08.06.2017
West Glendalough Children’s Choral Festival Honours the Past and Looks to the Future
St Nicholas’ Church in Dunlavin was packed to capacity this morning (Thursday June 8) for the West Glendalough Children’s Choral Festival. The annual event was hosted this year by Jonathan Swift National School which is celebrating its 125th anniversary while the church is marking its 200th anniversary.
The pupils from Jonathan Swift National School were joined by their counterparts from Donoughmore NS, Blessington NS and Athy Model School for the service. The theme was ‘Looking Back, Looking Forward in Prayer’ and pupils from Dunlavin, wearing period clothes, gave beautiful performances of ‘I am the Gentle Light’ and ‘Turn, Turn, Turn’ to reflect the theme. In a brief history of Jonathan Swift NS, which was formerly Dunlavin No 2 School, the boys and girls who were educated there over the last 125 years were remembered.
The service was led by the Rector, the Revd Neal O’Raw and Archbishop Michael Jackson was in attendance.
The sermon was given by the Revd Philip Heak, Rector of Naas, who spoke about the importance of prayer which he said could look back in thankfulness for what has been and look forward to the future and what God will do in the future. He said that they had already prayed and given thanks for the gifts of Jonathan Swift National School in the past and they could also pray for everything the school will be in the future.
Bringing the service to a close, Archbishop Jackson thanked all who made the day possible and all who had come to Dunlavin to join pupils of Jonathan Swift NS in their celebrations. He highlighted the importance of the name of their school which he said was known worldwide. He thanked the pupils for sharing the happiness of their education with the rest of the congregation.
The children from each school were hoping for the rain to hold off after the service so they could compete in the annual sports day.
