The young students in Mountmellick BNS love to think big – and this evening on the school grounds they will host a food festival that will not only celebrate two years of hard work, but also showcase some of the high-end local food producers.
Scoil Padraig Naofa Mountmellick BNS has been part of Creative Schools initiative run by the Arts Council of Ireland and are coming to the end of a two-year cycle with the project.
“As we come to a close, we are celebrating everything covered over the past two years with a food festival (known as the SPN Feastival) on the evening of the 10th of June on the school grounds from 5-9pm,” says Grainne McEvoy, a teacher in the school, and one one of the co-ordinators of the programme alongside Caroline Greene.
“Initially via Zoom the boys met their Creative Associate Aideen McHugh where through a number of workshops the boys explored what creativity meant to them.
“Last October the boys in our school voted to engage with food and cookery as the focus for creative schools and wished to hold a festival at the end of the year to showcase their creativity.
“We have been busy cooking in the classroom and the boys have really engaged with the process.
“We have employed the expertise of Mary Harte of Kater4Kidz online cookery platform which we used in the classroom and also rolled out the course to families to continue and build on the boys skills at home.
“We have reached out to local producers and food vendors to attend.
“Each class has wrote to local Laois producers and we were delighted to have G’s Gourmet Jams, Flavour Safari, Garryhinch Exotic Mushrooms and Tara Onalimi Bakes visit the boys as well as a group from the school visiting JJ Phillips Bakery. All of whom are set to showcase at our FEASTival.
“The school principal Mr. John Murrell as always has been extremely supportive during this whole process and got behind it all right from the beginning when Creative Schools initiative was being applied for.
“The boys, school staff, Parents Council and community of Mountmellick are all involved in what hopes to be a great event.”
As well as the food element, there will also be a selection of live entertainment throughout the evening – from both singers from the school and outside acts like James O’Connor and Alan Smith as well as the Mountmellick Men’s Shed.
This evening’s event takes place from 5-9pm and you can check out further information on the SPN Mountmellick Facebook Page and SPN Creative Schools website.
SEE ALSO – Check out more stories and photos from around Mountmellick here
