Creative Ardagh, the dynamic
partnership of Annette Corkery and Ann Gerety Smyth. Ann completed a MSc in World Heritage Conservation, while Annette has an MLitt in Creative Education and more recently qualified with a Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design.
We are both registered Heritage in Schools Specialists and can be booked for school visits.
We are experts in local history, mythology, heritage and biodiversity and available for workshops, storytelling or other events. Contact us to discuss your requirements.
We were based in Ardagh Heritage and Creativity Centre until 2024. Since opening in 2011 we hosted over 100,000 visitors at
events as diverse as heritage tours, educational tours and drama including the visit of President Higgins in 2014.
We regularly had groups of tourists from all over the world. We hosted speakers and facilitators from Germany, Bulgaria and New Zealand.
We networked with schools across the region and with authors, artists and craftspeople from all over the country to provide opportunities for high quality audience participation in the arts.
We regularly had groups of tourists from all over the world. We hosted speakers and facilitators from Germany, Bulgaria and New Zealand.
We networked with schools across the region and with authors, artists and craftspeople from all over the country to provide opportunities for high quality audience participation in the arts.
In
2016 we were nominated for a Pride of Place award for reaching out to
marginalised groups and offering creative cultural experiences to all
ages. In 2021 we won a Heritage Week award for our Restoring the Balance video series. We have a number of anthologies published and in 2023 launched our own book Longford's Ancient Ways.
Storytelling is a big part of all we do. We have been
sharing the stories of the area to all who visit and we have hosted many
other storytellers, writers, poets and musicians. We even shared a very
magical story from the most famous of Bards when we performed A
Midsummer's Night Dream in the garden.
We were an SFI Discover Centre and are currently registered experts on the Heritage in Schools panel. You may now also find us far from home as we travel the country telling the myths and legends of the region as Scéalta Beo (Living Stories).We deliver a Summer Course for Primary Teachers through Athlone Education Centre and have many school resources available here.
We were an SFI Discover Centre and are currently registered experts on the Heritage in Schools panel. You may now also find us far from home as we travel the country telling the myths and legends of the region as Scéalta Beo (Living Stories).We deliver a Summer Course for Primary Teachers through Athlone Education Centre and have many school resources available here.
Regular updates on what is happening
with Creative Ardagh can be found on www.facebook.com/creativeardagh
Some comments from our Facebook by satisfied party customers:
ReplyDelete"Super part fun at any party we have ever been to. Great work girls."
"Just home from princess Emily's party and we have a huge Thank You to say to Ann Gerety Smyth and Annette Corkery. Kids had a ball and parents were looked after also. Great job. Thanks again girls."
"Thanks very much for a stress-free and creative party yesterday. We all really enjoyed it. Looking forward to the next visit."
Some comments regarding the venue and events at Ardagh Heritage and Creativity Centre:
ReplyDeleteFB Status of Longford Federation ICA on 17th September 2014:
"Well we had a great meeting in Ardagh tonight with a full house turnout. Ardagh Heritage Centre is a lovely venue. It has a great buzz of life about it with all the art and craft activities that are held there. And now to add to the activity we are opening a new ICA guild there on the 14th October with 16 ladies interested in joining."
FB status of Mairead Longford - Heritage - Officer (sharing a Longford Leader photo) on 15/3/14
"Well done to Annette and Ann in the Ardagh Heritage and Creativity Centre - you did sterling work in putting together such a big celebration. I hope you were as happy with the day as we were to be invited." - re visit of President Michael D. Higgins
Another FB status regarding same:
Backstage Youththeatre 14/3/14
"A great big thank you to Ardagh Heritage and Creativity Centre for inviting BYT to your event today and the excellent opportunity to meet the the President. We thoroughly enjoyed the morning and congratulations on a job brilliantly organised. You can relax now girls. : )"
Armagh Rhymers re 1798 celebrations:
"Well done for a fantastic day on Sunday - it was a treat to hear the legend of Midir and Etain spoken as Gaeilge by Maire. All the musicians. performers and speakers were excellent, the welcome was wonderful and we look forward to seeing you again in the future."