What people are saying.

  • 'Thank you so much Paul for the workshops you did for our students on the life of Vincent Van Gough. The students thoroughly enjoyed how you told the story of your life as Vincent Van Gough. The information you gave them was totally pitched at their level and made his life and times very real for them. Keep up the good work.'

    Lorna Butler, Class Teacher, Saint Brigid's School, Mullingar

  • 'First Fortnight are delighted to have had Paul Timoney in our festival programme the last two years. First Fortnight Festival is a mental health art themed festival that works to create coversation around mental health and also challenge prejudice, stigma and negative attitudes. Each year Paul creates a bespoke children's story and art workshops centred around mental health. Every year it is extremely popular and gives us an opportunity to help shape attitudes around mental health at a key stage of development. Paul is able to work with both young people and adults so the whole family gets involved which is brilliant! He appears to have boundless levels of energy so each of the three workshops he ran were of the same quality and level of fun..'

    Edel Doran, Events Coordinator, First Fortnight Festival, Dublin

  • 'Paul visited our school as part of the 'Laois Festival of Flight' and worked with children from our ASD classes on a wonderful sensory story-telling session. Paul arrived with everything the session needed. The children sat in a circle on cushions. Each child had a bag of sensory materials to explore during the story, all from recycled/reused materials! Paul allowed time for the children to freely explore these before beginning the story! Paul was calm, and built a lovely rapport with the children during the session. The session was very well planned and guided, and very much child-centred with lots of input from the children! The children connected with Paul and they loved this time to think creatively and imaginatively. I couldn't recommend Paul enough, and we look forward to welcoming him back to our school soon again. Thanks again Paul. Best of luck with upcoming projects. You are truly bringing so much joy to children, you have a lovely presence and a special way with children, especially those with special needs, it is often hard to find someone who has experience in working with children with special needs, so I jumped at this opportunity. Thank you!’

    Jane Doheny, Scoil Bhríde NS. Portlaoise

  • 'CASA organises regular social activities for our members with disabilities. We are always on the lookout for new and interesting things to do with the group and were delighted to book Paul Timoney for an event. He has since run a number of workshops with our youth group and they have always been extremely popular. The group love working with Paul - they get totally immersed in the activity and are engaged from start to finish. Paul's mix of storytelling, humour and improvisation keeps everyone entertained for the afternoon. He has an amazing ability to read a group and work on their wavelength. I would highly recommend Paul's workshops. They are a fantastic way to spend an afternoon and this group is always left wanting more.'

    Rebecca Sheridan, Office Manager, CASA

  • 'Recently I had Paul give a storytelling workshop to a group of 'sceptical' first year animation students. Right from the start he had their attention. He got them to open up, engage and develop their stories. He has a touch of genius in him. He got them to work really hard, yet they said, it was the most fun they'd had all year. A lot of laughter was heard coming out of their room during the workshop. Many weeks later they still mention how good his workshop was and ask 'can he please come back again?'

    Geraldine O'Reilly, Artist & Lecturer, AIT

  • 'Paul's storytelling abilities are like no one else you've heard - they are also like nothing else you've seen! He created a wonderfully different story for each class that he spent time with. The children absolutely LOVED their stories. Squeals and peals of laughter were like a backing track to Paul's unique stories! When the teachers in the classroom are laughing as hard as the children then you know you're onto a winner. Very few people can walk into a classroom, start talking and have the whole room enthralled within two minutes. Each story was unique and Paul tailored it to suit the dynamics of the children in the room. His ability to ad lib and "wing it" was incredible - and it was hard to believe that he was adjusting his ideas as he went along. The children talked about Paul's visit a long time after he left the building! He also inspired them to write their own stories. The long and the short of it is that Paul's storytelling is an art form in itself- it's like a story and physical theatre wrapped up together - and it has to be heard (and seen) to be believed.'

    Elaine McManus, Class Teacher, Saint Ciarán's National School, Castlejordan, Coounty Offaly

  • 'Paul Timoney's storytelling goes far beyond simple stories. He weaves so many elements of language, expression, emotion, humour, silliness, seriousness and narrative that it is dazzling. He reaches all elements of the audience and engages the listener actively. You can't help but suspend reality for a time and join in his world of story when he spins the yarn. I have enjoyed collaborating with him while I was in Ireland as a Fulbright Scholar and seeing him in action several times with several audiences. The surface simplicity of his tales is deceiving in a way as there is a depth that touches universal themes and emotions - but he is never heavy handed in delivery. Sensitive to his audience, he incorporates environmental cues, random sounds, mishaps and other events into the festive path his stories take. If you've never seen him perform, be prepared to be surprised and enthralled.'

    Joan Phillips, PhD. LMFT, LPC.ATR-BC, ATCS, Fulbright Scholar, Art Therapist

  • 'Booking Paul Timoney, Story teller, was a great addition to the recent LauraLynn, Ireland's Children's Hospice Family Camp. He delivered a unique and special story for all the families who attended camp. Paul is able to masterfully bring stories to life with great wit and an energy that fills the room, he can put a smile on anyone's face. Due to the children's complex needs families often rarely get opportunity for things like this. Paul is able to adapt the stories to make them special to everyone, no matter the background, age or medical fragility. All the families were able to fully relax and immerse themselves in enjoying this experience together providing family memories that will be cherished now and for the future.'

    Anna Brown, Senior Occupational Therapist, LauraLynn Children's Hospice