Ballymun Lullaby

TU Dublin Ballymun Music Programme, supported by Dublin City Council, presents:

Ballymun Lullaby (2011) by Frank Berry

Join us for a very special screening of Ballymun Lullaby, the award-winning documentary film by Frank Berry featuring the music of composer Darragh O'Toole, which follows the history of the TU Dublin Ballymun Music Programme, the vision of its founding director Ron Cooney and the impact it has had on young lives.

This special screening takes place in celebration of the programme's 30th birthday which is a remarkable achievement. To add to the occasion, an ensemble of young musicians currently in the programme will perform in the Axis cafe area before the screening. There will also be a Q&A after the screening with the director and other key people involved in making the film (details below).

The Ballymun Music Programme proudly continues to this day providing music lessons and performances opportunities to over 300 children in Ballymun each week. This is made possible thanks to the ongoing financial support of Dublin City Council in partnership with TU Dublin.

This special screening also launches the film's inclusion in the Irish Film Institute's Archive Player for the first time in recognition of the programme's significant 30th birthday. The film will be freely available to view anywhere in the world for the first time so that this inspiring story is shared internationally. It will also join twenty other films about the history of Ballymun that the IFI Archive has previously digitised and preserved: https://ifiarchiveplayer.ie/ballymun/

About the film:

Music teacher Ron Cooney has been working in the Republic of Ireland's only high-rise housing estate for fifteen years. During this time, he has seen the area undergo a dramatic transformation, including the demolition of six of its seven tower blocks. The young people of Ballymun have had an extraordinary experience, and Ron sets out to produce a collection of music that gives voice to their story. Working with composer Daragh O'Toole, Ron's ambition is to create a world class collection of music for his talented students to play and write lyrics for. This music will challenge the negative views many still hold of the area - views that have the potential to hold his students back and undermine the aims of the Ballymun Music Programme. The music that is produced attracts the attention of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and is soon recorded by them in a unique collaboration with the students. A dynamic funny and driven man,

despite his own health problems, what Ron and his students have achieved is simply amazing. Ballymun Lullaby is a story that needs to be heard.

Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQHhDoySMg0

Schedule for the evening:

Ensemble performance in Axis Café area: 6.30pm to 7pm

Film screening begins: 7.15pm

Post film Q&A: 8.30pm to 9pm featuring:

· Frank Berry (Film Director and Producer)

· Ron Cooney (Founding Director of the Ballymun Music Programme),

· Tara O'Brien (featured young musician in the film and now Programme Tutor)

· Darragh O'Toole (Composer)

The Q&A will be hosted by Maura Doyle (retired Principal of St. Joseph's NS where the programme began).

Credits:

Special thanks to Dublin City Council for their ongoing financial support which has enabled this event and the programme itself to continue to positively impact young lives.

Sincere thanks to Frank Berry for his permission to screen his film. Thanks to him and everyone involved in the making of the film.

Thanks to the Irish Film Institute for their support in making this evening happen and for including the film in their archive.

Thanks to all our contributors on the evening including our young musicians and the those participating in the Q&A.

Thanks also to Axis Ballymun for their support and that of all their staff.