We are thrilled that pupils from St Bronagh’s Primary School are taking part in a unique and exciting musical project – An Crann Ceoil / The Music Tree. This initiative brings together over 60 primary school children from the Rostrevor area as part of Cór na nÓg Caisleán Ruairí, an all-inclusive, non-auditioning choir.
The choir has recorded two stunning choral arrangements of Fáinne Geal an Lae and An Bacach Buí na Léige. These recordings mark the beginning of an innovative pilot project that aims to create a free digital resource bank of Irish language choral music, making high-quality arrangements more accessible to schools and community choirs across Ireland.
Alongside the song recordings, our pupils have also participated in a short documentary produced by Meon Eile, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the project and its impact on the children involved.
The Cór na nÓg Caisleán Ruairí choir has a proud history, dating back over 30 years, when it was founded by writer, teacher, and musician Siubhán Ó Dubháin. Under her guidance, the choir once toured across Europe representing Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, and this week marks 25 years since their performance at the Princess Grace Theatre in Monaco. Now, the next generation, including pupils from St Bronagh’s, is helping to carry this legacy forward with a team of dedicated musicians, composers, and former choir members.
This project isn’t just about singing. It’s about making choral music in the Irish language accessible to all. An Crann Ceoil is working to develop new arrangements that include:
- Sheet music and recordings
- Backing tracks and pronunciation guides
- Makaton signs and inclusive music resources
We are incredibly proud of our pupils for embracing this opportunity and showcasing their talents. Their enthusiasm and confidence in using the Irish language is inspiring.
A huge thank you to everyone involved, including the production and advisory team behind An Crann Ceoil.
We look forward to seeing how An Crann Ceoil continues to grow and develop, and to hearing more of our pupils' voices celebrated through our Irish language.
Watch the documentary and hear the songs here.
