About Ceol Ireland

In 1998, Ceol (the Irish word for music) was set up, had a vision and worked hard to reawaken the dormant musical heritage of its home town in West Dublin. Following research up to 2005 and piloting in 2006 and 2007, Ceol began to offer music education to primary schools (from Junior Infants up), bringing on board a team of experts to create new and innovative teaching methods. These innovations gave birth to the Giusti Approach to music education, which focused on the development of musical fluency, teaching children to listen, speak, read and write the language of music.

In 2005/2006, Ceol and the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee (Kylemore College) started a pilot, providing music tuition in many instruments to children who would not have had such opportunities otherwise. The challenges, obstacles and pitfalls experienced since then, have made Ceol even more successful. This model has been recommended as a template for new projects around Ireland.

In 2006, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland challenged Ceol to take the Ceol model and to roll it out across the country. The results of national piloting were outstanding, showing stunning success. Teachers who had once been fearful of teaching music were now thriving, through the use of Ceol's professional lesson plans, and through Ceol's regular professional development sessions (now available on DVD).

Today, Ceol has expanded its programmes to include pre-school music education, which can be easily used by parents and teachers alike. Ceol Ireland is working with over 340 educators who teach over 12,000 children, across the four provinces of Ireland. These children will thrive in music, languages, math's and science. This expectation is supported by international research which shows evidence of the links between early music education and competencies in the sciences.

Mission Statement

Ceol provides every child, regardless of physical ability or educational needs, with music education of the highest possible quality, that fulfils the requirements of pre-school and the Primary Music Curriculum, that is fun, simple and that forges links with other subjects.

Ceol Ireland Vision

Ceol endeavours to complete the child through music and wishes to make Ireland a global beacon for music education.

The Ceol Team

Carmel Dunne

MSc (TCD), Piano Teacher’s Dip (LSM), Management Dip (IPA), Alumna Harvard Kennedy Business School, Mass. Member of Runcible Spoon. Executive Director and Founder of Ceol. Carmel is a Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Awardee. She has 33 years public service, and has always had a passion for music in her spare time.

Ali Giusti

BMus Hons. (Cardiff Uni). Creative Development and Training Executive of Ceol. Ali is a professional musician, who worked in community arts in South Wales, where she developed music programmes for 5 to 18 year olds. Her experience has led to her innovative training style that imbues primary teachers with a passion for music.

Tempy Cummins: Business strategist and ex- primary school teacher
Greg Byrne: Marketing advisor
Antóin ÓMuircheartaigh: Advisor and translator
Fiach ÓMuircheartaigh: Composer and translator
Rita Eyre: Co-ordinator of after-schools programmes
Gerard Flanagan: Advisor