Volume 1 (1999/2000)
Issue
1 (March 1999)
Issue
2 (Nov. 1999)
Issue 3 (Dec. 1999)
Issue 4 (Feb. 2000)
Issue 5 (March 2000)
Issue 6 (April 2000)
Issue
7 (May 2000)
Volume 2 (2000/2001)
Issue 1 (Sept. 2000)
Issue 2 (Oct. 2000)
Issue 3 (Jan. 2001)
Issue 4 (March 2001)
Issue 5 (April 2001)
Issue 6 (May 2001)
Volume 3 (2001)
Issue 1 (Sept. 2001)
Issue 2 (Nov. 2001)
Categories
Sport: 1
2 3
Lifestyles: 1 2
3
Commentary: 1 2
3
Review: 1 2
3
Writing: 1 2
3
Event: 1 2
3
Riversdale's American connection
Sinead McCay
Riversdale Community College
The Riversdale Community College Concert Band was formed after
the generous donation of musical instruments from the Irish American Community
in Dallas, Texas in September 1995. Through the efforts of John
and Sheila Higgins, an Irish American couple in Dallas, the teacher
of music in Riversdale, Mr Patrick Scarlett, was able to form a
band which would, otherwise, not have been possible.
Not one child had experience of playing a musical instrument previous
to the formation of the band; yet within six months the children had played
for ex-President Mary Robinson as part of the College's tenth anniversary
celebrations. Shortly afterwards the band played in Dublin Castle as part
of the events arranged for Ireland's hosting of the European Presidency.
Through the band, music in the locality was brought together to celebrate
"Music For All" nights during December for the past two years.
This event has shown local communities the potential of music and has
raised the spirit of the communities of Corduff, Ladyswell and Mulhuddart.
The band has also played on several occasions in the Blanchardstown Centre
to celebrate its first anniversary and at Christmas time. Parents, students
and teachers have all been moved by the efforts of the children and their
teacher.
The profile of the locality had been raised by the fact that the band
has a wonderful story of luck, altruism and sadness to tell. All the local
newspapers have picked up on this story. The Irish Times also ran a feature
on the band and on St. Patrick's Day 1998 the band played on the "Today
with Pat Kenny Special" gaining approximately eleven minutes of airtime.
The entire community of Blanchardstown must have tuned in on that day
to hear the story of the band.
Sadly, John Higgins, the man who helped start it all passed away in October
'97, but not before he had invited the band to play in the Dallas 1999
St. Patrick' s Day Parade. It is everyone's intention to ensure that the
band travels to Dallas to participate in this event to acknowledge this
man' s contribution to these young people. As a result, many companies,
including the Greater Blanchardstown Chamber of Commerce, have offered
support to the band and the community. The college has been fortunate
to gain the assistance of the Audio-Visual Dept in UCD, in particular
the help of Helen Guerin and Brian Kelly, to produce a professional
promotional video. This video tells the history to date of the band with
Cynthia ni Mhurchu as narrator.