The Birds' Song Book

It seems like a long time since the end of July when we launched Tom's children's book at Fiddlers Green Festival back at the end of July.  Since then we've waited to promote it until we decided how to proceed.  It has been taken back to primary schools in England, Germany, Denmark, Australia and Canada and there's already a German translation of it, so there are possiblities if we can follow them.  It has even ended up on the desk of the President of Ireland!

The Birds' Song is a fun song about the problems of immigration ... and when we first started to sing it in folk clubs, several people asked for it to be put into a book for children as it relates to the themes of diversity and culture that they focus on for 6 and 7 year olds.  

So now we're onto its second print (and we're delighted to be able to take the price down a wee bit) and we're just starting to get it out beyond friends and family and the local area, so fingers and toes crossed that we can get it to those who like to read to children and teach them songs.  One teacher in Liverpool has promised to teach it to her children for christmas assembly and video it for us - that would be so exciting and another friend in Germany who did the translation of it is also teaching it to  her 6 and 7 year olds. 

The Birds'Song illustrated for children in a 16pp book
to teach that differences are good.

Robin and his friends Blackbird and Thrush are wondering why the foreign birds are not visiting and think that something is afoot.  Are other birds stopping them at the borders?  

The Birds' Song is a gentle parody song about immigration, in a language that children can understand.  It is told from the perspective of the home birds versus the migrating birds. It was Tom's idea and he wrote the text.   It has been illustrated beautifully by Colum McEvoy and I wrote the music.

“We may have different feathers and sing a different song
But when we sing together the differences are gone.”

Aimed at children aged 5-7 years old and covering themes of diversity and culture, the Birds’ Song book is 16 pages, A4, has the sheet music included and is priced at £6.

Listen to The Birds Song here
Purchase here

A quick trip to West Cork and a great idea

Gosh I'm so far behind with posting photos and coming by to say hello.   Every time I think I've something ready, something else needs doing .... aargh ... but I'll catch up.   I will, I will, I WILL :)

So to recover we ran away for a few days to West Cork.  And got a heatwave for our trouble.   

PURE BLISS.

We did a couple of songs with the fabulous John Spillane (the essence of West Cork someone called him) in the wonderful de Barra's Folk Club which was our reason for being down that far south (it's about a 5 hour drive from here) - so to capitalise on it we decided to take our caravan (adding another couple of hours to the drive) and have a wee break which was worth it.   

We've played in de Barra's several times, but maybe 25 years ago - we were wondering if one of our posters might be at the bottom of this pile we spotted on the wall!













As a bonus we hit upon the annual Old Time Fair and Brass Band Competition on Saturday  - a really joyful day of swing music, old trades, everyone in great form and the shops doing flying business.


Clonakilty is a beautiful town at the best of times, with loads of boutiques, great places to eat, excellent music and lovely pubs - it's about 40 minutes west of Cork city and well worth a visit if you're ever around those parts.

Here's a blast of the wonderfully fun (and pink) Ambling Band from Bristol who treated us to a splendid round of well known songs and got the whole crowd joining in the Can Can.   And they lead the final parade of vintage cars and steam engines in the evening.  If you're ever needing a band to add a bit of fun to your festival these guys are the business.

And the wonderful idea?  

I spotted this sign in a cafe and I'm sure there are uses for it everywhere ... 

The photo's a bit blurry but it says

A Brilliant Idea.

RECYCLED MUGS
TO TAKE AWAY
Reduce Use of Paper Cups
If possible please return
DROP OFF YOUR UNUSED MUGS HERE.

We're getting ready for Fiddlers Green Festival now, coming up in under 2 weeks - a couple of gigs for us and for Singmarra and Tom's book launch - and also preparing for a tour of the Emigrant Woman's Tale over the Winter - so lots going on.

Hopefully I'll see you again before too long.
In the meantime, I hope you're enjoying your summer (or Winter, Susan :) ) .

On the way home

Saying goodbye to Denmark,
Molly thought we were there to play with her!!

After nearly a month on the road, we're nearly back home.   The ferry gets back in to Ireland in another couple of hours, then it's one more concert in Co. Cork and up to the North on Saturday.

We've driven almost 6000 kms (about 3,700 miles), been through France, Germany, into Denmark, back down into Luxembourg, had lunch in Belgium on the way to the ferry and now back to Ireland.   Not once did we spot another right hand drive car until we pulled up at check in last night.

We've played 13 concerts in churches, theatres, clubs, pubs and houses and even in an aircraft hangar - met old friends all over the place and made many new friends.   Practised our French and Germany, learned a few words in Danish and were impressed by the Luxemburgers who as a matter of course speak 3 languages, oh and plus English naturally!   Many of them speak 5 languages seamlessly.

We've kept company with cats and dogs as well as friends and sold lots of CDs.   All the concerts were really well received and we're well pleased with the tour in general.

Got her to sit down this time - with Kanne from Sommersted, Barney from Kiel and Tom and myself,
bags packed and ready to head down into Germany again

But 3 1/2 weeks is a long time away from home and 6000 kms is a long time sitting down.  We're so fed up with all the roadworks on the German motorways - what a pain - it felt like the whole country is getting a new road surface. I'm looking forward to emptying the suitcase and various bags and seeing what treasures I've brought home - goodies :)   And also to getting a bit more internet time - I've missed reading all your stories and seeing your photos - roaming charges are way too high to be indiscriminate about logging in each day and in people's houses you want to chat rather than work.  

But most of all I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed - a different bed each night, even though they were all comfy and lovely beds, checking the layout of the room before going to sleep in case I need to get up in the middle of the night without tripping over something, becomes a bit unsettling.  However we are now experts on both showers and beds and mattresses  - so if you need any advice about the best ones to get, I'm your man!!

I'll be back with some pictures from the trip in coming weeks - memories for my own historical records department ...