Mitchell Drum

By Zara Hill

A carpenter by trade, Aughrim native Lorcan Mitchell has set his sights on a new business venture and hopes to get the community on board – introducing The ‘’Mitchell Drum’’. Lorcan first discovered his creative flare while making an electric guitar for his Leaving Cert woodwork project in Garbally College. 

Combining his love of music and carpentry, Lorcan now hopes to make a career making what he describes as ‘’an abbreviation of the Cajon Drum’’. Pronounced ‘ca-hoon’, the Cajon is a drum made out of plywood – an instrument you sit on and tap to make a drum-like sound. Travelling to the Philippines as a volunteer following a devastating typhoon that struck the area in 2013, Lorcan began making smaller versions of the Cajon Drum and soon began a music school - giving the children drums to share and practice on. 

On returning to Ireland, Lorcan continued designing the instruments and now he hopes to promote the Mitchell Drum, beginning of course with his local area. With his new website and business now up and running – Anam Ceol – Lorcan hopes to visit the local schools to exhibit his instruments and set up drum and music circles in town. The former Battle of the Bands participant remarked, ‘’my fondest memories as a young lad involved my siblings and I knocking on doors on St. Stephen’s Day, singing songs’’. 

Lorcan is now making Mitchell drums full time in his workshop in Aughrim and welcomes people to come and try one if they are interested. To promote his new business, Anam Ceoil, Lorcan is also willing to do school presentations and donate some instruments to get children started with music. For more information, visit Lorcan’s brand new website www.anamceol.com or contact Lorcan on 085 7354030.

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