The Song House

A series of 3 Online Poetry Workshops with Annemarie Ní Churreáin

Annemarie is an award winning poet from Cloich Cheann Fhaola in the Donegal Gaeltacht and current writer in residence at Maynooth University of Ireland.

3 x Wednesdays @ 10am – 1pm; 30th September, 28th October, 25th November (Individual Workshop €40/ All 3 €105)

Whether you are a seasoned or a budding poet, one or all of these workshops will have something very special to offer you. In the first Annemarie will guide you through the creation of your first draft. During the second, and with no prior experience necessary, you’ll get the chance to experiment using the Irish language. In the third and final workshop you’ll learn how to shape your poem.

Conor Ó Gallchóir agus Lillis Ó Laoire

A Donegal Workshop & Masterclass in Sean-Nós Singing

This is a bilingual Workshop designed to support intermediate to advanced Sean-Nós singers in developing their craft. During this workshop Conor and Lillis will guide you into deeper relationship with your Sean Singing style and skill. There will be opportunities for you to share your craft within the container of an interactive learning environment, where you will receive feedback, teachings, guidance and more. Due to this, places are limited.

A series of 3 Online Poetry Workshops with Annemarie Ní Churreáin

Annemarie is an award winning poet from Cloich Cheann Fhaola in the Donegal Gaeltacht and current writer in residence at Maynooth University of Ireland.

3 x Wednesdays @ 10am – 1pm; 30th September, 28th October, 25th November (Individual Workshop €40/ All 3 €105)

Whether you are a seasoned or a budding poet, one or all of these workshops will have something very special to offer you. In the first Annemarie will guide you through the creation of your first draft. During the second, and with no prior experience necessary, you’ll get the chance to experiment using the Irish language. In the third and final workshop you’ll learn how to shape your poem.

The Rules have changed - Where to now?

This Samhain at the Song House, we explore contemporary challenges through ancient ways. Join us as we mark the transition of more than just seasons, through contemplation and discussion, celebration and song.

With Fran O’ Boyle

In Story and Conversation with Fran O’Boyle Storyteller Scealaí

Join us this Samhain at the Song House Fire side, where Fran will share the treasures inherent in the craft of Storytelling. Included in this experience you will get to participate in a live conversation & Q & A with Fran as well as hear some of the wonderful stories he has uncovered and is uncovering around our local landscape of Donegal and the North West.

A modern twist on a Raking tradition Hosted by The Song House with Fran O’Boyle Join us this November for an online Raking gathering. The Song House invites you to gather in the spirit of sharing a yarn, a song or whatever you’d like to bring along. You are welcome also to join us as […]

A series of 3 Online Poetry Workshops with Annemarie Ní Churreáin

Annemarie is an award winning poet from Cloich Cheann Fhaola in the Donegal Gaeltacht and current writer in residence at Maynooth University of Ireland.

3 x Wednesdays @ 10am – 1pm; 30th September, 28th October, 25th November (Individual Workshop €40/ All 3 €105)

Whether you are a seasoned or a budding poet, one or all of these workshops will have something very special to offer you. In the first Annemarie will guide you through the creation of your first draft. During the second, and with no prior experience necessary, you’ll get the chance to experiment using the Irish language. In the third and final workshop you’ll learn how to shape your poem.

With Candy Verney and Lindsey Williams

Fed up with Covid? We can still sing together! Come join us to celebrate the festive season:

• Unusual and forgotten carols from around Ireland, the UK and other parts of the world
• Easy Winter rounds
• Learn one or two harmony parts

With Candy Verney and Maria Wood

Fed up with Covid? We can still sing together! Come join us to celebrate the festive season:

• Unusual and forgotten carols from around Ireland, the UK and other parts of the world
• Easy Winter rounds
• Learn one or two harmony parts

With Candy Verney and Joseph Moras

Fed up with Covid? We can still sing together! Come join us to celebrate the festive season:

• Unusual and forgotten carols from around Ireland, the UK and other parts of the world
• Easy Winter rounds
• Learn one or two harmony parts

A series of three workshops With Troy Devaney

For All Levels

Interested in the art of songwriting and not sure where to start? Or perhaps you would like to develop your existing songwriting skills? Then this is the course for you. Focusing on the method, structure and creativity of songwriting, this 3-part workshop will provide you with the skills and confidence you need to continue on your journey as a songwriter

A modern twist on a Raking tradition

Hosted by The Song House

Join us this January for an online Raking gathering. The Song House invites you to gather in the spirit of sharing a yarn, a song or whatever you’d like to bring along. You are welcome also to join us as an observer.

With Rita Gallagher and John Tunney

A Donegal Workshop & Masterclass in Sean-Nós Singing

Following on from the success of our Donegal Song workshop, we are delighted to bring to you this English language exploration of sean-nós singing.

Are you looking to learn about traditional Irish singing? Sean-Nós is an ancient ornamented style of singing, typically unaccompanied by instruments.

Sowing the seeds to come

Imbolc is a special time - Winter has not yet passed from the land, and yet our hearts and minds turn naturally to the coming Spring. What will accompany us on our way? Here at the Song House we are delighted to continue the tradition of honouring and celebrating the turning of the wheel of the year. Join us as we mark this bridging time!

A modern twist on a Raking tradition

Hosted by The Song House with David Ingerson

Join us this February for an online Raking gathering. The Song House invites you to gather in the spirit of sharing a yarn, a song or whatever you’d like to bring along. You are welcome also to join us as an observer.

A series of 3 workshops with Ali Burns and Candy Verney

Take refuge in harmony, in rhythm and rhyme; in singing inspiring new songs for our times

In this series of 3 workshops Ali Burns and Candy Verney will each share some of their compositions and arrangements from recent years where poetic lyrics, rhythm and soaring transcendent harmonies combine in magical alchemy to create songs that are satisfying and special to sing.

In this series of 3 workshops Ali Burns and Candy Verney will each share some of their compositions and arrangements from recent years where poetic lyrics, rhythm and soaring transcendent harmonies combine in magical alchemy to create songs that are satisfying and special to sing.

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.

Sunday evenings are the highlight of my week as I find it has a still and sacred energy that inspires me to sing spiritual songs and contemplate the wonder and gifts of our existence and the boundless love of God. One Sunday evening each month I will be offering sacred songs from many traditions which are simple to sing, all are welcome. We will gather on Zoom and I will sing accompanied by guitar. The participants will be muted whilst singing (because of the time lag).
The traditions include Christianity, Earth based spirituality honouring the Earth and the elements and life cycles, Judaism, Buddhism, Sufi, Hinduism. Together we will dive into these beautiful songs, both new and ancient.

A modern twist on a Raking tradition

Hosted by The Song House with Ita Fitzmahoney

Join us this March for an online Raking gathering. The Song House invites you to gather in the spirit of sharing a yarn, a song or whatever you’d like to bring along. You are welcome also to join us as an observer.

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.

A modern twist on a Raking tradition

Hosted by The Song House with singer/songwriter Andrew Roddy

Join us this April for an online Raking gathering. The Song House invites you to gather in the spirit of sharing a yarn, a song or whatever you’d like to bring along. You are welcome also to join us as an observer.

Ancient traditions for modern times

Hosted by The Song House and Jenny O'Hare

Bealtaine is one of the traditional fire festivals of the Celtic Wheel of the Year. Also known to many as Beltane, or even as May Day, it is a potent time of year when we mark the passage of Spring to Summer, and celebrate the harvest and abundance that we will soon welcome. Join us as we gather online in a warm space to honour the seasons and our place within them, bringing time honoured traditions to life for our modern days.

A unique opportunity to participate in an ancient living tradition of seán-nós singing, dancing and storytelling from NW Ireland

With John Tunney, Noeleen Ní Cholla, Emma O' Sullivan, and many more wonderful tradition bearers

Fri 7th – Sun 9th May 2021 @ 7-9pm each evening (GMT +1 )

After a very successful Irish Traditional Song Online weekend last year, we are putting this exciting event on again, with even more fantastic performers in the fields of song, storytelling and dance.

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.

A weekend dedicated to Birds & Biodiversity - especially the Corncrake

In Collaboration with the Corncrake Traonach LIFE Project, With Special guests Aengus Kennedy & Malcolm Green

Fri 21st – Sat 22nd May 2021 @ 7.30 - 9.30pm each evening (GMT +1 )

This weekend is inspired by the Corncrake. Parts of Donegal, particularly the offshore islands of Inishboffin and Tory, are some of the few habitable landscapes left for what was once a bountiful bird across the entire Island of Ireland & the UK. As such, the decline in the Corncrake population has seen it added as a red listed breed. However, there is much being done to ensure the protection of this bird, with conservation and habitat management initiatives by Birdwatch Ireland and most recently the Corncrake Traonach Life project.

A modern twist on a Raking tradition

Hosted by The Song House with storyteller Brigitte Hirsig

Join us this April for an online Raking gathering. The Song House invites you to gather in the spirit of sharing a yarn, a song or whatever you’d like to bring along. You are welcome also to join us as an observer.

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.

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.

Ancient Medicine for Modern Times

Hosted by The Song House and Jenny O'Hare

Lughnasadh (or Lamas as you may know it) has it's origins in the Celtic harvest feast day. It is named for the Sun God Lugh, who showed the Celts how to harvest. This time provides us with an opportunity to celebrate life and the abundance that this time of year brings. It also encourages us to meditate on the slow descent into darkness. Traditional celebrations would see golden sun gatherings focussed on the harvest of corn and other crops, matchmaking and offerings to the Faerie folk. Our celebration will take the more modern manifestation of an online gathering via Zoom.

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.

A Series of Online Literary Events

With Annemarie Ní Churreáin & Charlie Gracie

A series of online literary events to mark the 1500th birth anniversary of Colmcille. Led by Irish poet Annemarie Ní Churreáin and Scottish poet Charlie Gracie, these will include public workshops, poetry readings and podcast/webinar discussions: creating a space for poetry, reflection and the exploration of cross-cultural perspectives of Colmcille.

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.

A Series of Online Literary Events

With Annemarie Ní Churreáin & Charlie Gracie

A series of online literary events to mark the 1500th birth anniversary of Colmcille. Led by Irish poet Annemarie Ní Churreáin and Scottish poet Charlie Gracie, these will include public workshops, poetry readings and podcast/webinar discussions: creating a space for poetry, reflection and the exploration of cross-cultural perspectives of Colmcille.

A modern twist on a Raking tradition

Hosted by The Song House with Ita Fitzmahoney

Join us this September for the return of our Raking gatherings. The Song House invites you to gather in the spirit of sharing a yarn, a song or whatever you’d like to bring along. You are welcome also to join us as an observer.

Ita Fitzmahony has been telling stories for about 11 years since she accidentally fell into a job as a museum Tour Guide in 2010 as an out of work actor. She has also studied Clown through Mask which is based on the North American Clown tradition. Having spent a number of years telling stories from the rich tradition of Irish Myths and Legends, Ita put on a site specific one woman show at the National Leprechaun Museum in 2014 to highlight the great and rather under-represented or written off women of our stories. In 2017 Ita took to the stage again to do a little stand-up comedy but that all came to an abrupt end this time last year. Of all the arts she practices, storytelling is probably the most flexible in terms of live or virtual audience, and it’s a great joy to be able to share it.

A Series of Online Literary Events

With Annemarie Ní Churreáin & Charlie Gracie

A series of online literary events to mark the 1500th birth anniversary of Colmcille. Led by Irish poet Annemarie Ní Churreáin and Scottish poet Charlie Gracie, these will include public workshops, poetry readings and podcast/webinar discussions: creating a space for poetry, reflection and the exploration of cross-cultural perspectives of Colmcille.

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.

A modern twist on a Raking tradition

Hosted by The Song House with David Ingerson

Join us this October for another online Raking gathering. The Song House invites you to gather in the spirit of sharing a yarn, a song or whatever you’d like to bring along. You are welcome also to join us as an observer.

Ancient Medicine for Modern Times: Samhain, Deep Ecology, Ceremony and more….

With the turning of the seasons, we invite you to the Songhouse to participate in our Sacred Seasonal offering. As part of our Wheel of the Year series, we are hosting a special weekend, exploring the themes of Samhain, Deep and Sacred Ecology and the relevance of these for our modern times.

Samhain is a special season, the turning of the year towards rich depth. We will mark this shift with practices deeply rooted in Nature Connection, learning modules centred around Spiritual Ecology and Deep Ecology, and practices to explore resilience and restore relationship to place.

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.

A modern twist on a Raking tradition

Hosted by The Song House with Linn Phipps

Join us this November for another online Raking gathering. The Song House invites you to gather in the spirit of sharing a yarn, a song or whatever you’d like to bring along. You are welcome also to join us as an observer.

Songs for the dark turn of the year

With Ali Burns and Candy Verney

• Join two highly experienced choir leaders for 4 sessions of festive seasonal singing
• Unusual and forgotten carols from around Ireland, UK and other parts of the world
• Easy Winter Songs
• Learn one or two harmony parts

In this series of workshops, Ali will bring some of her own beautiful easy winter songs and rounds – some based on words found when researching older carols, some written especially for this event.

Candy will be exploring unusual carols from diverse traditions and will be sharing their fascinating history as we learn them. Even though many of the carols date from centuries past they are still fresh and fun to sing with wonderful tunes and make a vibrant living tradition that continues in pubs around the UK.

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.

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.

A modern twist on the Raking tradition

Lead contributor to be confirmed

We will be delighted to share Part 2 of our Poetry Video Series. This time exploring the theme of Power and Conflict. 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. More information on lead contributor to follow, we are just ironing out the details.

St Colmcille, also known as Columba is a very rich and significant historical figure who during the workshops Annemarie described as ‘being at the intersection between pagan and Christian Ireland’. Anecdotally, Colmcille has been described by others as ‘the last Druid’ and this perhaps flooded his known and documented poetic appreciation and love for the beauty of landscape, the natural world and in particular, his beloved Ireland.

A modern twist on a Raking tradition

Hosted by The Song House with Joanie Bones

Join us this April for an online gathering led by singer Joanie Bones. The Song House invites you to gather in the spirit of sharing a yarn, a song or whatever you’d like to bring along. You are welcome also to join us as an observer.

We will also be delighted to share the third and final part of our Poetry Video Series. The theme this time is 'Connecting with the figure of Colmcille/Columba'. 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.

Series of five listening circles for women, bringing connection and community around issues often unspoken.

With Joanie Bones

Joanie Bones is coming to the Songhouse in September, leading a 3 day event bringing ceremony and song to major waymarks on a woman's life path.

In the lead up to September Joanie is offering a series of listening circles around topics of womanhood that often go undiscussed, and yet have daily resonance for women.

What is means to be a woman, our connection with our bodies, sexuality... Joanie will hold space for sharing experiences and views, learning from each other and connection on these and other powerful themes. And doing a bit of singing too.