Back to school with a bang on the bodhrán! Castlebar ETNS delivered a gift of bodhráns to the children of Wesport ETNS to nurture creativity. Pictured are Niall Quinn, principal of ETNS Westport, Linda Kilkenny and Sarah Calvey, prinicipal, Castlebar ETNS. Photo: Alison Laredo

We are the music makers

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Westport Educate Together National School were delighted to receive a gift from their friends in Castlebar Educate Together NS.

To help begin their musical journey they received a class set of bodhráns.

It is hoped that the children express their creativity and explore musical elements such as rhythm by using this traditional Irish instrument.

Linda Kilkenny from Castlebar ETNS gave a workshop on how to hold and play the bodhrán. The children thoroughly enjoyed her demonstration and were enthusiastic participants.

This type of support and collegiately is typical of the Educate Together network.

As a school patron, Educate Together operates a national network of 95 primary schools and 19 second-level schools in Ireland-catering for over 30,000 students.

In 2016, when Castlebar ETNS opened, they received not only percussion instruments from Claregalway ETNS but support and guidance too. Both Westport and Castlebar ETNS are developing schools and are expanding and growing year on year.

Enrolment for junior infants 2020/2021 is now open on www.castlebaretns.ie and www.westportetns.ie.

"We would like to thank Sarah and Linda and all at Castlebar Educate Together for this most generous gift. Such a thoughtful gift at this time when many schools are struggling to cope with the demands of reopening our schools.

"Since opening in August 2019, we have received such great support from our Educate Together network in Connaught and indeed throughout the country,” stated Niall Quinn, principal of Westport ETNS.

“It’s great for Mayo to now have three Educate Together schools in the county. This provision of choice is necessary as we see some families re-evaluating their work/life balance and relocating to Mayo.

"The more choice of educational settings available the more attractive an area becomes. As our network grows awareness and knowledge of Educate Together among parents increases.

"It’s worth exploring all options when it comes to finding the right fit for your child,” said Sarah Calvey, principal of Castlebar ETNS.

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