April 2016

I'm so grateful to the many teachers, parents & children who take the time after workshops to share their thoughts & feedback – Mòran Taing!

Dàna-thuras ri Aibidil nan Craobhan – Adventures with the Gaelic Tree Alphabet

Biastagan Mòra na Gàidhlig / Big Gaelic Beasties

From: Graham Scougall, Viewlands Primary, Perth
Sent: 09 March 2016 12:12
Subject: Gaelic Workshop

"ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!

One of the best, most engaging workshops I have had yet! The children absolutely loved it!
I would highly recommend this to anyone!

Thanks again for organising."

Am Fìor-Sgeulachd mun Nighinn Bhàin - The Real Goldilocks Story

December 2015

"I've never seen my daughter take part in anything, ever - that was amazing!" Fife Outdoor Group Parent - after The Real Goldilocks Storytelling & Drama workshop, Bilingual Gaelic Circus Skills Workshop and Big Gaelic Beasties Storytelling & Drama workshop as a block group of 3 sessions over a morning to early afternoon.

October 2015

Feedback from Paisley Bilingual Halloween Parade Section Participants and Parents:

"Last year's parade was just so much fun & by far the best theatre project I've taken part in, I'd be very excited to do it again" PACE Youth Theatre Participant, Paisley Halloween Parade

"SO MUCH FUN!!! Totally brilliant & you were a pleasure to work with too!" PACE Youth Theatre, Paisley, Stiltwalking trainee & Halloween Parade Participant

"It is the first time I've taken part in street performance and I enjoyed it very much... I didn't think about it (Gaelic) much before but now I see it as our national language... I would love to do further work and can't wait for next year's parade so I can do it again." PACE Youth Theatre Stilt Performer, Paisley Halloween Parade

"The change I saw in him was quite emotional for me as his mum. On the day of the parade I was amazed at how confident and independent he'd become. He had no fear and took the whole event in his stride (even if it was on stilts) and loved every minute of it. He became a different boy in my eyes...thank you to you for bringing out the confidence that I knew was in there all along." Stilt Performer Parent

"I've been very emotional looking back at the photos. It was an incredible night.. all the skeletons loved it... It was amazing to watch such a quick transformation from a completely terrified young lady to a highly professional and confident performer.. And in only 5 short sessions. It has really boosted her confidence and self belief. If she can stilt walk then she can do anything"..."They managed to walk and perform their lines and conquer the Gaelic language too. The audience loved them." PACE Youth Theatre Parent

"It was a new experience for me and it was very enjoyable. I'm so happy I had the opportunity to take part. You were a great instructor, your instructions were clear and you were very supportive"... "One reason why I applied to take part was because I'm afraid of heights and I thought this would be a good chance to combat that fear. I'm very pleased and proud that I performed successfully", PACE Youth Theatre, Paisley Stiltwalking Trainee & Halloween Parade Participant

October 2015

Wesport Arts Festival 40th Anniversary Bilingual Irish-language Schools Street Spectacle Project

"Go raibh míle maith agat as ucht an aiseolais ar fad a sheol tú chugainn tar éis na féile - is mór an chabhair é dúinn agus muid ag tuairsciú do na foinsí maoinithe cuí. "

"Thank you so much for all the feedback you sent us after the festival - it's a huge help as we report to the funding bodies concerned."

"Ní féidir liom do chuid oibre díograisí a mholadh sách-ard -chaith tú go díograiseach agus go gairmiúil le gach uile ghné den tionscadal ó thús go deireadh, agus níl amhras ar bith ach go n-aontaíonn chuile dhuine i gCathair na Mart leis an ráiteas sin - an coiste, na scoileanna, na múinteoirí agus na scoláirí. Táimid ar fad fíorbhuíoch díot."

"I cannot praise your diligent work highly enough - you were so professional and worked tirelessly, taking care to pay attention to every aspect of the project from start to end and there is no doubt that everybody in Westport agrees with that statement - the committee, the schools, the teachers and the students. We are all so grateful to you".

Freda Nic Giolla Catháin, Gnó Mhaigh Eo & Westport Arts Festival Committee, Mayo, Ireland.

June 2015

"Was great to meet you and have you perform at Larks on Sunday, you were fantastic and really good to work with. I have also had lots of positive feed back saying the same from other event staff.
I will definitely be passing you details on to my network and will be in touch for future events."
Many Thanks
Mari Ryan
Project Development Manager
Member of Children's Trust VCFS Forum

March 2015

March ended up being a much busier month than planned, and though I often receive hugely strongly positive feedback, this month's collective of workshop evaluation forms and feedback stands out, with teacher comments such as "Amazing afternoon of active learning"... "Ariel will increase the number of children who would be interested in developing their Gaelic language skills". With student comments such as "Sgoinneil, Amazing, Awesome, Epic" and my personal favourite "Actually really cool", I guess the Ardross Primary teacher might be right...

Client feedback comes in all kinds of forms, but over 40 handwritten thank you letters, with incredibly cute pictures, from the children of Millbank Primary for Sìne's Gaelic & Bilingual Goldilocks Storytelling & Drama workshops, has to be up there with the nicest of all!

No images found.

"One of Ireland's leading Stilt Performers" Down District Council

Feedback from Halloween Storytelling/Storymaking Workshops...

"The best storytelling / drama workshop I have ever seen. Just perfect for this age group, it was a joy to watch the pupils' faces. This truly was an independent state of happiness." Teacher, Sleat Primary

"Pupils thoroughly enjoyed it, fantastic combination of drama, listening skills, language development and use of Gaelic... another excellent workshop" Teacher, Bonar Bridge Primary School

Feedback from Circus Skills Workshops, Highland Tour...

"Excellent... the pupils thoroughly enjoyed the circus skills.. a fantastic opportunity for language development for both Gaelic-speaking children & engaging those in English-medium education." "Wonderful... great to see Gaelic being used in such an engaging, different way for pupils" "Widens their experiences of Gaelic and its use in different circumstances"
Teachers, Bonar Bridge Primary School

"A great way to introduce Gaelic to children" Craighill Primary

"Thank you so much, that was brilliant, the kids loved it & I've got the pictures to prove it!" Tomnacross Primary

"Excellent... new language very well introduced & reinforced during workshop" Teacher, Craighill Primary

Showreel/Video

Here's a video with client feedback and images/video of my work...

Feedback from 'Meet the Vikings' Educational Play & School Workshop, with Hopscotch Theatre Company

"Absolutely brilliant! This workshop was perfect, clearly well thought out & delivered flawlessy. Ariel & Mark were fabulous! It was packed with what we've been teaching and done with a lot of humour! The workshop was very appropriate, instructions were clearly given – perfect for nine year olds. All children were actively engaged throughout. You covered at least two weeks of work for us, in a very entertaining way - many thanks!" From the kids...."So much fun', 'awesome', 'funny', 'excellent'!"

Many thanks to reknowned Scottish Theatre Company, Hopscotch, for bringing me on board for this tour – the script is brilliant and Eddie McGurn was great to work with as our Director, as is Mark Traynor, my fantastic co-actor and facilitator.

Further feedback from Director Eddie McGurn after completion of 3 week tour:

"Just to say well done on a fantastic run of the Viking's workshop, the feedback for you guys seems to have been resolutely brilliant and I would just like to say thank you for your hard work you both went above and beyond the call of duty."

Royal National Mod Opening Procession, Stage Manager Amanda Millen:

"Just a wee note to say a huge thanks for your input on Friday night. Having you as a free agent complementing the main action of the procession worked very well indeed. The response to the procession overall has been unanimously very favourable which is excellent. It's a great start to the Mod."

Many thanks Ariel. You looked fantastic and added a real extra sparkle to the event! We will definitely be in touch again! Mòran taing!
Mairead Nì MhaolChalann
Gaelic Community Development & Learning Officer, Highlands Council

"Your content was fantastic and everyone has been extremely complimentary about the entertainment provided - so thanks a million for another job well done."
Lorraine Anderson, Agent, Streetwise Performance Ltd. Belfast.

"Delighted with the performance"
Jean Smyth, Strabane Council, N.I.

"Ariel and Nick were great..... they arrived and did a sterling job. Great outfits, nice people and they did a great job"
Brian Moore, Holywood Barracks Manager, N.I.

"You have been fantastic and feedback has been super!!"
Lorraine Anderson, Agent, Streetwise Performance Ltd. Belfast.

"Fabulous, looked amazing - thanks again!"
Christina Nelson, Carnival Artist and Co-ordinator for North Belfast Enchanted Evening

"Thanks again for your performance at the Halloween Event, your new character is fantastic."Bernie Cairns, Fermanagh County Museum

"Absolutely beautiful!"
Random punter, Halloween Entertainment, Junction 1 Centre, Antrim, for Fire Nymph character.

"Ariel is a multi-talented and enthusiastic performer who brings energy wherever she works. For Culture Night this year, her contribution was invaluable, tying together disparate performance elements in a climatic (self-composed) performance poetry piece. I would not hesitate to recommend her to others.

Adam Turkington, Culture Night Belfast Manager, 2012

"Wow! Loved what you did! Amazing! Me and my Mrs had a blast!"

Eamonn Keenan, Photographer and Culture Night Belfast 2012 Parade Spectator.

"You were excellent!"

Aisling Ní Labhraí, Good Relations Officer, Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiach, Belfast, for International Peace Day & Culture Night Belfast Entertainment

Events Officer, District Council, NI.

"I want to thank you and Stephen for your stimulating and inspiring bilingual circus skill workshops, the kids thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It was a honour to have such talented artists at our Lá Spraoi."

Sheena, Lá Spraoi/Summer Fun Day Organiser

"Very happy, definitely added to the carnival atmosphere."

Victoria Square Shopping Complex, Belfast for their Summer Carnival Promotion.

Feedback from Pat and Plain Drama in Schools Project with the Lyric theatre, Belfast, the Ulster Scots Agency & Foras na Gaeilge

"Just wanted to express my gratitude to you for all you did for us. I'm so happy the children, and I took this journey together and about what we've all achieved. It's brilliant to see children standing up on stage doing things they thought they couldn't. You gave them the courage to be able to do that and they'll be forever grateful to you.

I still don't believe we've actually achieved it but with your experience, direction and advice, we achieved our goal. Everyone from the school is talking about the show tonight – it's a huge thing for our school. Thank you so much for all your support and patience."

Cáit, Teacher, Bunscoil/Irish-language Primary School, N.l.

"You are an amazing force of nature in its purest form – the kids are very lucky to have such a terrific role model in their midst. Sometimes I've been lucky enough meet people who no matter what language they speak can communicate with anyone – you're one of them."

Dan Gordon, well-known Northern Irish scriptwriter for the Lyric Theatre/Ulster Scots Agency/Foras na Gaeilge Pat and Plain Project's "She was alright when she left us" drama in schools play, after visiting one of the project workshops.

I know the Rainbow Bubble Fairy is always welcome in the park and brings a very special piece of magic with her".

Events Officer, City Council, NI.

I would like to express my thanks for the fantastic experience you gave the children yesterday. All of them enjoyed it (and me too!). They all had great ideas - from the youngest child to the oldest. The Storytelling session catered for them all and it was lovely to see their story come to life!

Cairde Uí Néill

It's alway great to get good feedback from a client, and it's not often I'm stunned, but sometimes it's nice to overhear what clients and bookers really think..(Booker) "I've been dying to use her for ages, I'd say she's brilliant!" (Onsite Manager) "She is, she's fantastic!"
Thanks to the lovely Dublin-based Promotions Agency for letting me know how happy they were with my work as the Rainbow Bubble Fairy at their event, and if you've been dying to use me for ages, just get in touch! More client feedback is below..

Christmas Fair

A million thanks again for Friday. You were excellent!!! Everyone was talking about you, enjoyed the entertainment you provided and thought you were absolutely brilliant. I was so happy that I got you for the Fair.

A hundred thanks again.

Irish Language Development Officer

Summer School Launch & Lunch
Ariel Killick provided artistic services for the 2011 McCracken Summer School and we as an organisation were very impressed with the services Ariel provided. Ariel provided stilt walking performances at two of our events; our launch at Le Boca restaurant and our Multi-Cultural lunch at the 174 Trust. Not only did her costume and make-up look amazing and her stilt performance dazzle, but Ariel interacted with the hundreds of people that attended. She spoke to everyone in Irish and English, playing with children and dancing which entertained everyone.

All in all Ariel Killick really added to the week long festivities. She was professional in every way possible and we will be availing of her services once again next year.

Christmas Fair

You were fantastic on Saturday evening - everyone loved you! I will definitely be in touch again..

Kathy, Council Events Officer, N.I

Teddy Bears' Picnic

Just a note to say thank you for providing your services at the Teddy Bears Picnic, we have had a lot of positive feed back about your performance from both our own staff and those attending the event.

It was a pleasure to work with you and I hope to see you again soon!

Danielle, Council Events Officer, N.I

Christmas Lights Switch On & Arts Centre Entertainment

Many thanks again for being so accommodating.

Denise, Council Arts Officer, N.I.