Primary School Finalists

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The six Primary School Finalists, as well as Highly Commended schools, selected in the 2016 Waltons Music for Schools Competition. Schools are listed in alphabetical order, and Finalist school entry videos and profiles are below these.

Finalists

• Bunscoil Loreto, Gorey, Co. Wexford
• Craanford National School, Gorey, Co. Wexford
• Gaelscoil Adhamhnáin, Leitir Ceanainn, Co. Dhún na nGall
• Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan, Co. Thiobraid Árann
• Gaelscoil Moshíológ, Guaire, Co. Loch Gorman
• St. Ultan’s Primary School, Cherry Orchard Avenue, Dublin 10

Highly Commended

• Bunscoil Loreto (Band Entry), Gorey, Co. Wexford
• Bunscoil Loreto (Junior Ensemble Entry), Gorey, Co. Wexford
• Caherline National School, Caherconlish, Co. Limerick
• Danescastle National School, Carrig-on-Bannow, Co. Wexford
• Gaelscoil Shlí Dála, An Bealach Mór, Co. Laoise
• Le Chéile Educate Together National School, Drogheda, Co. Louth
• Scoil na Mainistreach Quin Dangan, Quin, Co. Clare

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Bunscoil Loreto
Gorey, Co. Wexford

Entry

Title ‘We All Stand Together’
Group Bunscoil Loreto Orchestra • 45 members, Senior Infants – Sixth Class
• Niall Quillinan, Teacher/Conductor

About the School

Bunscoil Loreto (696 students) has a thriving whole‐school music programme in which children, teachers and parents are involved. Such was the interest in this year’s Competition that many more students wanted to be involved than could be accommodated with a single entry, so the school submitted no less than nine entries, starting with a group of Junior Infants! All students in Bunscoil Loreto learn tin whistle from Junior Infants to Sixth Class through a special curriculum developed by the school, and violin is also taught to all students from Second to Fifth Class. In addition to instrumental teaching, the school has several choirs, a school orchestra, a school traditional group and a harp ensemble. There is also a staff choir and traditional group, and teachers at Bunscoil Loreto are not only very involved in the school’s music programme but also in the wider community. Finally, in association with the Gorey/Ballygarrett branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann, the school hosts group practice sessions every week. Bunscoil Loreto planned to use a Music for Schools Competition prize for more instruments, in particular a second double bass for the school.

Craanford National School
Gorey, Co. Wexford

Entry

Title ‘Friendship Counts’
Group Friendship Counts Group • 44 members, Junior Infants – Sixth Class
• Sinéad Tobin, Teacher/Conductor • Mandy O’Callaghan, Accompanist

About the School

Craanford National School (159 students) offers music instruction in recorder, tin whistle, violin, accordion, concertina and harp, taught by both a visiting music teacher and a group of traditional musicians from the local branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann. For ensembles the school has both a choir and a traditional music group. The local branch of Comhaltas provides some instruments, and others are purchased through fundraising or supplied by parents. Craanford is currently building small school orchestra and would like to create a marching band as well. The school planned to use a Waltons Music for Schools Competition prize to develop an instrument bank for its students.

Gaelscoil Adhamhnáin
Leitir Ceanainn, Co. Dhún na nGall

Entry

Title ‘Éirí Amach An Cheoil’ (Rise Up with Music)
Group Cór Ceoltóirí Adhamhnáin • 45 members, Fourth – Sixth Class
• Sinéad Uí Dhomhnaill, Teacher/Conductor

About the School

Gaelscoil Adhamhnáin (430 students) provides a wide range of extra-curricular music tuition for its students before school, after school and at lunchtime. The school’s board of management helps to finance this tuition, and the school also works with the Donegal Music Education Partnership and Ceol na Coille, a school of Irish traditional music, to provide it. Adhamhnáin offers several ensemble opportunities for its students, including a Junior Grúpa Ceoil, Senior Grúpa Ceoil, Ballad Group, Pop Group and School Choir. Whenever possible, the school provides instruments to students at no cost, and Cumann na bPíobairí in Donegal has loaned ten sets of uilleann pipes for students to learn. Gaelscoil Adhamhnáin planned to use a Music for Schools Competition prize to expand its instrument bank and provide both staff and students with additional music resources.

Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan
Aonach Urmhumhan, Co. Thiobraid Árann

Entry

Title ‘Scannán & Scáileán’ (Music on the Big & Small Screens)
Group Grúpa Ceoil na Gaelscoile • 45 members, Senior Infants – Sixth Class
• Orla Mhic Chonmara, Teacher/Conductor

About the School

Every Second – Sixth Class student in Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan (220 students) takes part in a weekly Banna Ceoil na Scoile, and the school also has a thriving Ceolfhoireann na Gaelscoile, as well as junior and senior choirs, playing and singing music of all genres. All children in the school, from Senior Infants up, learn tin whistle, and students play a wide range of instruments for the Banna Ceoil. Aonach Urmhumhan has also compiled its own school music book with Banna Ceoil pieces suitable for Junior Infants to Sixth Class, as well as a songbook entitled Canaimis le Chéile that includes traditional Irish songs, pop songs, Christmas carols and hymns. Although most student instruments are purchased by parents, the school also has a selection of percussion instruments freely available to students. Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan planned to use a Music for Schools Competition prize to develop a rental scheme for instruments in order to broaden the scope of their orchestra, including violas and perhaps a double bass.

Gaelscoil Moshíológ
Guaire, Co. Loch Gorman

Entry

Title ‘Grá Sioraí’ (Eternal Love)
Group Ceolfhoireann Moshíológ • 37 members, Junior Infants – Sixth Class
• Carol Scott, Acting Principal/Conductor

About the School

Gaelscoil Moshíológ (244 students) has an inclusive 70-student Ceolfhoireann Scoile (First – Sixth Class) that practices weekly and performs regularly at the school. A smaller (40-student) version of the orchestra has taken part in local and national music competitions. An intensive tin whistle programme for Third to Sixth Class students is provided by a teacher with professional music training, and after-school music classes for infants are provided by a former student. Parent fundraising has allowed Gaelscoil Moshíológ to purchase a number of instruments that are rented at low cost to parents, and the school also provides annual workshops in various instruments and genres. The school planned to use a Music for Schools Competition prize for PA equipment for the orchestra, and to add additional instruments to its instrument bank.

St. Ultan’s Primary School
Cherry Orchard Avenue, Dublin 10

Entry

Title ‘Uptown Funk’
Group SUSSS (St. Ultan’s Super Senior Strings) • 39 members, Third – Sixth Class
• Hanora Miotti, Teacher/Conductor

About the School

A DEIS school, St. Ultan’s Primary School (418 students) aims to provide a music programme in the style of El Sistema in Venezuela, using music as a vehicle for social change and to improve lifelong outcomes for its students. From Senior Infants to Fourth Class, every student learns violin free of charge. From Fourth Class upwards some change to viola, cello and double bass, as well as brass, wind and percussion instruments. The school now has a string ensemble, wind ensemble, recorder ensemble, cello ensemble and vocal harmony choir; when students move to secondary school, they continue to come for lessons and participate in ensembles at the school. St. Ultan’s also provides an after-school arts programme for students in visual arts, dance and drama, and it is introducing Parent and Baby music classes, pre-school music classes, and a pre-instrumental music programme for Junior and Senior Infants. The school planned to use a Music for Schools Competition prize for string, brass, wind and percussion instruments for its students.

Post-Primary School Finalists

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The six Post-Primary School Finalists, as well as Highly Commended and Commended schools, selected in the 2016 Waltons Music for Schools Competition. Schools are listed in alphabetical order, and Finalist school entry videos and profiles are below these.

Finalists

• Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin
• Mercy Heights Secondary School, Skibbereen, Co. Cork
• Our Lady’s Secondary School, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan
• Presentation College, Headford, Co. Galway
• Scoil Mhuire, Trim, Co. Meath
• St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath

Highly Commended

• Coláiste Eanna, Ballyroan, Dublin 16
• Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré, Co. Tipperary
• Crescent College Comprehensive, Dooradoyle, Co. Limerick
• Loreto Secondary School, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
• Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál, Blarney, Co. Cork
• St. Fergal’s College (Choir Entry), Rathdowney, Co. Laois
• St. Kilian’s Community School, Bray, Co. Wicklow
• St. Patrick’s Comprehensive, Shannon, Co. Clare
• St. Paul’s College, Raheny, Dublin 5

Commended

• Castlecomer Community School, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny
• Loreto College, Cavan, Co. Cavan
• St. Ailbhe’s Secondary School, Tipperary, Co. Tipperary
• St. Fergal’s College (Líon Na Bearnaí Entry), Rathdowney, Co. Laois
• St. Mary’s Knockbeg College, Carlow, Co. Carlow

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Loreto Secondary School
Balbriggan, Co. Dublin

Entry

Title ‘Ceol le Chéile’
Group Loreto Balbriggan Group • 30 members, First – Sixth Year

About the School

Loreto Secondary School (1,240 students) offers curricular music to Leaving Cert. level as well as junior and senior choirs, an orchestra, a ukulele orchestra and a traditional group that are free to students. Teachers regularly give up their lunchtimes and stay after school to facilitate musical activities. Transition Year students produce an annual musical and study samba in a six-week module. Private piano tuition is also offered at the school. Loreto planned to use a Music for Schools Competition prize for PA and recording equipment, as well as an instrument bank to encourage participation by many students in the school who cannot afford instruments.

Mercy Heights Secondary School
Skibbereen, Co. Cork

Entry

Title ‘Smells Like Sweet Fusion’
Group Mercy Heights Music Ensemble • 45 members, First – Sixth Year
• Colette Brennan, Teacher/Conductor

About the School

Mercy Heights Secondary School (408 students) offers music to Leaving Cert. level as well as tuition in tin whistle, recorder, guitar, drums and ukulele. The school also provides a range of ensemble possibilities for its students, including a choir, rock groups and traditional groups. Informal rock and traditional performances take place regularly in the school, and a group of students performs weekly in a local nursing home. Mercy Heights has had an arrangement with De la Salle College that allows boys to attend senior cycle music classes at Mercy Heights, and from next year the school will enlarge its music community by amalgamating with De la Salle and Rossa College (a vocational school). The school planned to use a Music for Schools Competition prize for recording equipment, microphones and amps, as well as additional instruments.

Our Lady’s Secondary School
Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan

Entry

Title ‘The Freedom to Follow Our Dreams’
Group OLSS Performing Arts Group • 45 members, First – Sixth Year

About the School

In addition to curricular music, Our Lady’s Secondary School (704 students) has an active and inclusive extra-curricular programme that occupies lunchtimes and includes choir, traditional music group and dance practice, as well as instrumental jam sessions. In addition to a 94-member choir and a 26-member trad group, the school also has several acoustic bands. A number of senior students from their Performing Arts Group voluntarily help run a local community group called Fusion that offers tuition in singing, acting and dancing for local young people aged 5 – 18. Our Lady’s would like to develop a ukulele orchestra as a way of fusing different music genres, as well as a percussion group, and planned to use a Music for Schools Competition prize for ukuleles and percussion instruments.

Presentation College
Headford, Co. Galway

Entry

Title ‘We Are Ireland’
Group Presentation College Headford Group • 45 members, Second – Sixth Year
• Ita Cunningham, Teacher/Piano

About the School

The lively extra-curricular music programme at Presentation College (766 students) includes a school orchestra, school choir, siansa group and numerous pop/rock groups. The music department also supports various community fundraisers. With limited resources and relying chiefly on student-owned instruments, the school would like to expand its stock of instruments and music technology to offer music to the wider student body, especially to younger students. They feel exposure to music enriches school life and engenders confidence in students. Presentation College planned to use a Music for Schools prize for a range of additional instruments, both for in-class and extra-curricular music activities.

Scoil Mhuire
Trim, Co. Meath

Entry

Title ‘Music Crosses All Borders’
Group Scoil Mhuire Performing Arts Group • 44 members, First – Sixth Year
• Mícheál Kerr, Teacher/Conductor

About the School

Scoil Mhuire (740 students) provides a wide range of music opportunities for its students, including an SATB school choir, a TY choir, a traditional music group and in-school piano lessons offered to all interested students, regardless of their financial situation. A new initiative started last year involves 5th Year music students peer teaching tin whistle to small groups of junior students. Each year a student music committee works with the music teachers to fundraise and promote music-making throughout the school. And the school also actively collaborates and performs with other schools in the vicinity whenever possible. Scoil Mhuire planned to use a Music for Schools Competition Prize for equipment to record their music groups as well as additional instruments for in-school music tuition.

St. Joseph’s Secondary School
Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath

Entry

Title ‘Trad Meets Pop!’
Group Mixtape Masters • 36 members, First – Sixth Year
• Claire O’Connell, Teacher/Conductor

About the School

All First Years entering St. Joseph’s Secondary School (850 students) are provided with an 8-week introduction to music to allow them to decide whether or not to take music as a subject, and music class sizes have consistently grown as a result. Recorder and tin whistle are taught to all junior students, and several students attend in-school piano lessons. St. Joseph’s has a trad group that meets at lunchtime once a week and a choir that meets after school once a week. The school also has a number of guitars and tin whistles, as well as two pianos and a drum kit that any students may use. St. Joseph’s planned to use a Music for Schools Competition Prize to boost the number and quality of instruments available to music students, as well as for music technology and recording equipment.

Finalists Concert

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Videos, in concert order, of the twelve school music groups performing in the Waltons Music for Schools Competition 2016 Finalists Concert in University Concert Hall, Limerick on 10 May 2016.

St. Ultan’s Primary School
Cherry Orchard Avenue, Dublin 10

Title ‘Uptown Funk’
Group SUSSS (St. Ultan’s Super Senior Strings) • 39 members, Third – Sixth Class
• Hanora Miotti, Teacher/Conductor

St. Joseph’s Secondary School
Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath

Title ‘Trad Meets Pop!’
Group Mixtape Masters • 36 members, First – Sixth Year
• Claire O’Connell, Teacher/Conductor

Bunscoil Loreto
Gorey, Co. Wexford

Title ‘We All Stand Together’
Group Bunscoil Loreto Orchestra • 45 members, Senior Infants – Sixth Class
• Niall Quillinan, Teacher/Conductor

Mercy Heights Secondary School
Skibbereen, Co. Cork

Title ‘Smells Like Sweet Fusion’
Group Mercy Heights Music Ensemble • 45 members, First – Sixth Year
• Colette Brennan, Teacher/Conductor

Gaelscoil Adhamhnáin
Leitir Ceanainn, Co. Dhún na nGall

Title ‘Éirí Amach An Cheoil’ (Rise Up with Music)
Group Cór Ceoltóirí Adhamhnáin • 45 members, Fourth – Sixth Class
• Sinéad Uí Dhomhnaill, Teacher/Conductor

Our Lady’s Secondary School
Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan

Title ‘The Freedom to Follow Our Dreams’
Group OLSS Performing Arts Group • 45 members, First – Sixth Year

Gaelscoil Moshíológ
Guaire, Co. Loch Gorman

Title ‘Grá Sioraí’ (Eternal Love)
Group Ceolfhoireann Moshíológ • 37 members, Junior Infants – Sixth Class
• Carol Scott, Acting Principal/Conductor

Loreto Secondary School
Balbriggan, Co. Dublin

Title ‘Ceol le Chéile’
Group Loreto Balbriggan Group • 30 members, First – Sixth Year

Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan
Aonach Urmhumhan, Co. Thiobraid Árann

Title ‘Scannán & Scáileán’ (Music on the Big & Small Screens)
Group Grúpa Ceoil na Gaelscoile • 45 members, Senior Infants – Sixth Class
• Orla Mhic Chonmara, Teacher/Conductor

Scoil Mhuire
Trim, Co. Meath

Title ‘Music Crosses All Borders’
Group Scoil Mhuire Performing Arts Group • 44 members, First – Sixth Year
• Mícheál Kerr, Teacher/Conductor

Craanford National School
Gorey, Co. Wexford

Title ‘Friendship Counts’
Group Friendship Counts Group • 44 members, Junior Infants – Sixth Class
• Sinéad Tobin, Teacher/Conductor • Mandy O’Callaghan, Accompanist

Presentation College
Headford, Co. Galway

Title ‘We Are Ireland’
Group Presentation College Headford Group • 45 members, Second – Sixth Year
• Ita Cunningham, Teacher/Piano

Prize Winners

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The six school prize-winning music groups – three primary and three post-primary – selected by the 2016 Finalists Concert adjudicators Gwen Moore and Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin.

Primary Schools

First Prize

Craanford National School, Gorey, Co. Wexford
Title ‘Friendship Counts’
Group Friendship Counts

Second Prize

Gaelscoil Moshíológ, Guaire, Co. Loch Gorman
Title ‘Grá Sioraí’ (Eternal Love)
Group Ceolfhoireann Moshíológ

Third Prize

Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan, Aonach Urmhumhan, Co. Thiobraid Árann
Title ‘Scannán & Scáileán’ (Music on the Big & Small Screens)
Group Grúpa Ceoil na Gaelscoile

Post-Primary Schools

First Prize

Our Lady’s Secondary School, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan
Title ‘The Freedom to Follow Our Dreams’
Group OLSS Performing Arts Group

Second Prize

Scoil Mhuire, Trim, Co. Meath
Title ‘Music Crosses All Borders’
Group Scoil Mhuire Performing Arts Group

Third Prize

Presentation College, Headford, Co. Galway
Title ‘We Are Ireland’
Group Presentation College Headford Group