At Scoil Chroí Naofa we
are extremely proud of our school band. Children from second to
sixth class learn to play various instruments and perform in
public. The instruments are: tin whistle, piano accordion, button
accordion, melodicas, bell lyres, drums, cymbals, triangles,
tambourines, bodhrán and the list is growing each year! It is a
marvellous opportunity for children to learn how to play various
instruments and to develop an interest in music. Pupils join the
band in second class as majorettes and graduate to instrument
playing. We are grateful to the teachers who teach their pupils
to play the tin whistle.
In their beautiful uniforms, the band members contribute to the
St. Patrick's Day parade in Athenry and also to the lighting of
the Christmas tree ceremony and other local events. There were
128 children in our band for the lighting of the Athenry
Chrsitmas tree on December 4th this year.
Our principal, Mrs. Teresa Neylon devotes hours to the school
band and even her lunch breaks are spent preparing the band for
their performances. It is thanks to her that our band is such a
success. She also calls on the parents council for assistance
when the children are performing in public.
The Lighting of the Christmas Tree December 4th 2009:
St. Patrick's Day parade 2010 in Athenry:
In June 2006 we celebrated the25th anniversary of our school and also of our school band. Band uniforms from 1975 and from the present day were on display. Photographs were looked at and childrens' thoughts on being being band members were gathered.
The National Children's
Choir has it's roots back to 1985 - European Music Year. Sean
Creamer, then a Department of Education Music Inspector, was
thinking of a way to celebrate European Music Year in Ireland. He
approached a group of teachers with the idea of children in
senior classes in Primary Schools nationwide learning a common
repertoire and performing it at a number of concerts. This was
the birth of the National Children's Choir, which culminates in
thousands of children performing at a series of local venues.The
aim of the choir at that time, and indeed today, has always been
to foster a love of choral singing among Primary School pupils.
Such was the success of the idea in 1985 that it has continued on
a biennial basis.
Scoil Chroí Naofa has been involved with the National Children's
Choir since 1989. The choir is formed every second year. Every
child in both fifth and sixth class learns the repertoire and
gets the opportunity to perform in public. The choir enables
young people to experience the discipline, the effort, the
commitment and the sheer joy of involvement in music and song.
Our choir this year consisted of forty - nine children. On May
May 17th forty girls from Scoil Chroí Naofa were part of the
National Childrens' Choir. There were two hundred and thirty five
children in the choir, from 7 schools in Galway and Mayo. The
choir sang 22 songs in three part harmony. It was a magnificent
performance and the singers deserved their standing ovation.
Seven of these girls have been chosen to sing in The National
Concert Hall in Dublin as part of the National Childrens' Choir.
Well done to Amy, Céire, Eimear, Hazel, Kaneesha, Maria, and
Tara .
We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Mrs. Norah Joyce. Her musical
talent and enthusiasm work together to transform a group of
(sometimes reluctant) singers into a marvellous choir, singing in
three part harmony. Long may she continue the great work!
