The Leitrim Larks develops research-led, community-centred projects that bring County Leitrim’s songs into living circulation. The work ranges from regular local sessions and programmes for young people to artist collaborations, heritage tours, recordings and ambitious creative initiatives.
Featured Projects
Little Larks
Little Larks creates welcoming opportunities for children and young people to discover, learn and share traditional and local songs through workshops, performances and intergenerational activity.
The Song Forge
An intergenerational songwriting project bringing community participants together with songwriter John Spillane and Rachel Uí Fhaoláin of In the Singing of Songs to explore how new songs can grow from local lives, places and memories.
Song Tours & Singing Exchanges
The Leitrim Larks brings songs back into the landscapes and communities from which they came through guided song tours, singing-bus journeys and shared events with visiting singers. Exchanges with singers from Inishowen and elsewhere connect Leitrim’s local tradition with wider singing communities.
Recent Projects & Collaborations
The Station Sessions
A programme of live music, conversation, songwriting and song-sharing based in and around Mohill & Dromod’s historic Station Houses . The programme has brought established artists together with local singers and communities through performances, workshops and special events, including an evening with John Spillane & a session with the well-known Mulligan Family.
Supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport under the Small Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools Scheme.
Ongoing Work
Lend an Ear Sessions
Pop-up community singing gatherings held throughout County Leitrim, welcoming singers, storytellers, visiting artists and listeners.
Song Research & Documentation
Ongoing research into County Leitrim and neighbouring counties’ songs, singers and musical heritage, drawing upon archives, field recordings, printed sources and knowledge shared by local communities. This work helps return overlooked songs to living circulation through workshops, recordings, performances and online resources.
Traveller Singing Collaboration
Collaboration with traditional singer Trish Reilly exploring Traveller singers, songs and oral traditions connected with County Leitrim. The work draws upon related research undertaken by Fionnuala Maxwell through her wider Stoking the Fire project with Shannonside Community Centre.
Explore More
Further films, performances, songs and project updates can be explored through The Leitrim Larks on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
Supporters & Partners
The work of The Leitrim Larks has been supported through public funding, cultural partnerships and collaboration with community organisations throughout County Leitrim.
Supporters
- Leitrim County Council
- Leitrim Heritage Office
- The Heritage Council
- Creative Ireland Creative Communities
- The Arts Council
- Leitrim Development Company
- Department of Culture, Communications & Sport
Cultural & Community Partners
- The Dock Leitrim
- Library Service
- Shannonside Community Centre
The Leitrim Larks 