COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

MOTION NO. 19

MOTION: Councillor C. Jones

"That this Committee congratulates all involved in delivering another successful Ruaille Buaille festival and that this Committee states its commitment to supporting the future funding of this festival recognising its significance as the only children's music festival in the country."

REPORT:

Building on the success of previous festivals, South Dublin County Council Arts Office and Library Services have just delivered another highly succesful Ruaille Buaille Lucan! Children's Music Festival in the Lucan area.  This year's festival involved four music strands; traditional - Ruaille Buaille Lucan! Voices, a school choir programme with Musicians in Residence Tríona and Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill and harpist Laoise Kelly and TradMad workshop with Gerry O'Connor, a mini PROMS open air event on Lucan Village Green with Slovakian violinist Vladimir Jablokov and guests, a World Music day of percussion workshops with Itchy Feet and performance by Tig Linn at Griffeen Park and a classical music strand including a performance by students of the RIAM for young students.

Focusing on accessibility and quality, the festival programme included  interactive events for all ages, from the Sing your Socks Off musical  adventure for pre-school children to an extensive series of workshops in local schools including Traditional Song for school choirs, White  Noise human beatbox workshops and Dabbledoomusic workshops. Free family events in Lucan Library included; A Musical Story exploring musical heritage from Slovakia and Ireland, World Music Workshop, performance by White Noise, Opera Mask-making Workshop and Elvis Song-writing workshop.

Recognising the success of the outdoor events in previous years to attract new audiences to the festival two locations were utilised again this year, Lucan Village Green for Ruaille Buaille Lucan! Mini Proms Day and the Festival Finale at Griffeen Park that invited local families to try out world percussion instruments, experience a highly energised performance by Afro/Irish group Tig Linn and learn African rhythms and dance moves.

Throughout the five days young people of all ages and abilities were encouraged to try out instruments, create music together as part of a group, and develop rhythm, performance, vocal and listening skills. Guest artists delivered performances of the highest standard within relaxed environments that encouraged children to interact with both the music and musicians.  The use of Lucan Library as a festival hub was particularly successful, embedding the festival within the local community and utilising existing community networks.

With over thirty events taking place over five days Ruaille Buaille Lucan! saw audience numbers for this years festival increase again particularly for the outdoor events taking place in Lucan Village Green and Griffeen Park. Through a targeted marketing plan festival brochures were distributed throughout the Lucan, Adamstown and Palmerstown areas, as well as throughout South Dublin County Council Library Services and the South Dublin Arts Office database.   A focused online promotional campaign was delivered through The Arts Office, Library Services and Artscope with information on their websites, twitter and facebook to highlight the festival and individual events. The festival and specific events were listed on  www.discoverireland.ie, entertainment.ie, culturefox.ie and was also highlighted in the Dublin Event Guide e-newsletter.  Audience numbers 2013: 5,000