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SHANAHOE, ABBEYLEIX, CO. LAOIS​ R32 F899
​Telephone: (057) 8739715 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.shanahoens.net

​Uimhir Rolla: 17489G
Charity Regulators Number: 20126124
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 Music and the School Band in Scoil Fionntáin Naofa, Shanahoe 

Music plays a very important part in school life in Scoil Fionntáin Naofa, Shanahoe. The school band has been in existence for over thirty years and was founded by former Principal Mr. David Brickley and former Deputy Principal Mrs. Miriam Brickely in the early 1990s.  The band has grown both in numbers and expertise since then. It consists of pupils from 1st to 6th class, taught by Mrs. Cahill  once per week. Our musicians include pupils who play tin whistles, accordions and percussion instruments. The school band participates in a local St. Patrick's Day  parade each year. Everyone in the school takes part-the infants wave the Irish flags and pupils from 1st Class shake the pom poms
We have a great repertoire of tunes and songs and during the year we entertain both the school community and the wider local community at different performances and events.  We also play at our Christmas Celebrations each year and at the 6th Class Graduation in June. 
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​Some of the songs/tunes in our repertoire include: 
  • ​The Dawning of the Day;
  • Roddy McCorley'
  • The Saints go Marching In;
  • Foggy Dew;
  • Oh Susana:
  • The Three Flowers';
  • Let Erin Remember:
  • The Spanish Lady:
  • ​The Minstrel Boy;
  • Sally Gardens;
  • Ireland's Call: 
Picture
School band playing to welcome Ms. Cynthia Ní Mhurchú MEP to the school in March 2026
Picture
School band practising in the Spring sunshine at the rear of the school in advance of their participation in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Mountrath
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Mountrath St. Patrick's Day Parade 2023. The school band received the award of 'Best Overall' in the Parade on the 50th Anniversary of its inception
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The school band was afforded the great honour of playing for President Higgins at the opening ceremony of the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska in September 2024.

The School Band playing at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska in  September 2023

The band was invited by the National Ploughing Association to play at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska in September 2023. This was a very memorable occasion for our school community. 

  'Primary Ensemble Project' in the National Concert Hall  in 2022-2023

Early in the school year 2022-2023,  Mr. Whelan submitted an application for the school band to participate in the 'Primary Ensemble Project' which is organised in conjunction with the National Concert Hall (NCH) and the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM). Scoil Fionntáin Naofa was very fortunate to be one of nine schools nationally to be chosen to participate in the project. Over the course of the school year 2022-2023, the school band under the guidance and direction of Mrs. Cahill worked with tutors from the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) to  hone their instrumental and playing skills. Participation in the project culminated in the school band performing in front of a capacity audience in the salubrious surroundings of the National Concert Hall (NCH) on Dublin's Earlsfort Terrace on 28th March 2023. This was a wonderful occasion for our school community. Below you will see a video of the band performing during a soundcheck in the National Concert Hall (NCH) in advance of the main performance. 

  Marching and Playing in the Portlaoise St. Patrick's Day Parade 
​         in March 2016 to mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising

Some pictures of the band at the St.Patrick's Day Parade in Portlaoise in 2016 to commemorate the centenary of the 1916 Rising. 
Scoil Fionntáin Naofa