New growth at The Song House
It’s been a while, but we hope you’ve all had a deep and restful time over the winter. One that’s been full of nourishing inner work and has planted the seeds of new ideas and growth over the coming year. The house has been warming up again, to continue the work we’ve always done, while looking for new ways to support our Song House community.
Growing a woodland
First to mention is that work has begun on growing a woodland on a new plot of land we recently acquired, which extends the Song House grounds by two acres. We plan to make a little forest walk of it, flanked by birch, willow, oak, and other native trees. After a day of solid work, supported by generous local friends, we have have also started to work out the locations for the paths, a small bridge, a gathering fire circle, and perhaps a hut or two. We look forward to watching this grow in the years to come, letting things settle in and making little decisions and adjustments as we go, to bring to land into what it wishes to be.
Speaking of adjustments, Candy and Robin have decided its time to spend more time in UK and be closer to their grandchildren, and therefore reducing their involvement with the day to day business of the house. Over the last year, many of you may have already met, emailed or chatted with our coordinator Paul. He’s been working away on building the new website, bringing together many aspects of the behind the scenes business, and taking on more and more of the interaction with our Song House community.
Through the coming year he will take on the majority of the work in keeping the house running. While Candy and Robin will still very much be present and involved, this frees them up to spend a lot more quality time with their families. Paul is very excited about continuing the work that the house is already known and loved for, as well as the potential for bringing in all sorts of new and interesting voices to keep it growing and thriving.
We encourage anyone who has an interest in coming to or renting the house (or just has a question) to get in touch with him on our usual email…
info@thesonghouseireland.com
… and having a chat. He’s really quite nice.
We’re also pleased to announce that of our three main summer singing courses this year, two of them are booked out! If you would still like to visit the house and share in song with like-minded folk this summer, then places are still available on our 23rd-30th August ‘Singing on the Wild Side’ week.
You can sign up and place a deposit, all via our website, here:
https://www.thesonghouseireland.com/singing-on-the-wild-side-1
We want to thank everyone who has visited or shown interest in the house over the past few years. Your friendship and support means a lot to us. Here’s to many more years to come!
With love,
All at The Song House
Solas Writer’s Retreat
with Annemarie Ní Churreáin
7th - 10th November
Annemarie Ní Churreáin, celebrated Donegal poet and friend of the house, returns this November for another special weekend workshop open to poets of all experience. Gather round this Samhain, to celebrate that special time of year when the veil between this world and the Otherworld is at its thinnest. The retreat will offer an immersive space for you to explore, reflect, learn and write in the lap of Muckish Mountain, and among the echoes and shadows of Lugh Lámhfhada and other mythological ghosts.
Annemarie Ní Churreáin’s books include Bloodroot (Doire Press, 2017), Town (The Salvage Press, 2018) and The Poison Glen (The Gallery Press, 2021). She is a recipient of the Arts Council’s Next Generation Artist Award and a co-recipient of The Markievicz Award. The Yale Review has reported that Ní Churreáin “often captures a whole world of cultural and historical implications in a single, simple, but metaphorically rich image”. Ní Churreáin has held literary fellowships in the U.S. and throughout Europe. She is the poetry editor at The Stinging Fly magazine.
For further information and booking visit our website via the button below.
