The Rathskallions are currently on a prairie tour and we thought it would be fun to join the rest of the planet and finally start blogging about the wonderful experiences we have. So here goes! This is a first, test post to help our web designer set the whole thing up. Bookmark our RathBlog page because there’s more to come!

“You brought to life musical concepts that are difficult to teach to our students without the expertise displayed onstage. As well, you tied in other subject areas and showed how music truly is across our curriculum… Thank you for a superb performance. A job well done!”  Bruce Nienkirchen, Principal, Eganville & District Public School

When The Celtic Rathskallions take their show to an elementary school, it always consists of Wendy Moore and ONE other member of the troupe (see individual bios on the performers page). Their lively and entertaining hour long performance features music (they play 15 instruments between any two of them) and also includes stepdancing and storytelling. They incorporate many instructional elements from the Ontario Music Curriculum. Audience members also volunteer to assist on stage and there is a question period included at the end of their show.

Students are encouraged to participate in: action songs, clapping tunes, instrument demonstrations and rudimentary stepdance. Watch a video of them in action!

Wendy Moore is the author of a 75-page Music Curriculum Resource Guide for grades 1-8 which accompanies school performances. Master copies of student activity sheets are also included for each grade level. These resources provide useful, curriculum-based follow-up materials for the classroom. Also included in the resource package is the The Celtic Rathskallions CD, All Around the Circle and a Maddie’s Moon illustrated storybook. This story is presented live at each show as a narrated, dramatized tale, set to music.

The Celtic Rathskallions show appeals to a wide age range of students from kindergarten through grade 8. Their performances and workshops are highly acclaimed throughout 65 Ontario school boards, at conferences, festivals and special events. For a list of schools and venues where the Celtic Rathskallions have performed, visit the school list and performance history pages.

School pricing and bookings

One show $650.00 (+ GST). Two shows at the same school $1,200 (+ GST).

All shows include a resource package containing :

• the 75-page Music Curriculum Resource Guide for the teacher
• The Celtic Rathskallions CD, All Around the Circle
• master copies of student activity sheets
• a copy of Maddie’s Moon illustrated storybook for the school library

Contact Wendy Moore for details by phone at (613) 258-6200 or via email at wendy@celticrathskallions.ca.

Wendy Moore’s new book “A Tune for Maddie” has just been published! Featuring gorgeous illustrations by Janis Jones, this sequel to Maddie’s Moon, also set in Ireland, Maddie discovers the harp. “Wendy Moore’s delightful ‘A Tune for Maddie’ is a magical musical tale with a great love for the Irish folk tradtion from which it takes its spirit.” Sharon, Lois & Bram

To learn more or to order, visit the store.

Includes I’se The B’ye, The Unicorn Song, Early One Morning, The Rattlin’ Bog, Song For The Mira and more. Featuring Wendy Moore, Paul Mills and Arthur McGregor. Also on the album: Maddie’s Moon story, narrated and set to music. Click on the arrow to listen to a track below.

Jack Was Every Inch A Sailor
Mary Mac
All Around The Circle
Einini
The Rattlin’ Bog

ORDERING : All Around The Circle CD, 15 tracks $19.95 Order online from the Ottawa Folklore Centre or CD Baby.

The Celtic Rathskallions perform in soft-seat theatres and at festivals for families and children. Engaging and delightful, their shows are entertaining as well as informative.Two or more Rathskallions will entertain you with familiar favourites such as I’s the B’y, The Unicorn Song, The Rattlin’ Bog and many more. Before you know it you will be clapping, singing and even stepdancing along with them.

Between any two of them, the Rathskallions play 15 different instruments. Their shows include Celtic (and folk and classical) music, drama, stepdancing and storytelling set to music. Performances range in length from 45-90 minutes depending on the venue and type and age range of the audience.

Sample family concert repertoire

• The Jolly Beggarman
• All Around The Circle (I’s the B’y)
• Mary Mac
• The Unicorn Song
• Early One Morning / Ode To Joy
• Donkey Riding
• Maddie’s Reel Medley
• Jack Was Every Inch A Sailor
• The Ghost Song
• Say A Little Prayer
• The Rattlin’ Bog
• Song For The Mira
• Lukey’s Boat
• Einini
• Maddie’s Moon (a musical story)

Sample family/children’s show

1. The Jolly Beggarman
2. Glass bottles/pitch demo
3. I’s the B’y
4. The Rattlin’ Bog (“North Ontario” version)
5. The Ghost Song
6. Harp demo – Early One Morning / Ode to Joy
7. The Unicorn Song
8. Double reeds and bagpipe demo
9. Jack Was Every Inch A Sailor
10. Stepdance demo – Maddie’s Reel Medley
11. Donkey Riding
12. Musical storytelling of Maddie’s Moon
13. Lukey’s Boat
14. Encore – Song For The Mira

Festival performance experience

Ottawa Folk Festival, Ottawa, ON
Children’s Festival, Calgary, AB
Celtic Festival, Fort Erie, ON
Ottawa Children’s Festival, Ottawa, ON
Stuart Park Festival, Perth, ON
Eaglewood Folk Festival, Peferlaw, ON
Along the Banks Festival, Merrickville, ON
Teddy Bear’s Picnic, Ottawa, ON
Summer Parks Children’s Festival, Ottawa, ON
Tall Ships Festival, Kingston, ON
Niagara Folk Arts Festival, St. Catherines, ON
Smith Falls Chocolate Festival, Smiths Falls, ON
Ottawa Jazz Festival, Ottawa, ON
Upper Canada Village, Morrisburg, ON
Canada Day Festival, Hamilton, ON

Theatre series performances

Kinderconcerts series, Kitchener, ON
The Children’s Hour series, Milton, ON
On Stage for Kids, Almonte, ON
Kids’ Playhouse, Belleville, ON
Razzamataz Theatre Series, Haliburton, ON
Joshual Bates Theatre, Athens, ON
Baby Grand Family series, Kingston, ON
Mayfair Theatre, Ottawa, ON
Youth Music Centre series, Guelph, ON
Kids’ Kaleidoscope Series, Sioux Lookout, ON
Children’s Delight Series, Dryden, ON
SunDay Smiles Family Series, Kenora, ON
Kids & Company, Fort Frances, ON
Atikokan Children’s Series, Atikokan, ON
Entertainment 4 Kidz@The Rock, Red Rock, ON

See their performance schedule for shows nearest you. To book the group, please phone (613) 258-6200 or email Wendy Moore.

By Wendy Moore / Illustrations by Janis Jones / Ottawa Folklore Centre Publications. In this sequel to Maddie’s Moon, also set in Ireland, Maddie discovers the harp. Her new found love of the harp leaders her to unexpected opportunities for kindness and generosity. Printed in Canada.

“Wendy Moore’s delightful “A Tune for Maddie” is a magical musical tale with a great love for the Irish folk tradtion from which it takes its spirit.” Sharon, Lois & Bram

“A Tune for Maddie is an enchanting story about hope, perseverance and the power of music to change the heart. Maddie is my hero. And her sotry makes me much more pleasantly disposed toward snakes, as well. Maddie reminds us that we are richer not for what we have but for what we give. Sheilagh Rogers, host of The Next Chapter on CBC Radio One

ORDERING : Price is $14.95 or $24.95 for  A Tune for Maddie  and Maddie’s Moon together. Available online from the Ottawa Folklore Centre.

This fully illustrated storybook is about a young girl who wants to play the whistle. It is written by Wendy Moore with illustrations by Janis Jones. Musicians include David Archibald (narration), Wendy Moore (whistle, bodhran) and Doug Reansbury (guitar). Listen to an audio sample.

ORDERING : Price is $14.95 or $24.95 for Maddie’s Moon and A Tune for Maddie together. Available online from the Ottawa Folklore Centre.

• Put more than 65,000 touring miles on their van every year
• Have a pony-size poodle wonderdog named Elvis who loves to travel, runs 6 km a day, can’t sing, but likes to play the harp with his tail
• Have performed well over 1200 shows in the last 13 years
• Will be performing in a number of family-show theatre venues this season (see upcoming shows for details)
• Can play over 15 different instruments between any two of them
• Will perform in more than 100 school boards across Canada
• Will soon feature stepdancing men!
• Have 3 new CD projects in the works
• Will make you laugh (maybe aloud) during one of their shows
• Will teach you all sorts of details you didn’t know about musical instruments
• Now have a bass player (Wendy!)