dlr Yarnspinners Storytelling Circle

dlr Yarnspinners Storytelling Circle returns for Autumn/Winter. Aimed at gathering people together who are interested in listening to and sharing stories. Pull up a chair by our virtual fireplace and a professional storyteller will share their stories, then open the floor to those who have their own stories to tell. No pressure to tell, all listeners are welcome!

Third Wednesday of the month

6:30pm - 7:30pm (complimentary tea/coffee available from 6pm)

LexIcon Lab, Level 3, dlr LexIcon. (to right of security desk)

Free admission, no booking required. Adults (14+).

Please feel free to join our dlr Yarnspinners mailing list: libraryculture@dlrcoco.ie

Wed 20 September with Storyteller Francis Mc Carron 
 
Hailing from Monaghan, Francis McCarron tells a wide range of stories ranging from tales of Irish heroes and villains, through fairies and folklore, to stories about local characters who Francis knew and met. He has stories about Irish saints at home and abroad, tales of smuggling and other goings on along the border and self-composed tales full of wit and wisdom. He also has a selection of riddles and rhymes to appeal to all.  

Francis is the current Storyteller in Residence for Monaghan County Council. He also curates a monthly storytelling group, Drumlin Yarnspinners, in Monaghan Town. Francis has been involved in storytelling events in his native Co Monaghan for over three decades and has been a featured Storyteller at festivals and events across Ireland, north and south. He has shared his tales with older people, people with special needs and with children in National Schools throughout the country.  

 
Wed 18 October with Storyteller Senem Donaten Mohan 
 
Senem Donaten Mohan is from Istanbul, Turkey and now living in Ireland. She has worked as a performing artist, director and producer for over 20 years. Since 2013, her focus has been on storytelling. She is the co-founder 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 Federation of European Storytelling (FEST).

Senem has performed at festivals, in schools, libraries, museums, exhibitions, cultural and community centres, and at special events. 
 
Her motivation is to spread the magical healing capacity of storytelling as an art form since she herself has benefited many times from the merits of listening to a good story. She believes that stories are ‘soul food’ and they need to be served delicately in order to nourish the listeners well. In her performances, she likes merging the ancient wisdom of traditional stories with the contemporary life experience of autobiographical stories. 

Wed 15 November with Storyteller Fiona Dowling 
 

Fiona Dowling is a French-Irish storyteller and visual artist born in Dublin and educated in France. Fiona brings folktales, wisdom tales, myths, riddles and songs to primary schools, hospitals, libraries, pubs and festivals. 
 
As a visual artist, Fiona tells her own story in autobiographical comics and paintings, and creates participatory events building temporary communities around an art form. 
 
In order to bring new audiences to storytelling, Fiona has told stories dressed up as a television (Live Television - 2009), had storytellers tell bedtime stories to adults (Story-Nap, 2010 and 2016), or answered the public’s existential questions with folktales (Wisdom Tales - 2016). 
 
In 2016, she was storyteller in Residence for Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County and a featured teller at the Cape Clear International Storytelling Festival. In 2019, she represented Ireland at Vent de Paroles Festival in France and Verbale in Germany.  
 
Fiona is passionate about the ability of stories to reflect the human experience in all its shades, from laughter to tears, build connection and community.