Clever fundraiser shows ‘Barntown’s Got Talent!’

MONTHS of hard work from 6th class students at Barntown National School culminated in two hugely entertaining shows as ‘Barntown’s Got Talent’ took centre stage.

An annual event, it sees the school’s 6th class pupils research and pick their own charities at the start of the year. Having given presentations to their classmates, it’s then put to a vote to decide which charity will be the beneficiary of the show. This year, the children opted for Aoibheann’s Pink Tie, a charity that does amazing work with the families of children with cancer.

‘We got in contact with the charity and they sent us down some t-shirts and information,’ said 6th class teacher and organiser Shane Cadogan. ‘We had two shows. One evening one for parents and family where the 6th class students collected donations, and we also had a cake stall and the parents’ council provided tea and coffee. Then the final took place in front of the whole school, where students could purchase a maximum of three votes for €5, with everything going to the charity.’

The eventual winners of the talent show were the 6th class girls who danced to ‘Waterloo’, capturing the hurling rivalry of Wexford and Kilkenny. Also featuring highly were Úna Walsh on the harp, the 2nd class girls and 2nd class magician ‘Eoin the Magnificent’.

The event has managed to raise over €1,500 for the cause, something Mr Cadogan and his class are really proud of. ‘We’re delighted,’ he said. ‘The students were really helpful. We had great help from the parents’ association and people were very generous with their donations. It was a real community effort.’

The GAAH Girls (6th class): Aoibhe Broaders, Amelia Connick, Lauryn Murphy, Niamh Lane-Joynt, Lara Butler, Aine Connolly, Clara Hogan and Laura Carley, who were dancing to ABBA’s ‘Waterloo’.

The Horse Gang (senior infants): Dermot O’Donnell, Pax Cleary, AJ Doyle, Leo Mooney, David Cummings, Olina Shannon Winter and Tiarnan Hyland singing and dancing to ‘Old Town Road’.

Úna Walsh playing ‘Mná Liotrama’ and ‘The Wedding Reel’ on harp.

The ‘Von’ Roches: Clodagh, Tiarnan and Aidan Roche singing and dancing to music from ‘The Sound of Music’.

The Treble Makers: brothers Ryan (2nd class) and Liam Bradley (5th class) playing ‘Molly Bán’.

The Ballet Girls (1st class): Emma Carley, Tessa Lane-Joynt, Ellen Doyle and Sophie Bates dancing to ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’.

Ciara Benson Rossiter and Josh Kidd, MCs for the show.

Caolfhoinn Roche on keyboard, playing music from ‘The Sound of Music’ as part of the ‘Von’ Roches’ act.

Eoin the Magnificent (Eoin Deegan from 2nd class) doing some magic tricks.

Emeli Mae Hossa (senior infants) singing ‘Fight Song’.