CEOL //
✋ melted crayon x leca pebble
👃wild thyme, fresh-baked soda bread, beeswax & conifer rosin, irish tavern ambiance, oiled drum skins, woodsmoke
Note: comes with glitters, gold foil leaf, and a golden musical instrument charm of your choice - see photos
Ceol literally means “music” in Gaeilge (Irish), but it implies deeper community, resilience, & cultural preservation. At festivals & pubs, it’s always accompanied by craic & caint: music, joy, storytelling. Cathal O'Luanaigh explains, “Walk into any Irish pub worldwide, sit down with an instrument & start playing Irish tunes. Chances are someone will soon pull out their own instrument & play along or start singing. Why is that? Irish music has strong roots anchored in Irish identity that was forged out of anti-colonial resistance & a diaspora that resulted in Irish communities all over the world.”
When Ireland was under British rule, the Irish language, education & expressions of Irish culture, such as its music, were banned under the Penal Laws of 1695. Irish Catholics were barred from owning land, entering professions, holding office, receiving education, & more. Music became an important part of preserving culture & resisting oppression.
“Irish tunes are simple, memorable & repetitive. One reason for this is that people needed to be able to teach each other the songs without the need for instruments or any written notation.” Lilting, a form of wordless melodic singing, became a way to remember & share songs.
As Irish people were outlawed to Australia, driven to the U.S. by famine, or migrated across Europe for work, music & story travelled with them. Often barred from formal education, an oral culture flourished through music. “The Irish are known for their music & storytelling,” O'Luanaigh explains. “This is perhaps partly because, left with little else, the Irish valued these vestiges of their culture as integral parts of their being.”
Fun fact: Back in the day, I used to participate in céilithe, traditional Irish community dances!
This texture has a creamy, moisturizing, melty-wax feel to it with a little grit. It blends well with the crunchy pebbles, which trap air & give great bubble pops. Herby bread is most prominent in the blend, with the atmospheric notes supporting.
