Forgive us all here at St. Colman's today for forgetting ourselves and imagining we were in Mullingar Arts Centre, Aras an Mhuilinn or on a St. Patrick's Day viewing stand in Dublin or New York watching the cream of Irish music, dance and drama talent.
That's exactly what the entire school was treated to for the final day of Seachtain na Gaeilge – a 45-minute concert packed with traditional Irish talent, almost all drawn from school students and staff. The performers did three shows back-to-back during the day so that every class in the school got to enjoy the special treat.
Ably presented by Ms. Duffy, the concert began with a set by a ceili band comprising teachers Ms. Clarke, Ms. Duffy Ms. Casey, Ms. Morris, Ms. Kelly and guest musicians, Noel Battle, Philip Clarke and Olive Kilbane. We then had a delightful céilí dance by the Senior Infants classes, led by Ms. Casey. Our solo singer from Sixth Class, accompanied by Ms. Morris, wowed the audience, as did two students with their confident, eloquent and dramatic solo recitations.
We had a Scór na bPáistí instrumental group, comprising four students on banjo, fiddle and flute who were overflowing with talent, and a fantastically harmonious and heartfelt unaccompanied singing performance by a ballad group also comprising four students. Our figure dancers, eight students from the schools senior classes, led by Ms. Kelly, demonstrated skill, timing and talent that would qualify for Riverdance.
For the finalé, the students in the audience were prepared: it was a school Seachtain na Gaeilge song that all had learnt. Luckily the roof survived! Audiences from Junior Infants all the way up to Sixth Classes were clapping, singing and jigging along and mesmerized by the talent before them. Some may just have been inspired to take up an Irish singing or dancing class themselves. Mr. Beehan thanked all students, staff and guests involved.
