Press Release
Model school’s Seaside fun and frolics at St Patrick’s Day Carnival
Monday, 09 March 2009
| Organised by the North West Carnival Initiative in partnership with Derry City Council |
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| Picture Issued by Derry City Council FREE TO USE Model Primary School pupils, Niamh Quigley, Aisling Heggarty and Isobella Pelaez get ready to place their mermaids on the, ‘Under the Sea Banner’, during an art workshop organised by Derry City Council ahead of their participation in the St Patrick's day spring carnival. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com. 6.3.09 |
The 30 or so Primary 5 pupils will be joining community organisations, voluntary groups and individuals from across the city for what promises to be a colourful and theatrical display in the city as part of Derry City Council’s St Patrick’s Day Carnival celebrations.
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| Picture Issued by Derry City Council FREE TO USE Model Primary School pupil Alireza Farhadian finds himself submerged, ‘Under the Sea', during a workshop organised by Derry City Council to create a banner, which will be on public display during the St Patrick's day Spring carnival. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com. 6.3.09 |
The pupils, with their Under the Sea theme, will be dressed in beachwear and carrying a huge and colourful banner depicting images of the seaside, at the carnival.
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| Picture Issued by Derry City Council FREE TO USE Saoirse Coyle (8), adds a vital shamrock to the St Patrick's Day Spring carnival Under the Sea banner during an art workshop organised by Derry City Council in the Model Primary School. The banner is being made as primary five pupils prepare to take part in the annual St. Patrick's Day Carnival. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com. 6.3.09 |
Ms. Donna O’Kane is a P5 teacher at the Model, who is co-ordinating the St Patrick’s Day event for the school. She is delighted to be involved in the project and says the children have responded very positively to the initiative.
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| Picture Issued by Derry City Council FREE TO USE Pictured during an art workshop organised by Derry City Council in the Model Primary School to create a banner entitled, "Under The Sea', for the the annual St. Patrick's Day Spring Carnival, are Donna O'Kane, primary five teacher, NIcky Harley, Derry City Council and artist Amanda Hudson. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com. 6.3.09 |
“We received correspondence from the Council inviting us to be part of the North West Carnival initiative project and were delighted to get the chance to get involved. The St Patrick’s day celebrations in the city have become more inclusive. It’s an opportunity for all cultures to celebrate and we feel it’s important to give our pupils the chance to express themselves through music, dance and art.
“Our P5 group pupils include children from various cultural backgrounds and denominations. We have children from Iran, Poland and Spain and for many of them it’s the first time that they have ever experienced St Patrick’s Day in the city. The fact that they were allowed to come up their own theme, design their own banner and be actively involved in the entire project has been fantastic. The children have really enjoyed it and are looking forward to March 17th.”
The Carnival promises to be a big family event for the Model PS with parents, grandparents and siblings expected to turn out in force to support the children.
“The children are so excited about the whole thing. They can’t wait to get on their beachwear and to join the parade, chant their songs and cheerlead. Lets hope the weather lives up to the occasion and the rain stays away!” she added.
The Carnival Parade is the highlight of Derry City Council’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations on March 17th, in partnership with the North West Carnival Initiative, which is core funded by National Lottery funds through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and BBC Children in Need.
Helen Harley is the Carnival Development Officer for the North West Carnival Initiative Project and she too is delighted at the Model Primary School’s involvement in the parade.
“We are delighted to have the Model PS on board this year. The children have put a lot of work into their banner and displays and I know that they are all very excited about the event. This year’s carnival promises to be a very colourful and vibrant display creating a real magical and theatrical atmosphere. A lot of hard work has gone into the designs and creations and I am sure the public attending the event will be really impressed with the display,” she said.
Other organisations participating in this years event is the Tir Na Nog Carnival group from the Bogside and Brandywell area of the city, who are creating a carnival piece celebrating spring under the theme of New Beginnings; The Waterside based In Your Space theatre group are working with the North West Circus School and the Mary Duddy Drama Group to create a large scale float depicting “Mother Nature” while the Shantallow Community Residence Association are working in conjunction with a number of groups to create a large scale glittering pot of gold, surrounded by young fairies waving multicoloured rainbows & the King of the fairies with his team of Leprechauns and the Greater Shantallow Community Arts will produce “The Little Wren a Celtic Tale”, a presentation of colour, costume, music and dance.
The carnival groups will be joined by Samba and Marching bands as well as large-scale props and floats, with everyone in colourful costumes. The carnival will depart at 2.30 pm from the Derry City Council Offices Car Park, and travel towards the Strand Road turning left at the City Hotel and moving along Queen’s Quay and returning to the Car park.
Musical entertainment on the day will kick off at 1.00 pm with the city branch of the Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann group who will be performing live from the outdoor stage located at the Victoria Market Car Park. Local Irish dancers will take to the stage at 2.00 pm followed by well-known Irish country singer Michael English (under the management of Louis Walsh) at 2.30 pm and the Oisin Folk Group at 4 pm.
For further details about the St Patrick’s Day Spring Carnival – www.derrycity.gov.uk/stpatricksday
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