This morning saw me off to my daughter’s school for a drama performance being staged there. While I make no great claim to be what they call a culture vulture, my children are educated through the medium of Gaeilge and it was heartening to see so many parents there in support of their local Irish language school, Gaelscoil An Bhradáin Feasa. It means a lot to the parents and the school does a great job. Probably with unemployment being so high people have time on their hands which they did not solicit but are going to make use of anyway. Turning up to appreciate the efforts of staff and pupils alike was well worth the effort. I failed to make it over yesterday morning to see my son do his bit, but only because I had a pre-existing arrangement to meet a friend who was travelling quite some distance to make it here.
Like many parents I suppose, I thought the drama would be something to be endured rather than enjoyed. I was delighted to be proved wrong. The kids were fantastic and for some there must be a future in the world of drama and acting. We were treated to a fest of dancing, singing, acting, music. It was all conducted through the medium of the Irish language. Two of the youngsters combined to put on a Jedward performance of such calibre that it made me think they should represent Ireland at events like the Eurovision rather than the terrible twins themselves.
When the fiddlers came on, an orchestra of them, I grimaced in expectation of a sound assailing my ears like something from cats in heat. Again, it was nice to be wrong. The fiddle is not an easy instrument to master and for so many children playing in concert, holding it together seemed a daunting task. But they did it with considerable aplomb. My daughter was among them and to say I felt proud of her would be an understatement.
At the end I told her that I felt her performance was brilliant. She is so used to me telling her to practice the thing on the green at the back of the house where I can’t hear it, that praise for her acumen took her back a bit.
She also played a part in Píobaire Hamelin, an Irish language adaptation of the famous fairytale – The Pied Piper Of Hamelin – where the unpaid piper eventually leads the children of the miserly town away just as he had done with the rats. I recall taking part in school plays when I was her age, but I always felt stiff and wooden, unable to bring off the confident display that she rendered this morning. But then she has a range of skills I didn’t have and never acquired, being able to play four musical instruments. In terms of talent she is miles ahead of her da.
A great morning and a fillip for the parents to have witnessed at first hand the creativity in their children that has bloomed as a result of coaching from an excellent staff.
Ar fheabhas ar fad
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Good man your kids are a credit to both of you I say this as someone who has met them and I hope like ourselves with our own you live long enough to be an embarrassment to them a cara,
ReplyDeleteMarty, thanks for that nice comment. They torture me and send me on a screaming fit. Then simply ignore me. I am glad they met you and Marie. They loved that. Which reminds me – the photo of the Boo room has still to go up. Mea Culpa! I was trying to tie it in with the book but BC has my time consumed. Will sort something.
ReplyDeleteMackers,
ReplyDeleteNothing in this world is as good as watching your children perform
and doing it well.
My da God Bless him never had that pleasure, every year at the fheis he had me up singing or reciting in Irish, songs such as Henry Joy to name but one and I just didn't cut it.
But to him I did, he would sit there brimming with pride.
Aberdeen calling ,of course he would Nuala and like Anthonys wee ones you must have filled his heart with pride and joy,I love kids but as yer man said I couldnt eat a whole one,
ReplyDeleteNuala,
ReplyDeleteThat’s true – when your children perform there is a great satisfaction to be derived from it. I have always enjoyed it. Then we get home all hell breaks loose once the backtalk and cheek starts!! Trying to do a television interview today over the BC affair and the two of them interrupted, argued and fought. Then he broke his glasses!
Mackers,
ReplyDeleteI remember my ma reluctantly doing an interview. She was a nervous wreck and kept insisting that I phone people and cancel on her behalf.
The interview which was part of a historical look at Clonard went ahead but had to be edited four times due to the antics of my son.
Marty,
My da God Bless him thought I was just wonderful at everything.
He was an adjudicator at the Irish Fheis and I still could not win anything, obviously he found it hard to convince other adjudicators of my wonder.
Just setting the bar high for you hon and you cleared it with loads of room to spare your dad that was,away to get of the wall in the highlands ...
ReplyDeleteNuala,
ReplyDeleteI can understand her nervousness. People not used to it can find it daunting. I remember doing Paxman the night of the GFA and feeling so nervous despite being well used to it by that point.
On Monday the TV crew arrived at 9.30 and were leaving at 3.10. The kids were just wild. But the crew were fine about it and had a kids are kids attitude. And they gave them great time. Hard for kids to be quiet that long!