Students in Mountmellick’s Scoil Phádraig Naofa are currently taking part in bodhrán classes with Dale McKay from Music Generation Laois.
4th and 5th classes participate in the whole-class bodhrán programme with the Laois percussionist.
Dale McKay currently teaches bodhrán in six primary schools and 1 secondary school in Laois each week – Scoil Phádraig Naofa, Arles National School, Tobar an Leinn Raheen, The Rock NS Mountmellick, Rath National School, Clonaslee National School and Portlaoise College.
Dale also teaches weekly bodhrán classes in Laois Music Centre.
Dale explained: “I really enjoy coming to Mountmellick every Monday to teach bodhrán.
“The bodhrán is a great instrument and the boys have really taken to it. This programme will hopefully develop the boys interest in Irish traditional music too.”
Staff in the school are also very pleased with the bodhrán programme, Helen Conroy, teacher in Scoil Phádraig Naofa, spoke about the music classes.
They said: ‘It’s been a great experience for our pupils to take part in the programme with Dale.
“They have really embraced the bodhrán, and love Dale’s weekly classes.’
Dale is also a keen beat boxer, and was featured on the RTE Home School Hub in 2020, sharing his beat boxing techniques with children across the country.
Scoil Phádraig Naofa is a DEIS status school, and can therefore access supports through the Creative Ireland Laois and Music Generation Laois ‘Music-Rich’ schools programme, to further subsidise their music classes to ensure as many children as possible get to access music, without financial barriers.
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