Ennis school clears its throat for song contest

SCOIL Chriost Rí, ­Cloughleigh, has become the first primary or secondary school in Ireland to be accepted into the Comórtas Pan Cheilteach (Pan Celtic) Song Contest. Thirteen pupils and six adults will perform in Carlow on Thursday, February 7. The group is called Scoil Chriost Rí Abú and their song, Caoineadh Ón Dáil, was written by sixth class teacher, Joe Garry.

 

The Cooraclare man describes it as a satirical look at life in the national parliament. He was having a quiet night in watching television a few weeks ago when he became inspired.

“I was watching Oireachtas Report and I felt right sorry for the Ceann Comhairle, who had to listen to what was going on,” the Clare U-21 football manager explained.

The song is sung by Brian Culloo, who teaches in the school, while the words were put to music by fourth-class teacher Karen Vaughan.

“With everything else falling into place, we needed an extra bit of blas and we were blessed to have such a top balladeer on our staff,” Joe gushed with reference to the magnificent singing provided by Brian Culloo.

A backing group of pupils join in the chorus, while several pupils and teachers provide the music.
Fifth-class pupils Emma Ikebey (concertina), Emmanuel Ikebey (banjo), Roy Jones-Mbou (banjo), Abdul Saidi (drums) and Zarena Boladale (concertina) are joined by Emma Liu (fiddle) and Mary Sobamiwa (fiddle) from sixth class.

The six children from rang a sé who take part in the chorus, are Christopher Donohue, Dylan Hayes, Damien McDonagh, Niamh O’Connor, Ana Borges and Kathy McNamara.

They will be joined in the singing by teachers Ruth O’Gorman and Natasha Flanagan, Stacey Behan (tin whistle), Paul Crehan (grandson of Junior Crehan, on guitar), Karen Vaughan (keyboard) and Joe Garry (tin whistle).

Twenty songs have been shortlisted and the composer of the winning song will receive €1,000. A panel of judges will choose the song to go forward to represent Ireland at the International Pan Celtic Song Contest in Carlow on April 4, where it will be up against entries from the participating groups from Wales, Scotland, Brittany, Cornwall and The Isle of Man. The international prize for the overall winner will be €1,500 and the Pan Celtic trophy.