The Cork Decorative & Fine Arts Society (CorkDFAS) has announced more details of its programme of lectures for autumn/winter 2015/2016.

On November 4th, Mary Jane Boland, a lecturer in the History of Art Department at UCC, will give a talk entitled Constructing Identity? Art and Patronage in Ireland 1800-1830. On December 2nd, calligrapher and printmaker Kevin Honan will give a lecture entitled The Spirit and the Letter: Pilgrims, Books and Wild Ink.

Events in 2016 include a talk on on February 3rd on the designs in the Honan Chapel by James Cronin of the School of History and Adult Continuing Education in UCC; on March 2nd, Michael Waldron, author, researcher, lecturer in UCC, will give a talk on The Most Palatable Irish Holy Alliance of Pope and Prince: A History of Cork’s Canova Casts (which are currently displayed in the Crawford Art Gallery); on April 6th, Jennifer McCrea, head of audience development and engagement in the Irish Heritage Trust, will give a lecture entitled Reading the Walls: The Stories that Historic Wallpapers Reveal which is linked to a private tour of Fota House. On May 4th, Tom Dunne, professor emeritus in UCC, will talk about sculptor Oliver Sheppard and his work, The Death of Cúchulainn, in the GPO in commemoration of the Easter Rising.

The society, which “promotes the advancement and study of the decorative and fine arts and the conservation of Cork’s artistic and cultural heritage”, also organises visits to places of interest and opportunities for members to volunteer for appropriate conservation activities.

For information, see corkdfas.ie.

This project is training a group of local residents in socio-economic research skills.  The group have recently completed a Certificate / Diploma in Women’s Studies with ACE at Uuniversity College Cork and have been recruited to undertake a large scale survey of 400 households in the Knocknaheeny Regeneration Programme which is being implemented by Cork City Council Regeneration Office.

During the Spring and Summer of 2015 fifteen local residents (all women) undertook intensive research methods training with Dr Siobhan O’Sullivan, Research Officer,  and Ms Lorna Kenny, Research Assistant, of the School of Applied Social Studies.  The aim of the survey is to provide baseline information on resident perspectives and experiences of the regeneration of Knocknaheeny to date which will be used to inform future phases over the ten year lifetime of the Regeneration Masterplan.  The researchers will beEach household participating in the survey will be given a €10.00 gift voucher which is sponsored by SuperValu.  The community researchers aim to pursue other employment opportunities in surveying and social research such as the Census 2016 and market research for other public and private sector organisations.

School: School of Applied Social Studies

Discipline: Applied Social Studies

Staff Involved: Dr Siobhan O’Sullivan Research Officer, Ms Lorna Kenny, Research Assistant Prof. Cathal O’Connell P.I.

Date: 2015-09-16

The Music4Children programme was devised in 2011 by Dr. Eva McMullan-Glossop and her colleague Mr. Padraig Wallace. Initially inspired by her two little boys Joe and Sam, Eva saw the need for a quality music programme that was accessible to both children and parents in her locality. Music4Children celebrates music learning through fun and creativity by taking inspiration from contrasting cultures, musical genres and most importantly, the children themselves. This course encourages confidence building, independent thinking and playful interaction making learning music a positive experience. Since 2011 the programme which commenced in Crosshaven with 23 children has gone from strength to strength with a second location opening in the Music Building at UCC. Music4Children not only facilitates music learning to over 300 children in the city and county, it also provides employment to over 15 tutors, many of which are UCC graduates, and work experience to third level students wanting to pursue carriers in teaching. Music4Children has also engaged with a number of research projects including Hands On: Feel the Music in association with Disability Support Service UCC, ChildVision, NCBI and the National Braille Production Unit, to increase the accessibility of music to blind and visually impaired students. They are about to launch a new Creative Therapy Space later this year as they invite, Maeve Browne, a qualified Music Therapist to join the Music4Children team.

Parents and children have responded very positively to the approach taken at music4children

My two children have attended Music4Children since they were aged 4 and love it! Eva and Padraig have a special talent in engaging the younger children in music through fun activities and games, whilst at the same time teaching them the fundamental theories of music. It’s now three years later and my two boys are happy participants in Jason’s ukulele class. (Yvonne Nolan)

Our five year old son Joseph has attended Music4Children for the last few years. Initially he was shy but Eva & Padraig were very patient with him and let him join in in his own time. Now he skips in to ukelele class without looking back. The classes are brilliantly paced with a range of fun learning activities to engage the children and facilitate their learning and love of music. (Eithne Hunt)

Directed by Dr. Eva McMullan-Glossop and accompanied by Dr. Rhoda Dullea, the UCC choir comprises of staff and students from across the UCC campus, as well as members from the wider Cork Community. Since Eva’s appointment as musical director, she has revitalised the ensemble: numbers have increased dramatically and the profile of the ensemble has been raised significantly through a programme of regular and successful public performances. Eva’s emphasis on the important role the Choir plays in community music making is mirrored in their continued participation in a number of charity-based performances throughout the City and County. Since 2009 the Choir has performed at the annual service for Féilecáin, the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Association. UCC choir have continued to sing at this deeply moving and at what can be a very affecting ceremony each year. Marie Creegan, the training officer at Féilecáin has “felt that the choir’s presence each year has contributed greatly to the success of the service.” The choir also contributed to the Arts Council funded FUAIM: Lifesounds community project in 2011 and will continue to partake in such projects as they arise.

As recognised by the Internationally acclaimed Cork Soprano Cara O’Sullivan “the emphasis of this choir is inclusivity and it shows…..staff members and students give their time and energy to make beautiful music while raising much needed funds for charity. Eva McMullan their conductor has brought a sense of warmth and welcome to the choir. I look forward to the next adventure with the UCC choir!”