13.06.2016
Honouring the Past and Looking to the Future at West Glendalough Children’s Choral Festival
It was with an eye on the past, present and future, that pupils of four West Glendalough national schools gathered in St Mary’s Church in Blesstington on Friday last (June 10). The annual West Glendalough Children’s Choral Festival was hosted this year by Blessington No 1 School and the service was influenced by the centenary commemorations of the 1916 Rising. The annual festival brings together pupils from Blessington No 1 School, Jonathan Swift NS in Dunlavin, Athy Model School and Donoughmore NS for a service and sports day.
During the service pupils read the Blessington No 1 School Proclamation which was written as part of the school’s commemoration of 1916. In their proclamation, the children commit to reimagining their hopes and dreams for the future, aspiring to have a society in which all people have a home, are equal before the law and entitled to good quality healthcare and community facilities.
They express the importance of the elderly who built the past and the children who will build the future and state that it is the responsibility of all citizens to work to provide services and facilities for those who are less fortunate. They vow to protect the country by respecting the environment and pledge to remain peaceful. While vowing to hold sacred the heritage and culture of Ireland, they also commit to continue to embrace different cultures and welcome new people.
The service, which was led by the Revd Leonard Ruddock, also included a performance by Blessington No 1 School Choir of a piece they sang in Collins Barracks on Easter Sunday 2016 as part of RTE’s live broadcast of One Hundred Years a Nation.
In his address, Archbishop Michael Jackson picked up the thread on Creation and said that we were responsible for all God’s creations. He said that our neighbour is not just the person who is at the next desk in school or who lives next door but that we should think of the earth and all its inhabitants as our neighbours.
“That sense of valuing the earth and all its inhabitants and responsibility for our neighbour came through in your proclamation alongside a sense of hope, fair–mindedness and belonging. It is important for children to own their future and also their present. That proclamation states what is important to you and you can bring that message home with you and wherever you go,” he said.
Photo captions:
Top – The Blessington No 1 School Choir
Bottom – The Blessington No 1 School Proclamation
There are more photos on our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/DublinandGlendalough/posts/1033147106721333