harvest, process and preserve nature’s bounty, you will be encouraged to explore your own voice in giving thanks to the land and collectively rising up together with the rising tree sap.
Foraging and singing together can enhance strong inner and collective resilience, boost our immune systems and forge strong connections with the land, ourselves and with each other.
This offering is open to all levels, no experience is necessary.
Find out more »June 2022
Continuing Professional Development for Choir Leaders
For choir leaders and voice work practitioners
With Candy Verney and Sophie Grimmer
Sophie Grimmer and Candy Verney are launching this exciting new course, which combines voice development with choir leader skills.
This promises to be an exciting and restorative course, with a very high professional input from both teachers. Candy’s background is in community choir leadership. Sophie’s background is in opera performance, singing teaching and voice pedagogy research. Between us we can draw on extensive experience in diverse complementary fields to offer choir leaders professional support and further training in a wide range of topics.
Find out more »Voice and Choral feast on the Wild Atlantic Way
A week of immersive choral singing and voice work, surrounded by mountains and the Wild Atlantic Way
For singers with some experience of singing in choirs
24 June - 1 July 2022
With Candy Verney and Sophie Grimmer
Would you like to develop your voice further?
Have you sung in choirs for a while, and now you feel the need to deepen the quality of the sound?
Would you like to sing more challenging repertoire?
Would you like to immerse yourself in the beauty of the human voice, and have fun too?
Find out more »August 2022
Singing on the Wild Side
Singing Holiday on Ireland's Beautiful Wild Atlantic Way
With and Sarah Garden
26th August - 2nd September 2022
The experience of Singing on the Wild Side is far more than just a singing holiday. We sing every morning in the gorgeous large sunny singing room, with its beautiful acoustic, that looks out onto Muckish mountain. By the end of the week you will find yourself rested, rejuvenated and restored to your centred & grounded self, with a repertoire of up to 12 harmony songs – and that’s just the beginning…
Find out more »September 2022
Donegal – In Tune With Our Wild Nature
Shamanic Pilgrimage
With Andrew Steed
The Song House is delighted to welcome Andrew Steed and his fellow Pilgrims to Donegal during September 2022. Andrew is a shamanic healer, a transformation facilitator and a frequent traveller & guide into the realms of the lessor known, mystical & magical aspects of self, land and love. He is devoted to creating opportunities for individuals & groups to gather and experience the power of song, story, myth, ceremony and pilgrimage – so that they can ultimately, live more connected and compassion filled lives. This pilgrimage is full – please click on the link to Andrews website for other opportunities.
Find out more »