Our Lady’s are crowned National Champions in Show Choir Ireland 2018
….for the second year in a row………
Our Lady’s choir travelled to Dublin on Sat 3rd November to the Show Choir Ireland 2018 Competition and returned later that evening as National Champions, making it back to back wins in this National competition!
The National Show Choir Competitions are held each year for performing groups who usually sing and dance, combining fun, excitement, passion and friendship in a performance that will inspire the audience and impress the four judges present.
Pictured in Our Lady’s Secondary School are the 72 strong choir who captured 1st prize in the National Show Choir Competition 2018 in the O’Reilly Hall against stiff competition from stage and performing arts groups, many of whom are in full-time performance! The group, who also received the ‘Best Vocals’ award, are pictured here with their mentor, Music teacher, Ms Murray.
This year there were seven groups who qualified to take part in the final and it is interesting to note that Our Lady’s was the only secondary school who qualified with all the other competitors coming from stage schools and performing arts academies, some being 3rd level institutions and an adult choir. Our Lady’s talented choir with a range of students from First to Sixth Year, a 72 strong group, put on a superb performance that captivated the audience and had the judges remarking ‘on the phenomenal performance’ that had left the judges ‘speechless’. One judge remarked ‘you tick all of the boxes’. The panel of judges loved the group’s ‘use of space, their high energy’ and their mature and well handled theme of ‘Speak Up, Speak Out’. Soloists singled out included Laura Brereton, Michaela Mc Geough, Ciana Kierans and Lisa Rose McMahon. They also commented that every single member of the group gave 200% and left the audience wanting more. The choir won both the judges & the audience vote and came away with 1st place, a superb trophy, the overall prize of €1000 and also captured the Best Vocals award, for good measure. They will now be performing on the main stage of the RDS next February 2019 during the Perform Ireland 3 day event.
Speaking to the Principal of Our Lady’s, Mr Kelly in the wake of the success, he acknowledged the outstanding commitment and dedication made by the Music teacher Ms Murray in preparing the students to such a high standard. “Their performance in the ShowChoir Ireland completion was one characterised by passion, energy and enthusiasm and it was clear to see how much the students were enjoying themselves. Their success is a just reward for all their hard work and efforts and we as a school are incredibly proud of their achievements. They are a very important part of our school community and make a very special and inspirational contribution to liturgies and most events in Our Lady’s. The students in the choir are excellent role models for our school community and we could all learn lessons from their generosity of spirit, honesty of effort and humility. We are blessed as a school community to have someone like Ms. Murray to lead and guide our students, her generosity of time and spirit, her commitment and dedication to the students and our school is second to none.”
The choir and Ms Murray were feted before the entire school community in the gym on Tuesday afternoon where their breath-taking and electric performance was pitch perfect and professional to the last. Congratulations to all concerned.
Singing their hearts out in Our Lady’s…as Gaeilge
Pictured in Our Lady’s Secondary School are a group of 2nd Year students who have recently submitted a video of their recording of ‘Labhair í’, an adaptation of Aslan’s famous song ‘Crazy World’. This is all part of Bliain na Gaeilge 2018, an initiative to celebrate the Irish language, both nationally and internationally. Go n-éirí leo!
A group of second year students in Our Lady’s Secondary School are eagerly awaiting the results of Comórtas Amhránaíochta – celebrating Bliain na Gaeilge 2018. Ms Brennan and Ms Darby’s second year classes have just recently submitted a video of their recording of ‘Labhair í’, an adaptation of Aslan’s famous song ‘Crazy World’. Bhain na daltaí sult agus taitneamh making the recording.
Bliain na Gaeilge 2018 is an initiative to celebrate the Irish language, both nationally and internationally. It is a year-long programme of creative, artistic and community activities and events are being planned to celebrate the Irish language and to encourage increased participation in the language. One of these initiatives is the Comórtas Amhránaíochta which gives students an opportunity to enjoy their own pop culture through the medium of Irish and to keep Irish alive for them.
We look forward to hearing the result in the near future -Go n-éirí leo!
Gaeilge 24
Pictured in Our Lady’s Secondary School during November is a representative group of students who participated in Gaeilge 24, an Irish speaking event which saw members of the school and the community speak Irish for 24 hours as well as participating in many other ‘imeachtaí’.
On Tuesday, 13th November, Our Lady’s Secondary School hosted the Irish-speaking event, Gaeilge 24. This challenge is to encourage young people to try to speak Irish non-stop for one whole day – 24 hours: at home, at school, in shops and businesses, around the town, with friends, in sports and youth clubs and everywhere else! Organised by Conradh na Gaeilge, Gaeilge 24 aims to open the minds of young people and allow them to experience the Irish language in a unique and positive way.
In Our Lady’s, all year groups embraced the challenge of Gaeilge 24 with support and efforts from the staff and community. Those who took part in this “imeacht” had to speak “as Gaeilge” for 24 hours, making as much effort as possible to communicate through Irish only. Each student and teacher who took part wore a “t-léine” around the school and the town, and also wore a wrist band.
“Míle Buíochas” to Conradh na Gaeilge for giving Our Lady’s such an enjoyable opportunity to promote our native language around the school!