The National Neighbourhood: Sea Songs, by Dublin City Council through the Dublin’s Culture Connects initiative, with the Clontarf Cub Scouts in partnership with the National Library of Ireland and Dublin City Gallery - The Hugh Lane. This is just one of many National Neighbourhood projects that are happening around the city with community groups, artists and some of our best-known cultural institutions. Communities involved range from craft groups to walking groups, choirs to colleges, nursing homes to hospitals, scout dens to schools. Projects are happening in Ballybough, Ballyfermot, Bluebell, Cabra, Coolock, Clontarf, Crumlin, Donnycarney, Fairview, Finglas, Inchicore, Raheny, Rathmines, Stoneybatter and the Liberties – to name a few! The National Neighbourhood is a Dublin City Council cultural programme run by the Dublin’s Culture Connects initiative. It spans the Dublin City Council region, and brings together Dublin City Public Libraries & Archive, Dublin City Arts Office and Dublin City Gallery - The Hugh Lane, in partnership with National Cultural Institutions (The Abbey Theatre, The National Museum of Ireland, The National Library of Ireland, The National Gallery of Ireland, The National Concert Hall, The Chester Beatty, The National Archives and The Irish Museum of Modern Art). With the National Neighbourhood, we want every neighbourhood to know and “own” their city’s cultural resources so we build cultural projects in community settings. We connect artists, groups and villages with libraries, museums and creative places to deepen their understanding of each other and themselves. Dublin’s Culture Connects is a Dublin City Council initiative, which aims to connect Dubliners to their city through culture and conversation. We develop activities and events that bring communities together, and to life. We base projects on people’s stories, wishes and experiences. We do this in the best way possible by listening, learning and sharing. We are not afraid to try new things. www.dublinscultureconnects.ie Cover Photo: Mark Stedman
Through our regular community engagement activity, Tea and Chats, Dublin’s Culture Connects found a recurring regard in Clontarf for the natural environment and a desire to protect and celebrate it. When we met with the leaders of 66 Naomh Eoin Scouts, we discovered that they too were thinking about their environment and wanted to get the cub scouts involved in a local environmental project. We came up with the idea of musicians working with the children to create songs to raise awareness, through music, of the need to protect our coastline. We introduced the scouts to musicians Donal Gunne and Eithne Ní Chatháin (Inni K). Over the last six months, forty 7-12 year old cub scouts have researched sea shanties and their local coastal area in the National Library of Ireland, have been inspired by exhibition visits to Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane, have workshopped songs with the musicians, have done litter picks and coastal watches and collected found objects on Dollymount strand to turn into recycled music instruments with artist Helen Barry. They now present an outdoor performance of sea songs they’ve written themselves, on instruments they’ve made themselves, to highlight the beauty of their coastline and to raise awareness about the effects of littering in the sea and what we can do about it. We invite you to be inspired by their drawings, illustrations and their important message. Sing along with us: the lyrics are in this book! Dublin’s Culture Connects, April 2018
Left & below: Dublin City Hugh Lane Gallery visit to The Ocean After Nature exhibition. November 2017. Photo: Arcade Film
Left: Donal Gunne teaching melody and rhythm techniques at the scout den. December 2017. Photo: Arcade Film
Left: Start of the big litter pick on Dollymount Beach. February 2018. Photo: Ruth Medjber
Right: Finish of litter pick on Dollymount beach. Photo: Mark Stedman
Left: Rainbow Guitar Photo: Denis O’Shea
Right: Recycled instruments craft class with artist Helen Barry. February 2018, Raheny Library. Photo: Arcade Film
Right: Percussion instruments. Photo: Denis O’Shea
Above: The drums. Photo: Denis O’Shea
Left: Shakers and bodhráns. Photo: Denis O’Shea
Left: Research for song lyrics at the National Library of Ireland. February 2018. Photo: Arcade Film
Right: Scout Leader Liz Pigott-Glynn guiding scouts through the archives of the National Library of Ireland. February 2018. Photo: Arcade Film
Left: Eithne Ní Chatháin’s introduction to teaching melody creation skills. December 2017. Photo: Arcade Film
Above: Donal Gunne and Eithne Ní Chatháin with scouts in scout den. March 2018. Photo: Ruth Medjber
Right: Melody creation in the scout den. March 2018. Photo: Ruth Medjber
Lyrics and music by Clontarf Cub Scouts with Donal Gunne and Eithne Ní Chatháin (Inni K).
The Big Blue Sea Up above I hear seagulls calling Waves all around me rising falling I hear children laugh I hear them play While my waves are waving And the ships are sailing The current flow The seaweed and fish I am their home And their home is me We’re the family of the big blue sea… The big blue sea The big blue sea The big blue sea In and out, in and out I am water In and out, in and out I keep the world together
Wearing down the rocks As the moon guides me To where I want to be All water flows to me I’m the anchor to the boats The creatures of the seafloor I am their home And their home is me We’re the family of the big blue sea… The big blue sea The big blue sea The big blue sea In and out, in and out I am water In and out, in and out I keep the world together
Drawn by Rowan Russell
Seal & Gull We swim in the sea, My brothers and sisters with me Our blubber keeps us warm, Even in the scariest of storms
Soaring with the rest of my flock The empty waters give us a shock No food around, the times are tight I guess it’s chips again tonight
Big dark oily metal creatures They are the seas main feature They suck up all our prey Hope one day they’ll swim away
Going to the sea Going to the sea Going to try and get some fish for me
Going to the sea Going to the sea Going to try and get some fish for me
All is wrong All is wrong For all the fish are Gone, gone, gone
All seems wrong All seems wrong For all the fish are Gone, gone, gone
No fish at all Not a single one One day not far it’ll be done, done done
Flying above the coastline I can see the bright sun shine From nest to sky to ocean Scanning below is my mission
All is wrong Hear our song, All the fish are Gone, gone, gone
Going to the sea Going to the sea To try and get some fish for me All is wrong All is wrong For all the fish are Gone, gone, gone Going to the sea Going to the sea To try and get some fish for me All is wrong All is wrong For all the fish are Gone, gone, gone
Drawn by Finn Byrne
Lost At Sea (Plastic’s Lament) Floating here like a boat, So far from the factory All the fish they seem to gloat They can swim much better than me I still miss life in a bin All the salt is making me grim Always wanted to be a better me had a dream to hold some sour cream Lost at sea, Lost at sea, This is not the life for me Nothing to do, Nothing to see, It’s so terrible, lost at sea. It’s so terrible, lost at sea. It’s so terrible, lost at sea. It’s so terrible, lost at sea. Dreamt I’d go to a recycle station Across the ocean in a far off nation Thrown away cause I was plain and white, New bags are made, printed and bright, Just as soon as I retired, Or maybe I was even fired I didn’t get a princely pension, No not that, even a mention
Lost at sea, What’s to be?, This is not the life for me Nothing to do, Nothing to see, It’s so terrible, lost at sea. It’s so terrible, lost at sea. It’s so terrible, lost at sea. It’s so terrible, lost at sea. Sorry to the Earth, It’s all my fault! Your world is being hurt Bringing all this life to a halt I’m so sick of all these waves All of these shameful days Getting tired of having to roam Everyday I drown in the foam (My best friend is some styrofoam) Lost at sea, What’s to be?, This is not the life for me Nothing to do, Nothing to see, It’s so terrible, lost at sea. It’s so terrible, lost at sea. It’s so terrible, lost at sea. It’s so terrible, lost at sea.
Drawn by Hugh McNally
Pollution Solution Respect the sea It’ll help you and me Let’s turn it around Hear us tell you how…. How can you use a waterbottle and throw it in the bin? How can you not believe that’s a sin! Hey! Get it out of the picture, we all can do much better Hey hey hey let’s get pollution out of Dublin Bay Respect the sea It’ll help you and me Let’s turn it around Hear us tell you how…. Wait! Take a minute; think and pause Why do even need one off straws? Whales eat them, they feel like claws Let’s make it against one hundred laws! Respect the sea It’ll help you and me Let’s turn it around Now we’ve told you how.
Drawn by Eoin Walsh
Drawn by Hugh McNally
66ú Naomh Eoin Cub Scouts, Clontarf The Clontarf scout group were established in 1931 and have since played a major role in the life of the parish. The group has over 120 members and is made up of Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Venturers and Rovers who take part in a huge range of activities in the locality and beyond. The scout programme encourages the physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual development of young people so that they may achieve their full potential and as responsible citizens, improve society. The Cub Scouts are between the ages of 8 and 11 and are led by Liz Pigott-Glynn, Pat Hollingsworth, Aislin Coyne, Alex Mooney, Bairbre Glynn, Aine Yeates and Ronan Smith. Clontarf Cub Scouts who participated in this project: Annie Spencer Ben Moreau Christopher Hackett Cian Zambra Conor O’Neill Daniel Hanley Dara Lavin Ella Roberts Emily Smyth Emily Yeates Eoin Walsh Eoin Mac Evilly
Farrah Connolly Finn Byrne George Sevastopulo Hugh McNally James Logan Jana Lena Koker Jessica Kelly John Leahy Jorgia Homer Joseph McGuigan Katie McMonagle Katie Morrissey
Kelli Byrne Leo Sharry Lua Spencer Malin Koker Max Clarke Megan Reynolds Mia Dervan Milly Kelly Noah McClintock Orna White Rachel Daly Ria Glynn
Rowan Russell Rose Spencer Sabhdh Mc Nally Sadhbh Burns-Teeling Sara Canavan Shane Young Sue O’Meara Tomek Flynn Travis Pounder
Artists Donal Gunne Donal Gunne is an accomplished guitarist and composer currently working and living in Dublin. In 2006 he co-founded the group Tucan who successfully charted albums in Ireland and have toured extensively both at home and abroad. He has worked on numerous music and theatre projects alongside many of the country’s most talented artists with notable appearances at some of Ireland’s top festivals (The Electric Picnic, Body & Soul, Longitude) and venues (The National Concert Hall, Vicar Street). Eithne Ní Chatháin Eithne Ní Chatháin (Inni-K) is a Dublin based singer, multi-instrumentalist & songwriter originally from Co. Kildare. Her distinct style of indie-folk has earned her consistent praise since the release of her acclaimed debut album ‘The King has Two Horse’s Ears’ in 2015 & more recently her new single ‘Edges’. She has toured the world with her music & looks forward to a summer of sweet festivals in Ireland www.inni-k.com Helen Barry Helen Barry is a visual artist whose collaborative work is integral to her practice. She has over 30 years experience engaging creatively with children, adults and older people through community participatory projects. Her work takes the form of interactive sculptural works, inventive musical instruments, installations, print and online books, performance and construction workshops. The National Concert Hall is supporting her current foray into music and sculpture. Helen has received several bursaries and commissions for her work and she is also a published children’s author and illustrator.
A special thank you to Dublin City Council and all at the Dublin’s Culture Connects initiative - www.dublinscultureconnects.ie Liz Pigott Glynn, Pat Hollingsworth, Aislin Coyne, Alex Mooney, Bairbre Glynn, Aine Yeates, Ronan Smith, 66ú Naomh Eoin Scouts, Clontarf - www.66thscoutsclontarf.com Denis O’Shea, Dublin City Libraries & Archive, Raheny Library - www.dublincity.ie/raheny-library Bríd O’Sullivan, The National Library of Ireland - www.nli.ie Jessica O’Donnell, Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane - www.hughlane.ie Sinead Connolly, Dublin City Arts Office - www.dublincityartsoffice.ie Kilian Waters, Daniel Keane, Arcade Film - www.arcade.film Ruth Medjber, Ruthless Imagery - www.ruthlessimagery.com Dublin City Council Parks and Landscape Services - www.dublincity.ie Madeleine Ebbs, Aileen Doyle and Tony Fagan, Dublin City Council North Central Area Office - www.dublincity.ie and all the cub scouts who participated in this project.
www.dublinscultureconnects.ie