{"id":5230,"date":"2018-02-07T09:42:02","date_gmt":"2018-02-07T09:42:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/?p=5230"},"modified":"2018-02-07T09:42:02","modified_gmt":"2018-02-07T09:42:02","slug":"portumna-community-school-galway-2018-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.creativeengagement.ie\/index.php\/portumna-community-school-galway-2018-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Portumna Community School, Galway 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

Local G.A.A. Club provides inspiration for Portumna Community School\u2019s production of their annual school show.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Thursday 14th<\/sup>\u00a0of December, Portumna Community School hosted their annual show to a packed house and the audience were held spell bound from opening scene to grand finale by this year\u2019s showcase of the arts which was written and produced by Mr James Coughlan and aptly named \u201cG.A.A. with a Twist.\u201d The show received a standing ovation from the enthralled crowd.<\/p>\n

Mr Coughlan explains that the catalyst of inspiration for the show came from the success of our local GAA club who won four Tommy Moore cups in recent years. The show was a portrait of a century of life from the foundation of the GAA in 1884, depicting our customs, our culture and our games. The showcase was a game of two halves involving the fusion of the old and the new. The production was entered as a Creative Engagement project which is a cross-Department initiative-co-funded by the Department of Education and Skills, the department of Arts Heritage, the Gaeltacht and the Heritage Council. The students in the production have been honoured with a grant of 1000 euros from the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals which is helping to promote the arts in schools.<\/p>\n

Eric Duane was the narrator who provided the audience with historical explanation and significance for each scene which helped to seamlessly knit each scene and provide a narrative throughout. The first scene consisted of a nation in turmoil.<\/p>\n

The first and second year music class provided a splendid rendition of \u201cMy Dark Rosaleen\u201d which was a poem originally written by Hugh O\u2019Donnell and translated into English by James Clarence Mangan.<\/p>\n

Transition Year students, Kyle Campbell played\u00a0Michael Cusack<\/strong>, Liam Hynes: (Maurice Davin<\/strong>), Eoghan Lynch: (Patrick William Nally<\/strong>), Jack Kelly: (P.J. Ryan<\/strong>), Oran Lyons: (James Bracken<\/strong>), Kieran Martin: (District Inspector McCarthy<\/strong>), Aonrao\u00ed Mullen: (John McKay<\/strong>)\u00a0and Dr. Croke<\/strong>\u00a0was played by Daniel Hynes. Each of the students delivered their orations with clarity and conviction from Hayes\u2019 Hotel Thurles. Fiona Daly, whose voice is so unique sang \u201cMoonlight in Mayo\u201d to honour Patrick William Nally who hailed from Balla Co Mayo. Katie Salmon, provided us with an oration on the growth and historical significance of camogie.<\/p>\n

Alyson O\u2019Neill who researched the story relating to the design of the forerunner of the modern sliothar based on the design of the \u201ccupped hand.\u201d Alyson told the story of Ned Treston who captained the Galway team and played against a Tipperary team in the Phoenix Park; the match was refereed by Michael Cusack.<\/p>\n

The next scene demonstrated how a dance like the Clash of the Ash was woven into fabric of Irish culture and beautifully demonstrated by Caoimhe Callan, John Luke Reynolds, Tracy Gohery, Ciara Reddin, Lily Mia Healy, Sienna Fahy and Fiona Lohan. The traditional scene also featured Eoin McClearn who recited the poem \u201cMac Eile ag Imeacht\u201d, \u201cJohnny is the Fairest Man\u201d was beautifully sung by Jessica Madden, the Brush dance was performed by Kyle Campbell and Niamh Costello followed by a reel from Aoife Mahony, Linda Harewood, Ava Downey O\u2019Mahoney and Ali McGinley. Live music on stage was provided by Liam Tierney, Isabelle Canning, Shauna Fahy and Ailbhe Salmon. The scene was concluded with a song from the trenches sung with great effect by David Kennedy and Alyson Keane.<\/p>\n

The second Act demonstrated how the GAA became a major influence on Irish sporting and cultural life domestically and among the Irish diaspora and how it became an anchor of belonging for many Irish immigrants who had to seek work overseas.<\/p>\n

The Transition Year produced two short extracts from two plays that both treated the plight of Irish immigration in a very real way. \u201cMany Young Men of Twenty Said Goodbye\u201d (John B. Keane):\u00a0Peg<\/strong>: Rebecca Casey,\u00a0Kevin<\/strong>: Oran Lyons,\u00a0Maurice<\/strong>: Colin Downey,\u00a0D.T.D.:<\/strong>\u00a0Tom\u00e1s Flynn,\u00a0Dinny<\/strong>: Ois\u00edn Larkin,\u00a0Dot<\/strong>: Katie Salmon,\u00a0Maynan<\/strong>: Ali McGinley,\u00a0Danger<\/strong>: Eoghan Lynch,\u00a0Seelie<\/strong>: Sarah Jane Foley,\u00a0Kitty<\/strong>: Aoife Woods &\u00a0Tom<\/strong>: Jack Kelly.<\/p>\n

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\u201cPhiladelphia Here I Come\u201d (Brian Friel)\u00a0Madge:<\/strong>\u00a0Rose Dolphin,\u00a0Public Gar O\u2019Donnell:<\/strong>\u00a0Stephen Conroy,\u00a0Private Gar O\u2019Donnell<\/strong>: Eoin Gallagher,\u00a0SB O\u2019Donnell:<\/strong>\u00a0Michael Houlihan.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome Nights\u201d: T.Y Ensemble.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Colin Downey and the team of 1980 provided us with Joe Connolly\u2019s speech as gaeilge and Aobh\u00ednn Goode stunned the audience with her own version of \u201cMy Own Dear Galway Bay.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Aonrao\u00ed Mullen provided us with a sketch outlining in detail the importance of getting to Croke Park to see Galway play this year.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAll Shook up\u201d\u00a0Natalie<\/strong>: Ava Downey O\u2019 Mahoney,\u00a0Chad<\/strong>: Vincent Glynn: Sandra<\/strong>\u00a0Courtney Duane & Camogie Girls.<\/p>\n

Scene 6<\/strong>: T.Y. Calypso highlighted the amount of foreign nationals who have successfully played our national games.<\/p>\n

Scene: 7<\/strong>: \u201cLittle List\u201d which was re-written with GAA theme was sung confidently by Rebecca Casey.<\/p>\n

Scene 8:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cSixpence Each Way\u201d by Harry O\u2019Donovan highlighted the problem all sporting organisations have in dealing with issue of betting. Bookmaker: Killian Dunne,\u00a0Madam<\/strong>: Courtney Duane,\u00a0Gentleman:<\/strong>\u00a0Dylan Mannion, 2nd<\/sup>\u00a0Gentleman: Stephen Conroy.<\/p>\n

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Scene 9 was made up of a Grease Medley with a twist Sandy hailing from Waterford and Danny from Galway. Sandy<\/strong>: Sarah Jane Foley,\u00a0Danny<\/strong>: Colin Downey,\u00a0Jan<\/strong>: Ali McGinley,\u00a0Frenchie: Alanna Williams.<\/strong>\u00a0Dudey:<\/strong>\u00a0Kyle Campbell,\u00a0Rump<\/strong>: Jack Kelly,\u00a0Kenickie:\u00a0<\/strong>Eoghan Lynch,\u00a0Rizzo<\/strong>: Alison O\u2019Neill\u00a0Elvis:<\/strong>\u00a0Darragh Salmon,\u00a0Dance Host<\/strong>: Chloe Madden<\/p>\n

Scene 10 The audience were treated to Riverdance<\/strong>\u00a0with Molly Fitzgerald\u2013(Choreography), Tracy Gohery, Lily Mia Healy & Shauna Murray who captivated the audience with their sheer brilliance and athleticism.<\/p>\n

The speakers: Courtney Duane, Chloe Madden, Aoife Mahony, Ruth Beltran, Aisling Donelan and Rebecca Casey who concluded the show by reiterating the major achievements of the GAA once again.<\/p>\n

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Mrs Lohan arranged all of the costumes for the cast of over sixty-one students and her costume selection in each scene provided colour to suit the mood as the show progressed from the 1880\u2019s to the present.<\/p>\n

Angela Didek did a fabulous job in her choreography of this scene; she moved the big cast effortlessly and ensured that all of the students had a major part to play in this scene. Special mention to Molly Fitzgerald who choreographed Riverdance.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ms. Coyle our musical director who assembled an orchestra from the students in her music classes:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Oliver Parry: (Base Guitar), Ronan Porter (Drums), Martha Tuohy (Violin), Paul Costello (Piano Accordion), and Ms. Coyle (Keyboard) with Ciaran McLoughlan (Guitar) from Moate. Ms. Coyle who blended some beautiful traditional music in all its contrasting forms; as well as some arrangements from musicals such as Grease and Hot Mikado.<\/p>\n

Set Design: Ms Lawne, Make-up: Ms Hough, Stage Management: Ms Hartnett and Ms Murtagh. Stage Crew: Aobhinn Goode Daniel Madden, Natasha Hynes, Jack Birtwistle, Ian McEvoy & Shane Treacy. Props: Mr Fallon, Front of House: Mrs Burke and the student Council.<\/p>\n

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Mr Coughlan was delighted with the end product of the show; \u201cin September we had a vision and a blank canvas that has become a learning experience and a forum to showcase the skills and talents of sixty one students on stage and with eighty one students involved in the entire show. Mr Coughlan paid a tribute to the cast for their perseverance their excellence and their entertainment value. \u00a0\u201cThe mind altering alters all.\u201d This sentence is at the heart of imagination, of making, perceiving, giving and receiving in art and life; a firm conviction about the broadening, enriching and civilising potential of the arts and the opening windows of wonder.<\/p>\n

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