Gugalaí Gug (cluckety cluck) ! A nervous hen frets about where she should build her nest. A family of little green frogs learns how to swim. A strange chap called Máirtín goes for walks in the dead of night, especially if it’s raining. Gugalaí Gug is bristling with weird and wonderful characters and fun scenarios that will fire your imagination. This collection of traditional children’s rhymes from the Irish (Gaelic) tradition consists of a full-colour book and lavishly-produced audio CD. It’s a lively mix of rhymes, children’s songs, and even a bit of virtuoso lilting (mouth music) and the exuberant rhythms of a traditional step dancer! It captures the feel of the tradition as a living thing, an arena where grandparents, parents, and children can come together to play with words and rhymes. Performing on the CD are three generations of the Conamara community, ranging in age from four years to seventy something. The full range of the region’s vocal talent is featured — rhymers, singers, a lilter - almost forty voices in all. Among them is the actor Tom Sailí Ó Flaithearta, well-known for his portrayal of the elderly bachelor Cóilín in TG4’s bi-weekly soap, Ros na Rún. Another grown-up voice featured is that of singer and Raidió na Gaeltachta broadcaster Caitlín Ní Chualáin. Her colleague at the radio station Meaití Jó Shéamais, an award winning sean-nós singer, can be heard lilting and playing the uilleann pipes. But the real stars of the production are the local children, drawn from two primary schools, in the Leitir Mealláin and Indreabhán areas, respectively. The first, Scoil an Chnoic, Leitir Mealláin, at the time of recording, had nine pupils on the rolls. They’re all to be heard performing together on one track, “A hAon is a hAon”. The other school involved is Scoil Sailearna, Indreabhán — in contrast, it’s the biggest primary school in Conamara. The Gugalaí Gug project was instigated by Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin (a singer, songwriter and musician in his own right). He researched and wrote the book, directed the vocal talent in studio, commissioned the artwork, and published Gugalaí Gug on his independent label, Futa Fata. The CD was produced by John Ryan, who also acted as composer, arranger and sound engineer. Gugalaí Gug is the third children’s project Tadhg and John have realised together. The others are also available here: Bliain na nAmhrán and Ceol na Mara; as well as a CD that brings together 18 best loved classics from recordings of Tadhg’s compositions over the last 20 years: Imíonn an tAm. The Gugalaí Gug project was commissioned by Ealaín na Gaeltachta, the partnership of An Chomhairle Ealaíon, the Irish Arts Council and the Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking region) Development Authority, Údarás na Gaeltachta. The research, writing, design, artwork and printing of the book was supported by Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge (The Irish [Gaelic] Book Board). Artwork was provided by award-winning illustration and animation studio Cartoon Saloon. Six artists in total contributed images to the book. Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin’s recordings available here at CD Baby: Bliain na nAmhrán (the year of song); Imíonn an tAm (time passes), Ceol na Mara (songs of the ocean); Gugalaí Gug (cluckety cluck)