Tom Sweeney's Blog

I have been devoted to the fables of Aesop since I was a 'nipper' and I'm happy to say that I have just finished recording a selection of them for children, parents and teachers. The fables of the one-time Greek slave are timeless and the morals they espouse are as relevant today as when they were first written down in the antiquity of Greece - maybe even more so! Children will find the stories endlessly entertaining with their hundreds of characters both good and evil, equally funny and sad and always totally engaging.Truth is eternal and the lessons offered in each of the fables will act as a moral compass for both young and old. Aesop wrote down hundreds of stories and I have chosen sixty of the most popular to make available for the listening pleasure of everyone. It was originally intended as a single CD, but the breadth and appeal of so many of the fables kept me adding more and more so that I was reluctant to stop at sixty! Hence the space expanded to a double CD.

The recordings are suitable for the very young right through to grown ups and I hope those who listen to them are as hooked on the themes, lessons and sheer enjoyment as I have been throughout my life. Here is a partial listing of those fables included:

CD1                                                                                                 CD2

A Bird In The Hand                                                                            The Parrot And The Cat

The Lion And The Mouse                                                                    The Ass In The Lion's Skin

The Boy Who Cried Wolf                                                                    The Jealous Camel

The Fox And The Goat                                                                       The Cat's True Nature

The Wolf In Sheep's Clothing                                                             The Greedy Ant

The Town Mouse And The Country Mouse                                            The Fox And The Mask

The Stag And The Lion                                                                      The Hidden Treasure

A Lesson In Strength                                                                         The Dishonest Doctor

The Miser                                                                                        The Tortoise And The Hare

The Clever Dog                                                                                The Bear's Message

The Jackdaw Who Cheated                                                                The Bald Man

The Fox And the Stork                                                                       The Reed And The Olive Tree

Two Of A Kind                                                                                   The Sun And The Wind

The Selfish Horse                                                                              The Foolish Crow

The Dog In The Manger                                                                     The Flute-Playing Wolf

...and many more!                                                                            ...and many more!

The double CD "Aesop's Fables For Children" will be available in September 2012.

FRIDAY MAY 18TH - NAZARETH HOUSE PRIMARY SCHOOL, DERRY

TUESDAY MAY 22ND - PRIVATE FUNCTION, DONEGAL TOWN

WEDNESDAY MAY 23RD - ST. PATRICK'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, MONEYMORE, CO. DERRY

THURSDAY MAY 24TH - BANBRIDGE SPECIAL SCHOOL, BANBRIDGE, CO. DOWN

FRIDAY MAY 25TH - LONDONDERRY MODEL SCHOOL, DERRY

WEDNESDAY MAY 30TH - ST. COMGALL'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, ANTRIM TOWN, CO. ANTRIM

THURSDAY MAY 31ST - DRUMAHOE PRIMARY SCHOOL, DRUMAHOE, CO. DERRY

FRIDAY JUNE 1ST - THE FOUNTAIN PRIMARY SCHOOL, DERRY CITY

MONDAY JUNE 4TH - THE LONG TOWER PRIMARY SCHOOL, DERRY

WEDNESDAY JUNE 6TH - ST. OLIVER PLUNKETT'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, STRATHFOYLE, DERRY

THURSDAY JUNE 7TH - ST. MARY'S GIRLS PRIMARY SCHOOL, STRABANE, CO. TYRONE

FRIDAY JUNE 8TH - ST. MARY'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, KILLYCLOGHER, CO. TYRONE

FRIDAY JUNE 8TH (EVENING) - ST. MARY'S COLLEGE, IRVINESTOWN, CO. FERMANAGH

TUESDAY JUNE 12TH - CUMBER/CLAUDY PRIMARY SCHOOL, CO. DERRY

WEDNESDAY JUNE 13TH - LIMAVADY CENTRAL PRIMARY SCHOOL, LIMAVADY, CO. DERRY

THURSDAY JUNE 14TH - DONEMANA PRIMARY SCHOOL, DONEMANA, CO. TYRONE

FRIDAY JUNE 15TH - ST. DYMPHNA'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, DROMORE, CO. TYRONE

TUESDAY JUNE 19TH - TUMMERY PRIMARY SCHOOL, CO. TYRONE

WEDNESDAY JUNE 20TH - KILLEN PRIMARY SCHOOL, CASTLEDERG, CO. TYRONE

THURSDAY JUNE 21ST - DUNCLUG NURSERY SCHOOL, BALLYMENA, CO. ANTRIM

FRIDAY JUNE 22ND - ST. CANICE'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, FEENEY, CO. DERRY

TUESDAY JUNE 26TH - ST. COLUMBAN'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, BELCOO, CO. FERMANAGH

WEDNESDAY JUNE 27TH - ERNE SPECIAL SCHOOL, ENNISKILLEN, CO. FERMANAGH

THURSDAY JUNE 28TH - LISBELLAW PRIMARY SCHOOL, LISBELLAW, CO. FERMANAGH

FRIDAY JUNE 29TH - ST. MARY'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, PORTGLENONE, CO. ANTRIM

SUMMER DATES WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON.

Hello friends!

We've just came back from ten days spent performing on the Holland America Line's "Eurodam" around the Med! The cruise was ran by Casey Travel from Massachusetts and I have to say it was really fantastic. We began in Rome and then sailed to Portafino, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Tunisia, Palermo and then back to Rome. The only place I'd been to before was Rome and exploring the other destinations was a labour of love and highly educational. The ancient site of Carthage in Tunisia was a particular favourite, as I had read about it for years, and to see the remains of this splendid civilisation gave a glimpse of what opulence it must have possessed in it's heyday. The Baths of Antonino were spectacular indeed and the third largest in the ancient world. My wife, Frances, being an Art historian, was in her element!

I would like to offer a big 'thank you' to the people who shared in the singing and story-telling each evening, particularly Pam, Charlie, Cathy, Marty, Vince, Anne and John. John Hopkirk's vocal contributions each evening were a revelation and his enthusiasm for the ballads immense! Thanks John! Charlie's version of "Where Have All The Flowers Gone" was a highlight of the musical evenings! It was lovely to spend a few days in Rome at the end of the trip with Vince and Marty from Alaska - we had a great time and a few leisurely, liquid lunches in Trastevere!! I hope they had a good trip home, albeit a long one!

Thanks to Debbie of Casey travel for putting it all together and I look forward to working for the company again in the near future. Check out their website at www.irishmusiccruises.com for upcoming Irish music events both at sea and on land.

I am going to be playing at the following venues over the Easter period

Have you seen this on YouTube