Music and Health

Music, Meditation and Mantra – A Creative Workshop at The Quiet House Retreat, Schull, West Cork, May 2019

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A beautiful and gentle days’ retreat in a nuturing rural West Cork location. This is a small group activity….intimate, soulful and relaxing. Treat yourself to a day of connecting with your intuition and creating your own personal heartsong through a gently facilitated and held space.

Lunch is provided in the cost….all you need to do is come along and enjoy the unfolding of the day.

To find out more about Mariananda and Quiet House Retreat visit her website here: www.quiethouseretreat.com 

 Early booking recommended as there are limited places available.

Bookings to Mariananda on 083 1852737 or by email to: marianandaexley@gmail.com

 

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Xmas Singing 2017

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Xmas singing came earlier for me this year…..and finished earlier than usual too. Ceol na Laoi had many appointments singing at The WestGate Foundation and the Nursing Unit at the Ballincollig Community Hospital. We also took songs out to the Glow Festival in Cork collecting for the Simon Community, Griffins Garden Centre collecting for local young cancer victim Ava and to Tescos for their childrens charity.

I especially enjoyed singing with the Cope Foundation and Co Action groups from Clonakilty again this year, when once again we took to the streets of Clonakilty in the Land Train to visit and sing for two nursing homes.

Have a great festive season everyone and stay warm!!

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Catch a Choir Day, Ballincollig for World Mental Health Month Oct. 2017

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What a fantastic day in Ballincollig with Ceol na Laoi, West Cork BIG SING!, Voices of Cork and the WestGate Choirs….WELL DONE EVERYONE!! And a big THANK YOU to all the support we had, with special thanks to: The Castle Gate Shopping Centre; Librabry, Nosh and Coffee, The Plaza Cafe, Ballincolig Business Association, Rugby Club; Dick O’Reily (photography), Catherine Hassett (Ballincollig Health and Wellbeing), Eoin Nash (Cope Foundation), Ballincollig branches of Downs and Quishes SuperValu stores and Dunne’s Store, and the fantastic team of women who helped getting ready for the big day from Ceol na Laoi….especially Elaine who helped to coordinate the event.

Community Music Sessions at Lisheens House, Skibbereen October 2017

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Initially these sessions were set up with forming a singing group in mind, and have now been expanded to provide a facilitated space where people can come together with others to enjoy a variety of music activities such as: playing with rhythms and body-percussion, song writing, and playing instruments alongside singing songs. These sessions are open to anyone who would like to come along, regardless of experience.

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Singing Weekend and Training day in Naas, Co. Kildare November 4th/5th 2017

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My next visit to Naas, Co. Kildare has now been confirmed for the weekend of 4th/5th November and will include an ‘Introduction to Leading Groups in Song’ Training Day on Saturday 4th from 10am-5pm. This day is aimed at anyone wishing to develop their skills in bringing singing into group work. On the Sunday we will have another Singing Workshop which will include exploring body percussion as well as discussion on the possibility of a BIG SING! event into the area next year!

Singing Weekend in Naas November 2017(1)

World Mental Health Week ‘Catch a Choir Day’ event in Ballincollig 14th October 2017

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In recognition of World Mental Health Month, Ceol na Laoi-Ballincolligs’ Community Choir, in collaboration with the West Cork Big Sing Project will be staging an event to celebrate and promote singing as an activity that enhances community well-being on Saturday 14th October .

Local community choirs will be performing in a number of venues around Ballincollig, providing an opportunity for the groups to share their songs and visibly demonstrate the benefits of participation to the wider community.

We are delighted to be hosting the Voices of Cork, the Westgate Choir and the West Cork BIG SING! Choir alongside Ceol na Laoi. The participating venues are: Castle West Shopping Centre (various times); Ballincollig Library (2.30pm and 3.30pm); Nosh and Coffee Cafe (4pm); and The Plaza Bistro in Times Square (2.30pm). These times are approximate and all the choirs will start off singing together at 2pm in Castle West Shopping Centre.

So whilst you are out and about in the town centre on the afternoon of Saturday 14th between 2-4.30pm, try and CATCH A CHOIR and enjoy some fabulous singing!

Programme for Catch a choir day(2)

 

The West Cork BIG SING! project supports a new Community Singing Group for Lisheens House, Skibbereen October 2017

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SINGING IS GOOD FOR US!!!

Being around music can bring warmth into a cold day, more joy into your heart, and provide a great environment in which to relax and de-stress. Lisheens House is a fantastic project with the aim of preventing suicide and self harm. In their new premises beside the West Cork Hotel in Skibbereen, they have opened a new Music Library where people can come and relax, listen to CD’s – or even try out playing one of the instruments in the room!

In acknowledgement and awareness of the benefits music brings to each individual we have decided to team up and create time for Community Singing as a weekly activity at the Centre on Wednesdays from 3-5pm.

The idea behind this new group activity is to provide a space where ANYONE over 18 years can come along and enjoy singing with others, regardless of experience, in a safe and non-judgemental space. It is a place where you can meet others, have fun, learn a few new songs and maybe share a few you already know, try things out…. or even come and simply enjoy listening if you don’t feel like joining in! We will also share a cup of tea together following the session, creating the time to get to know one another over time.

Please do spread the word and come and join us.

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Catch a Choir Day and BIG SING! for choirs in Ballincollig for Mental Health Week in October 2017

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The next West Cork BIG SING! event is well into it’s planning stages now as we prepare for a collaboration with Ceol na Laoi – Ballincolligs’ Community Choir, to mark Mental Health Week on Saturday 14th October. Local choirs with a focus on mental health and inclusive singing will be performing their songs for free in a number of venues around Ballincollig to promote singing as an inclusive activity for community wellbeing. Further information on the choirs and locations they can be heard in will be confirmed soon. To follow, the participating choirs will enjoy an evening of performing for each other and share in a BIG SING! together to close the day.

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Singing Picnic at Myross Wood Retreat Centre July 2017

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I have only recently discovered the beautiful venue of Myross Wood and am delighted to be welcomed to hold this event there. As well as a picnic, the day will encompass workshops and the opportunity to hear something of some of the choirs local to the area. This is the first West Cork BIG SING! Singing Picnic and the hope is to hold more in various locations around West Cork…. and further afield.

Programme of the day:

11am: Tea, coffee and chat about the West Cork BIG SING! project and it’s possible future direction and activities.

12pm: Songwriting workshop, “What singing (and/or being part of a choir) means to me”.

1pm: Singing Circle – a warm up session singing short and easy songs with Jane Goss.

2pm: Picnic – bring a chair, blanket and food and drink to share. Choirs sing!

2.30pm: Childrens’ Singing Session with Lisa Canty (under 5’s to be accompanied by an adult)

3.30pm: Singing Workshop – a combination of larger songs from the existing BIG SING! collection plus some new ones with Caz Jeffreys.

5.00pm: Social: A chance to drink tea, chat and to take the time to walk around the grounds, enjoying the beautiful trails before you leave.

Suggested donation of €10 per person

In the event of bad weather the event will continue with ample sized indoor spaces to meet, sing and picnic together.

Children are welcome and parents must take full responsibility for their safety.

If you need to bring your dog, please ensure that they are kept on a lead.

WCBS Summer Singing Picnic(2)