Hey.. I'm just back from Africa where Donogh and I were volunteering in Arusha, Northern Tanzania. We spent 10 days in Esso Parish, a densely populated slum area of Arusha. We were working in many areas, from community development to construction work. One of our main reasons for going in the first place was to record the local choirs so we could make a record for them to sell over there, and to aid us in our fundraising for them over here. We have recorded the most amazing music.. they don't do things by halves! Arusha is in Maasai territory. The Maasai are an indigenous African ethnic group of semi-nomadic people located in Kenya and northern Tanzania. While were were in Esso we were looked after by two gorgeous Maasai Men called Frances and Ndoti. On our second last day in Africa we got the invitation to Travel up to the Plains around mount Meru to a Maasai village. We travelled a few hours off the main road in the dark and the dust. The Jeep got stuck in the sand more times than I care to mention. Eventually we got to the village which consisted of a few huts called 'enkaji'. These are temporary homes as the Maasai are nomadic, based on a simple frame structure and made from materials like twigs, soil, cow dung and grass. We were invited into one of them with about 15 Maasai men inside. The were singing and chanting the most amazing songs in the pitch black dark. Maasai music traditionally consists of rhythms provided by a chorus of vocalists singing harmonies while a song leader, or olaranyani, sings the melody.. (we found this out after! While we were there we were simply awestruck!) We hung out for a few hours and listened to them, had a few beers and went on our way. We asked if it was ok to record them and they were cool.. listening back to it I can hardly believe I was there. We are continuing to fundraise for education and community development projects in Esso Parish. It's an unbelievably poor but kind and generous place all the same and it has changed me forever. I'll keep you posted on the record.. Grá pxx

Hi there.. Éilís Kennedy Damien Dempsey and I will be singing The West's Awake on "The View" this coming tuesday night on RTE 1.. Beir Bua, Pauline

I am travelling to Malawi and Tanzania from October 14th to 24th with Playing For Life, a voluntary charitable group established by sports broadcaster Tracey Piggott, which aims to improve living standards for people in some of Africa's poorest areas. The organisation  is supported by An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen. 

Playing for Life focuses ..ing people to help themselves through education, health and sport. Our group of volunteers will work with local communities, bringing skills, which can then be used to generate income from home industries, crafts and tourism. Those travelling include Nationwide's Mary Kennedy and Irish Singer Eleanor Shanley. 

Some of the group will be involved in building a community centre, others will be training people in crafts and business skills.

While there, Eleanor and I have taken it upon ourselves to record some of the choirs there to make a charity album featuring local musicians with all the proceeds going straight back to them. 

We are seeking to raise money for this project — each volunteer needs to raise €5,500— and would be grateful for any assistance which you can give on that front. As Playing For Life is a registered charity, all donations are tax deductible. 

It is possible to make a donation to this project by clicking on the link below.

http://www.mycharity.ie/event/pauline_scanlons_event/

Thanks a million zillion,

Pauline x

 

Hi There,
Just back from the World fleadh where we played for 2 nights in the festival club.. On the first night we played after the Wolf Tones which was pretty crazy but good fun!.. On the night we had Damien Mullane on the box, Dessie Kelliher on Banjo and Mandolin, Martin Brunsden on Double Bass and Donogh played guitar. We have a good few tracks recorded together this summer, we've been attacking it when we have the time, which is fairly scarce during the summer months.

Eilís Kennedy and I have been asked to guest with Damien Dempsey in his upcoming National Concert Hall show, we're really looking forward to it! Séamus Begley will also be singing a song or two with Damo on the night.. Aug 23rd.

Next week I'll be jetting off to Waterford to film an episode of cártaí poist for TG4.. I absolutely love the show.. They get old postcards and get you to find out the story behind them and look for the people that were in them.. It's a gorgeous show.. hope the weather's fine!

Slán,
Pauline

Happy Paddy’s |Day!!...

We’re coming to the end of Seactain Na Gaelige.. we had a fantastic time on thursday in Vicar Street for the Club Sult party... we played with John Spillane and also there was Silde, Prison Love and Des Bishop who did his 40 minute piece through Irish... HE WAS AMAZING!..

We had a blast at The Gathering in Killarney too... on the night the West Kerry gang were out in force... On Banjo we had Des Kelleher, Box - Damien Mullane, Double |Bass - Martin Brunsden and Donogh played guitar.. we had a ball and played and sang all night after the gig with the lovely Zoe Conway and John McIntyre...

I’m singing a lot at the moment with a singer from home called Eilis Kennedy... and we’ve been singing a bit (and laughing a lot!) with Seamus Begley... (It’s really wonderful to be so inspired by all the musicians and singers that live locally here in West Kerry)...  she’s amazing and you can hear a few samples of us on our myspace... we’re Dingle White Females...

busy gettin an album together...

soon...

Pauline x

Hey All...

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and an even better New Year...

I'm kicking off the New Year with a visit to Cape Breton Island.. The wonderful you fiddler and dancer Roseanne MacKenzie has started her album... with Donogh Hennessy producing and Howie MacDonald helping!

I've been very kindly asked to guest on the record... two songs... really looking forward to getting over there and into the studio..

On another note... we're playing at "The Gathering" this year... with the big band!.. It'll be Martin Brunsden - Bass... Donogh - guitar... Damien Mullane - box.... and dessie Kelleher - Banjo.. I think Liam O' Flynn is on the same night...

Also playing at The Gathering are our buddies Zoe Conway and John McIntyre so we'll be looking forward to a few tunes with them after!

anyhoo...

happy '08 to yee..

Beir Bua,

Pauline x

 

 

Hello There..
we really really enjoyed our few gigs around Ireland with Winnie and Mick... Thanks to everyone who turned out for them, it really encouraged us to do more.. looking forward to The Glens Centre in Manorhamilton now... one of the nicest places to play in Ireland..
Px

Greetings from West Kerry...

I'm excited about our upcoming Irish Shows with Winnie Horan and Mick McAuley (SOLAS)... we're doing four shows in Ireland...

Oct 31st - The Crane, Galway

Nov 3rd - The Cherrytree, Dublin

Nov 4th - Cleere's, Kilkenny

Nov 6th - Matt Molloy's, Westport

The gig will be a mixture of songs and tunes and should be good fun.. we've been threatening to do a few gigs together for aaaaages so it's good to finally get around to doing it...

We're also off to Germany with the Smyth sisters and Jimmy Higgins at the end of the month for one gig... we'just came back from Austria with them which was a great laugh..

I just did two shows in Denmark also this month, Donogh was away with another gang in Germany for the month so Jon Sanders came with me... we had a ball and the gigs were lovely..

 We had an Irish singer and songwriter called Tom Donovan sharing the bill with us and we all travelled together.. it was a good laugh and hopefully we'll get to do it again sometime...

Til next time...

beir bua...

Pauline xx

Hello...
Been a relaxing few weeks in West Kerry... playing lots in St James' church with all the local musicians.. particularly enjoying singing with Eilís Kennedy every Thursday at the moment.. also doing a great session with Damien Mullane on a Tuesday... It's soooo great to be at home at the moment...
We're heading off to Vienna next week with the fabulously gorgeous Smyth sisters and Jim Higgins for a gig... really lookin forward to some craic with them...
Donogh's heading off to Germany for a few weeks and while he's gone Jon Sanders and I are heading to Denmark for 2 gigs... short and sweet but surely fun!!
We'll be doing some gigs in Ireland with Winnie Horan and Mick McAuley.. love hangin out with those guys so it should be great...
We got a new puppy called Banjo.. he's a real heartbreaker and we're stone mad about him. He's a Goldendoodle... cheeky and chubby..
Talk soon...
pxx

P.S... Up The Kingdom!!!

Just arrived in a motel in Gaspé.. Canada... we travelled three days to get here... flights got delayed so we took in a very quick 16hrs in New York... just enough time to head into town and grab a few beers! Had the Most amazing drive today from Quebec along the coast today (8hrs!)... we're doin a gig tomorrow evening and hitting the road for Dingle, Ireland straight after... I can't bare to think of the size of my carbon footprint...!

We're looking forward to doing some gigs in October with Winnie Horan and Mick McAuley.... some are posted up here but there's more TBC...

Must hit the Hay....

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Pxx