The Toddler Take Over 2024

Where musicians play, singers sing, dancers dance and storytellers weave tales ... our 9th Toddler Take Over Adventure took place in May!

Join the jam, bust a move, grab a tale, sit under the weeping willow, add to a grand oil painting, dig, draw, scribble, have a nap, have a snack, build it, knock it down, move it, shake it, in the dark, in the light ... it can only be Draíocht’s 9th Toddler Take Over!

Celebrate the limitless imagination of the very young child and the magic that happens when it is combined with the interesting world of artists and the arts. With a combination of book-in and roaming events, and the very special addition of a Sensory Toddler Day (Wed 01 May), let your toddler take the lead, as we open up our building just for them and invite them to explore.

For this one day, Draíocht transforms into a big space for adventure through story, visual arts, music and dance for the very young. Children are invited to bring their insatiable curiosity and their adults to delve into the wonder of the arts.

Events

TTO Sensory Friendly Takeover

TTO Sensory Friendly Takeover
WED 01 MAY / 10.30AM-12.30PM
A relaxed pre-festival day especially for special units in local schools.
Leading on from the success of previous toddler sensory events, this year we will also have a special sensory event. Workshops and events will be adapted to suit the needs of young children with additional needs. This event needs to be pre-booked, so if your unit or school group is interested in coming along, please contact Sarah Beirne directly (e: sarah@draiocht.ie or 01 809 8029). This event will have limited capacity & is suitable for groups only.

Free Event: Roaming

Free Event: Roaming
Time: 10AM – 2.30PM
Cost: Free but Ticketed / Pre-Booking Essential
Booking: Pre-register at Box Office for your Free Ticket on 01-885 2622
Age: Walkers/Wobblers (18 months+ to 4 years)
Locations: Roaming all over Draíocht / Draíocht’s 2 Galleries, Foyer & Studio
Enjoy the open spaces for self-directed, creative play and art-making in the many landscapes to colour, play, scribble and travel through. Sit under the willow tree with long billowing arms, leave something and take something, chalk your mark, help at the construction site, make some tea and enter the light room and projection control centre. All drawing, creating, sticking, building-activities are designed for wobblers/walkers (18 months to 4 years) but younger and older siblings are welcome in the ROAMING areas too.

Your ROAMING Ticket covers FREE, but PRE-BOOKED admission across a combination of open spaces for self-directed play and inventiveness. With your Roaming Ticket you can come and go as you please. You can also draw, investigate and discover the world of imagination we have created for you.

With only this ticket your child will have lots of fun, but if you want something more, you can purchase tickets for the additional Book-In workshops or attend a music concert (see timetable). We advise you to book 1 or max 2 Book-In events, as combined with the freedom of the Roaming spaces, there will be lots for your child to enjoy.

Event: Dance, Watch Move

Event: Dance, Watch Move
An action packed dance session with Matt Szczerek & Jess Rowell
Workshop 1: 10AM - 10.20AM
Workshop 2: 11.30AM - 11.50AM
Workshop 3: 12.40PM - 1PM
Cost: €5 per child with 1 free accompanying adult
Age: 2 to 4 Years
Location: Draíocht's Main Stage
Duration: 20 mins
Capacity: 16 children + 1 adult each per session
Booking: 01-885 2622
We think it's practically impossible to hear music and not bust a move! The question is will you move a little bit, or move a LOT! Do you prefer to watch or copy? Have you ever seen someone dance on their head! In this session there will be some very cool watching and some very cool moving too.

Event: Spring Into Story

Event: Spring Into Story
An action packed story telling session with Eimear Morrissey & Aisling O'Mara
Workshop 1: 10.15AM - 10.40AM
Workshop 2: 11.40AM - 12.05PM
Workshop 3: 1.10PM - 1.35PM
Cost: €5 per child, with a free accompanying adult
Age: 2 to 4 Years
Location: Draíocht's Workshop Room
Duration: 25 mins
Capacity: 14 children + 1 adult each per session
Booking: 01-885 2622
Become part of the fairytale in this action-based storytelling session! You are part of the adventure. Your magical powers and words and actions will steer us through this adventure packed story telling session. Just open your ears and be ready to let your imagination go on an adventure, while never leaving the room.

Event: Fleetwood Nap

Event: Fleetwood Nap
A musical collaboration with the Mobile Music School
Concert 1: 10.50AM - 11.20AM
Concert 2: 12PM – 12.30PM
Cost: €5 per child, with a free accompanying adult
Age: 18 months to 4 Years
Location: Draíocht's Main Space
Duration: 30 mins
Capacity: 70 people per session
Booking: 01-885 2622
This musical experience for toddlers will introduce them to the joy of soft rock with an exciting range of instruments to see. This is a fun mini-concert, where you can dance, sit, look at and hear a range of sounds and music in our main space - with all the seats taken out – allowing plenty of space for you to move about ... you can shake your hair and rock-out too if you like!

Musicians:
Dave McGauran - MD, Keys & Sax
Susan McFadden - Singer
Darren Bell - Guitar
Dan Bodwell - Bass
Paul Byrne - Drums & Percussion