IMPORTANT - This is a free event and a fundraiser for our charity partners Neurodiversity Ireland - Donations welcome on the day ( card, revolut and cash ) or on Neurodiversity Ireland website. https://neurodiversityireland.com/

We will have safe spaces and experienced staff for anyone experiencing overwhelm - this is an alcohol free event.

Last year we had a stunningly beautiful music event called Sounds of Solstice in The Law Society with Ronan O'Snodaigh and Myles O'Rielly and Anna Mullarkey. At this event two autistic adults arrived with their carer. Observing their bliss to the sensory sounds filling the air, was a joy to behold for all in attendance. It was at this event Sensory Sounds was inspired into existence. Sorry it took so long to get it together.

Our thanks to the Central Area Office and the Arts Office in DCC for funding us. Arts and Culture should be available to all members of our multi layered societies. This is and always should be a human right for all. Let us see where we can take that !!!

This event is open to all in the neurodivergent community, those who support and all music lovers. Our thanks goes to the great work of Neurodiversity Ireland (NI) our charity partner. We are raising funds for this great charity who are doing great work for our precious children and families. They are informing and amplifying the changes that are urgently needed to our Special Education sector and HSE services, whilst providing a great service at their centre in Blackrock offering expert support for families in need. This is a rapidly changing environment and NI are on the cutting edge.

Along with the below great music we will have Bouncy Castles and The Irish Wolfe Hound Experience with 6 gentle giants with us on the day, and we will close with a short meditation from Jen Healy aka Yin Yoga Jen - Jen has ADHD and asked could she contribute!

Our Sensory Sounds for the day are :-

Ronan O'Snodaigh and Myles O'Rielly - 4pm

A huge thanks to musicians Rónán Ó Snodaigh and Myles O'Reilly's, whose performance at Sounds of Solstice last summer, completely inspired this event and they were both eager to make it come to life. Their sound is the perfect blend of traditional Irish and contemporary ambient music with a deep droning heart. This sound will fill the park with sensory sensations for all in attendance. They announced the release of their second album 'The Beautiful Road', a soulful blend of folk, traditional, and ambient crossover and they will be performing songs from both this album and their fist album at Sensory Sounds. Their debut album Ta Go Maith, is inspiring and was warmly received by Irish audiences after its release in May 2020, Rónán and Myles have been playing numerous shows at home and abroad, showcasing their unique sound to an ever-growing fan-base. Their sound is made for many audiences ears, but we feel they have the perfect frequency for our neurodivergent family !!

Mary Barnacutt and Aisling Ennis - 3.15pm

Mary Barnecutt is Dublin-based musician who works with a wide variety of artistic and educational projects. She writes and arrange music for film, theatre, dance productions and frequently works as a string arranger and soundtrack collaborator, most recently with Stephen Shannon for his Fathoms EP. She is music programmer of the Sundays at Noon concert series in Dublin’s Hugh Lane Gallery, and is co-director of ‘Spike’, Dublin’s annual alternative cello festival. She has two solo albums, Into Air 2016 and Like Water: due for release in 2023 www.marypigeons.com

Aisling Ennis is a passionate performer, arranger and educator, she enjoys a varied career as a solo, chamber, orchestral harpist and educator. Aisling will continue her series of experimental collaborations with three international female artists (Imogen-Blue Hinojosa, Shiva R Joyce and Una Palliser) on the subject of ‘Mother’. Thanks to Strategic Project Funding from Wicklow Arts Office, 2023 will also see Aisling bring her lecture recital ‘Ceol Sí: Fairy Music to every library in county Wicklow. Aisling is a 2022 member of Wicklow Artists Panel and works to support and enrich the arts in her beloved home, Wicklow. Her album Folly of Melancholy is available here. www.aislingennis.com Aisling performs on a Salvi Minerva concert harp, Tomás Mac Uileagóid 'Eala' Irish harps and Camac electric harps. Aisling's work is supported by Arts Council Ireland and Wicklow County Council.

For this performance myself and Aisling are developing our mutual joy in joint improvisations around big melodic ideas, some of our own, some traditional Irish tunes and some from our collective backgrounds in many different genres of music. This performance is focussed on making sounds that make patterns, are calming and induce reflection. My experience of living with a neurodivergent family member is that they prefer sounds that induce regularity, calmness and softness, with a hint of mischief and fun. There is also a nod in this performance to a love of animals and very strong connection to nature. Mary Barnecutt.

Mathew Nolan, Sharon Phelan and Lisa Dowdall - 2.30pm

This trio features a synthesized mesh of chamber music and electronics that sounds like little else. Classical sounds with indie sensibilities, film-music moodiness and digital experimentation. It’s easy to imagine it finding a permanent life soundtracking the more contemplative moments in our lives. Expect A Seriously Sensational Sensory Set :-)

Again we will have safe spaces for anyone having regulation issues, there will be OT equipment and all sorts of activities in our Sensory Park whilst the show is on. We will have experienced staff from Neurodiversity Ireland on hand to help all our attendees in whatever way is needed. All will be well looked after.

Bring food, drinks, blankets to picnic on, warm clothes, watch the weather and all that jazz!! ( this is an alcohol free event )