A Word of Welcome
Once upon a time…a Storytelling Festival was held in Monaghan. It brought Storytellers from far and near and was so successful that the following year the organisers decided to have another one. Only this time it would be even bigger and better with more venues and a greater reach than ever before. And so the 2025 Drumlin Storytelling Festival was born!
This year we warmly welcome our guest tellers Senem Donatan Mohan, Paddy O’Brien and Colum Sands, all skilled practitioners of one of the oldest forms of entertainment known to humankind. Nothing catches the heart and blows open the emotions like a tale well told. In County Monaghan this Autumn, we will be telling such tales! Prepare to be transported to wherever the storyteller’s imagination takes us. Just remember, it’s not whether the story is true that counts, it’s whether there is truth in the story!
Our second Drumlin Storytelling Festival takes us to iconic local locations, including Bessmount House, Mullan Village and Cornagilta Heritage Centre. We have a packed programme of storytelling events for adults and children, so enjoy the chance to spend time in the company of some of Ireland’s best visiting storytellers and top quality local storytellers too.
Drumlin Yarnspinners would like to say a huge word of thanks to the Monaghan County Council Libraries Team who made this event possible, not just through their creative use of Creative Ireland Funding, but through their support and hands on work in planning, publicity, marketing and co-ordination. Míle buíochas go léir.
A final and heartfelt thank you to you, our listeners, for attending this festival. Without listeners there is no story! We hope you find it entertaining, inspiring, thought provoking and above all, enjoyable. If you do, please let us know and tell us how we can make next year’s festival even better!
Francis McCarron
Drumlin Yarnspinners Curator & Festival MC
Drumlin Yarnspinners meet on the last Tuesday of every month from 7:30pm – 10.00pm the Market House, Monaghan town.
Monaghan County Council – A Message from the County Librarian and Head of
Cultural Services
As Head of Cultural Services and County Librarian for Monaghan County Council, I am pleased to welcome you to the second Drumlin Storytelling Festival. We are delighted to offer an eclectic programme of free events over 3 days, providing opportunities for people of all ages and all backgrounds to enjoy the wonder of the oral storytelling tradition.
Oral storytelling occurs in every culture and from every age. Monaghan County Council is committed to preserving this important tradition through its support for the Drumlin Yarnspinners group and this Storytelling Festival.
Whether you are a local or just visiting, please enjoy our festival and all that Monaghan has to offer!
Deirdriú McQuaid County Librarian and Head of Cultural Services
Our Guest Tellers
Dr. Senem Donatan Mohan
Senem is from Istanbul, Turkey, and is now living in Dublin. She has worked as a performing artist and facilitator for over 20 years. Since 2013, her focus has been on storytelling. She is the cofounder of Seiba (Tree of Life) International Storytelling Centre located in Turkey. She is a member of Storytellers of Ireland and a former executive committee member of the Federation of European Storytelling (FEST). Senem has performed at festivals, in schools, libraries, museums, exhibitions, cultural and community centres, and at special events. She has touched the lives of thousands of children and adults through her performances. She has also trained hundreds of people to develop their storytelling skills throughout Asia and Europe. If you would like to know more about Senem’s work, you could check her website www. senemdonatanmohan.com
Our Guest Tellers
Paddy O’Brien
Born in Co. Kerry, Paddy O’Brien is a natural storyteller who has appeared at Storytelling festivals all over Ireland. He has been a featured teller on many occasions at the world-famous Cape Clear International Storytelling Festival. He can entertain any audience from age 3 to 103 with his fantastic stories, songs and verse - told in his own inimitable way!
Paddy worked on RTÉ television as presenter of “Dilín Ó Deamhas”, an Irish language TV programme for children. He spent many happy years acting with Compántas Chorcaí ( Irish language drama ). This highly rated group presented shows throughout the island of Ireland.
Paddy has written stories, poems and songs in both Irish and English. He regularly writes material for children. His panto “Ali Baba agus an 40 TD’s” was staged at The Everyman Theatre, Cork.
Our Guest Tellers
Colum Sands
Colum Sands is a universal storyteller drawing on a long Irish tradition of humour and poetic musicality to weave songs for the world.
Colum has performed solo and as a member of ‘The Sands Family’ in over thirty countries, presented BBC radio programmes over 22 years and produced over 100 albums, working with young musicians and legends like Joan Baez and Pete Seeger.
He relishes the vast variety of venues in his life, from Carnegie Hall New York to an audience of one in a packed phone box on Rathlin Island! His songs have been covered by many performers including Andy Irvine, Maddy Prior & June Tabor, Mick Hanly and Makem & Clancy.
Colum’s tenth solo album “Song Bridge” was released in 2022 and his book and online album “These Quiet Places” was launched last year.In both the book and album, his work encourages the joy of learning, not only from each other but also from the more than human parts of life around us.
Based in Rostrevor County Down since 1980, Colum is a founding member of RARE (Rostrevor Action Respecting the Environment) and he continues on the joyful journey of discovering how creative action can channel the energy of community power in seeking to celebrate, respect and protect the life support system of nature that we are lucky enough to have around us all.
Our LOCAL Tellers
Grace Connolly
Grace Connolly, a bilingual storyteller born in Zimbabwe and raised in both Zimbabwe and England, has a passion for sharing African stories. Fluent in Ndebele, a language similar to Zulu, Grace captivates audiences of all ages with her energetic and engaging storytelling style. From children’s tales to adult narratives, Grace brings a unique cultural perspective to every story she tells, weaving together threads of African heritage and personal experience. With her bubbly personality and love for sharing stories, Grace aims to connect people across cultures and generations.
Our LOCAL Tellers
Francis McCarron
Francis McCarron has been involved in storytelling events in his native Co Monaghan for well over thirty years. He is a committee member of the Storytellers of Ireland and founded and curates the Drumlin Yarnspinners group which meets on the last Tuesday of every month in Monaghan Market House. Through his crossborder work with the Storytellers of Ireland and the Armstrong Storytelling Trust, he has been instrumental in ensuring a new generation of oral storytellers have been trained in the border region. He has told tales the length and breadth of Ireland, most recently appearing as a headline teller at the Cape Clear International Storytelling Festival.
Our LOCAL Tellers
Paddy Sherry
Paddy Sherry grew up in North County Monaghan where he has resided for the past 60 years. He is a local tour guide and storyteller, who spent many years listening to the older generation of mountain folk in the border region. Paddy has a deep love for the Sliabh Beagh mountain, its wildlife, flora, fauna and local history. These are reflected in Paddy’s stories, some of which might not be true! Paddy’s tales cross all borders, those on the map and those between this world and the next!
Story Sessions for Schools
Grace Connolly, Senem Donatan Mohan and Paddy O’Brien will bring their unique style to these storytelling sessions for children. Did you know that listening to oral stories helps children learn to create images within their own heads? So, tell your children a story today!
Friday 19.09.2025
Monaghan Town Library and Clones Library
Events restricted to participating schools
Story Sessions for Care Homes
Renowned storyteller and musician Colum Sands brings a heartwarming blend of songs and stories to care home residents, creating moments of joy, connection, and reflection.
Storytelling is more than entertainment—it’s a powerful way to stimulate memory, spark imagination, and foster meaningful conversation. Listening to and sharing stories can enhance cognitive skills such as attention, memory recall, and emotional well-being.
Friday 19.09.2025
Participating care homes
Participating care homes
Culture Night – Family Storytime Session
Come along for a special storytelling session with Senem Donatan Mohan, a well-known storyteller and author based in Dublin. Originally from Turkey, Senem shares exciting stories from around the world that spark children’s curiosity about nature and the world around them.
Her storytelling encourages children to ask questions, think creatively, and imagine new possibilities. It’s a fun and inspiring event for the whole family! Perfect for children and grownups alike!
Friday 19.09.2025 5:30pm to 6:00pm Monaghan Town Library, Monaghan Peace Campus, Plantation Road, Monaghan No booking required
A Night at the Museum
To celebrate Culture Night, Drumlin Storytelling Festival and Monaghan Museum will come together for a live storytelling session in the unique surroundings of the Monaghan County Museum. The museum is located in the Monaghan Peace Campus and is home to several stunning exhibitions.
Friday 19.09.2025 7:00p.m.
Monaghan Peace Campus, Plantation Road, Monaghan
No booking required
Join us for a vibrant, bilingual celebration of Irish culture at Cornagilta, featuring music, song, dance, literature, language, and storytelling. This special Culture Night event invites everyone— from fluent Irish speakers to those with just a cúpla focail—to come together and enjoy the richness of our shared heritage. Renowned storytellers Paddy O’Brien and Colum Sands (Drumlin Storytelling Festival) will also take part in the programme. This event is open to all ages
Friday 19.09.2025 8:00 p.m. Cornagilta School and Heritage Centre, Tydavnet, Co.Monaghan H18ED89
https://buytickets.at/monaghancountylibraries/1794993
Fighting Words Workshops
Creative writing and storytelling for children provide an array of benefits, from mindfulness, to exploring and expressing emotions, to building creativity, empathy and confidence. The Drumlin Storytelling Festival invites participating schools to try Fighting Words, a programme being delivered throughout the country that aims to encourage children and young adults to explore their imaginations through writing.
Friday 19.09.2025
Castleblayney Library
Carrickmacross Library
Events restricted to participating schools
Story Walk with Monaghan Town Tours
Monaghan Town has a great history and heritage. Join Festival MC Francis McCarron for a leisurely stroll through Monaghan’s key landmarks and the stories behind them.
Participants should dress appropriately for the weather. The Town Tour will take place outdoors and will last approximately 90 minutes.
Saturday 20.09.2025 11:00 am to 12:30 pm
Meet at the steps of the Westenra Hotel, The Diamond, Monaghan Town
Spaces are limited and booking is essential. Book your free ticket here: https://buytickets.at/ monaghancountylibraries/1364528
Puppet Making Workshops with Anne Cradden
Join artist Anne Cradden for a fun and imaginative puppet-making experience! Children will create their own character puppets using cardboard cones and other recycled materials, then bring their creations to life by inventing stories starring their new characters.
Workshop 1, suitable for children age 5 to 8 years. 10:30 – 11:15
Workshop 2, suitable for children 8+ 11:45 to 12:30
Saturday 20.09.2025 Monaghan Town Library, Monaghan Peace Campus, Monaghan Town
Spaces are limited and booking is essential. To book contact Monaghan Town Library on 047 81830 or monaghanlibrary@monaghancoco.ie
Library Storytime Sessions
Step into a world of stories, songs, and shared imagination! Join us at your local library for a series of enchanting Storytime sessions led by Senem Donatan Mohan and Paddy O’Brien.
Suitable for children of all ages and their adults!
Saturday 20.09.2025 11:00 a.m.
Castleblayney and Carrickmacross Library
No booking required
Story Swap
Pull up a chair, grab a cuppa, and share a story! Join us in the cosy surroundings of the Cottontail Café for a relaxed story swap session. A story swap is a friendly gathering where people come together to share stories—personal memories, family tales, folklore, or favourite yarns—and listen to others do the same.
Whether you have a story to tell or simply want to listen, you are very welcome!
Fear a’ Tí Francis McCarron
Saturday 20.09.2025
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
X971
No booking required
The Cotton Tail Café, The Diamond, Monaghan Town, H18
Tales Under the Eaves: An Evening at Bessmount House
Experience a truly unforgettable evening of storytelling and music in magical Bessmount House. Nestled just outside Monaghan Town, this stunning nineteenth-century mansion—often described as a gothic fairytale—provides the perfect setting for a night of imagination, atmosphere, and connection.
Paddy O’Brien, Senem Donatan Mohan and Colum Sands will be joined by traditional musicians Tiarnán Ó Duinchinn and Donal McCague. This will be a feast for the ear and the imagination, with the enchanting architecture of Bessmount House enhancing every word spoken and every note played.
Whether you’re a lover of folklore, a fan of live performance this headline event promises a captivating experience for all ages.
Fear a’ Tí Francis McCarron
Parking at Monaghan Peace Campus, transfer to Bessmount by bus.
Saturday 20.09.2025
8:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Bessmount House, Castleshane, County Monaghan
Free Event. Spaces are limited and booking is essential.
Booking Link: https://buytickets.at/monaghancountylibraries/1794922
Story Walk Rossmore Forest Park
Our ancestors lived close to nature so it’s hardly surprising that nature features strongly in our myths and folktales.
Join Monaghan based teller Paddy Sherry to hear the stories of the plants, animals, rivers and rocks that have shaped their tales
Saturday 20.09.2025 11:00 am
Meet in Car Park - Rossmore Forest Park is located 3.5km southwest of Monaghan town on the R189 to Newbliss. There is no entry charge
No booking required
Bordering on a Story – Tales in Mullan Mills
Just a stone’s throw from the Armagh border lies the charming village of Mullan, where our storytelling venue is nestled within the historic Mullan Lighting factory.
Join Paddy O’Brien and Colum Sands as they shine a light on the border between this world and the next—or perhaps smuggle in a tale or two from life along the border.
The building itself holds many stories from its past lives, but one thing’s for certain: listeners can expect a warm, relaxed atmosphere where stories truly come alive.
Sunday 21.09.2025 2:30 pm Mullan Lighting Factory, Mullan Village, H18 EC98
Free Event. Spaces are limited and booking is essential. Booking Link: https://buytickets.at/monaghancountylibraries/1836515
For more information about Drumlin Storytelling Festival:
Email: drumlinyarn@monaghancoco.ie
Telephone: 047 74718
Website: www.monaghan.ie
For information about accommodation and other amenities in County Monaghan visit: https://monaghantourism.com/ Drumlin Storytelling Festival is supported by Monaghan County Libraries and Creative Ireland via Monaghan County Council’s Creative Monaghan programme.