More Fun Songs in Irish for Children (and former children). A collection of new songs in Irish on the theme of the ocean. Full lyrics included in CD booklet, including translation notes.

14 MP3 Songs
WORLD: Celtic, KIDS/FAMILY: Kid Friendly



Details:
Ceol na Mara, Songs of the Ocean

A little shark is teased because his teeth stick out. A mischevious girl plays a trick on her dad, as he sleeps on the beach. A lonely young seal tells us how he plans to run away from the circusâ¦

With songs about the changing weather, the unusual life of Fungie the sociable dolphin and an upbeat insight into why penguins much prefer swimming to flying, this CD for children and former children is fun to listen to, from beginning to end. Written in simple, accessible Irish, using key phrases that are repeated for ease of listening and learning, âCeol na Maraâ is a treasure trove of fun musical styles, engaging stories and interesting information about the natural world.

About the artist:

Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin hails from Aghamore, Co. Mayo, in the west of Ireland. Born in 1961, he has been writing songs since he first picked up the guitar, at the age of sixteen. A primary school teacher by profession, he spent thirteen years as a TV and radio presenter with RTÉ, Irelandâs national broadcast network. He worked in a wide range of programmes while in RTÉ, including childrenâs programming, and music and arts shows. The time spent at RTÉ fostered Tadhgâs parallel passions, songwriting and the Irish language, resulting in two albums of original songs in Irish Gaelic. Many of those songs are now considered classics of contemporary Irish songwriting. In fact, over the years a range of Tadhgâs songs have been chosen to be studied on the curricula of Irish primary, post-primary and third-level schools' literature and music courses â a highly unusual accolade for a songwriter.

As his own, Irish-speaking children arrived, Tadhg began singing and writing songs for them. âIt began spontaneously,â he recalls. âI would make up verses for the kids as we drove along in the car. The following day they wanted to hear these same âsongsâ again, so I had to try to remember what Iâd sung before. Out of that came the basis for my first childrenâs album.â Titled âBliain na nAmhrán/The Year of Song,â itâs a fun-filled look at the four seasons, through the eyes of dancing lambs, migrating swallows, insomniac squirrels, and baby reindeer who dream of pulling Santaâs sleigh through the sky. Today, this album is recommended by Irelandâs Department of Education, as material of excellence for the teaching of both music and the Irish language.

In 2000, Mac Dhonnagáin, wife Cristín, and four offspring, left Dublin for the Connemara Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking area), where he increasingly concentrates on music. His second childrenâs project was released in 2004: âCeol na Mara/Songs of the Oceanâ, starting what Mac Dhonnagáin hopes will be a long collaboration with the Connemara community. âI invited local children to sing on several tracks of âCeol na Mara,â adding hugely to the variety and appeal of the record. Childrenâs voices have a beauty all their own that brings a lot to these songsâ.

Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáinâs recordings available here at CD Baby:
Bliain na nAmhrán (the year of song);
Imíonn an tAm (time passes),
Ceol na Mara (songs of the ocean);
Gugalaí Gug (cluckety cluck)