Schools Program
    

School Presentations on Irish Culture and Tradition

Presenters: Irish Seanachie ( Storyteller ) Batt Burns
Irish Musician and Singer, Maura Burns.

Since 1994 Batt and his wife, Maura, have been making presentations in elementary, middle and high schools all over the USA. In 1998 both were sponsored by The Kellog Foundation to work for a week in the Battle Creek/Kalamazoo area of Michigan as part of the “ Artist in Residence” series. The couple also did a series of presentations for children in The Kennedy Centre in Washington DC in 2000.
 
 
 

Maura Burns is a member of the O' Dwyer family of traditional musicians from Ardgroom in the rugged Beara Peninsula in Co. Cork. Her late mother, Ella Mae, was one of Ireland's best concertina players and a great exponent of the West Limerick style, which Maura has now inherited. Both Maura and Ella Mae were featured in a memorable concertina duet on an Irish National Television programme called The Pure Drop some years ago.

Batt also directs workshops for teachers who might like to utilise storytelling as a teaching tool.

  
 
 

Assembly

We usually like to take between 100 and 200 students, divided up according to age and grade e.g. K – 3, 4 – 6.

The assembly will commence with an introduction to Ireland by Batt.By interacting with the students he will draw from them images and concepts, which they already have, as well as probing the Irish ancestry of some of his audience. Comparisons will be drawn with the USA and historical connections will be discussed. He will talk about his youth in the Southwest of Ireland where he lived with his grandfather, a traditional seanachie, from whom he learned many of his tales.

  
 
 

Batt will then share a tale and Maura will talk about her rich background in traditional music as well as sharing some concertina music.
Batt will talk about the Gaelic Language and he will teach a few phrases before Maura teaches a Gaelic song.
As a finale Batt will share a poem and he will afford time for students to ask a few questions.

  
 

Storytelling Workshop

Ideal Number = 30 students
In a more intimate setting, perhaps seated on the library floor, Batt will share a couple of his favourite tales. He will offer encouragement to students who might wish to try some storytelling and he will offer useful tips. There will be time to probe a little deeper into aspects of Irish life e. g. customs, games, food etc. and finally the group will act out a poem from the Irish tradition.

  
 

Music Workshop

Ideal Number = 30 students
Maura Burns will share a variety of tunes on the concertina - jigs, reels, hornpipes - and she will encourage students to take on music as a worthwhile hobby. She will teach a Gaelic figure dance as well as another Gaelic song and there will be ample time for questions.