CHILDREN’S CONCERT PROVES A TRUE DELIGHT
THE eagerly anticipated pre- Christmas Children’s Concert, under the musical guidance of Marion Cournane, took place at the St John the Baptist Church of Knightstown, Valentia.
Primary school children aged between 6 and 12 from Valentia, Portmagee and The Glen played a number of well received polkas such as Terry Teahans, Rattling Bog, Little Diamond, Johnny O’Leary’s, Maggie in the Woods and the Kerry Polka. The slides included Star above the Garter and the Kings of Kerry. Christmas music included Away in a Manger and Silent Night, with the children also singing Ding Dong Merrily on High.
A great variety of traditional instruments were on display and played with skill – from tin whistles, accordions, concertinas, banjos, fiddles and the mandolin, to the bodhrán.
The group of 24 primary school children came together for the first time at the end of September to practice traditional music upstairs at the pre-school building in Chapeltown. The children represented themselves very well and helped raise £255 for the Church Restoration Fund.
The children’s group was joined by a group of very accomplished secondary school students: Caoimhe Ni Shé (accordion), Cliodhna Ni Ghuinidhe (accordion), Abbie Ni Dhálaigh (concertina), Aoife Ni Mhurchú (concertina) and Maeve Ni Dálaigh (fiddle).
The musicians delighted the audience with a set of jigs and reels and were an inspiration to the younger children starting their musical journeys.
The programme was presented as Gaeilge and in English. Afterwards they enjoyed beverages, chat, refreshments and home baking in Boston’s Bar. Is deas an rud é go bhfuil ár dtraidisiún ag dul chun cinn i measc na n-óg. Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh si.