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Latest Laois Event: Scoil Phádraig Naofa Mountmellick takes part in Music Generation Laois ‘Music-Rich’ schools programme,
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Latest Laois Event: Scoil Phádraig Naofa Mountmellick takes part in Music Generation Laois ‘Music-Rich’ schools programme,

Scoil Phádraig Naofa Mountmellick participates in the Music Generation Laois ‘Music-Rich’ schools programme,

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 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.” 

Musician educator Dale McKay from Music Generation Laois delivering the Bodhr‡n programme to 4th class pupils at Scoil Ph‡draig Naofa, Mountmellick, which is supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council. Included in picture are principal Mr John Murrell and teacher Ms Josephine Byrnes. Picture: Alf Harvey.
Musician educator Dale McKay from Music Generation Laois delivering the Bodhr‡n programme to 4th class pupils at Scoil Ph‡draig Naofa, Mountmellick, which is supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council. Picture: Alf Harvey.
Musician educator Dale McKay from Music Generation Laois delivering the Bodhr‡n programme to 4th class pupils at Scoil Ph‡draig Naofa, Mountmellick, which is supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council. Picture: Alf Harvey.
Taking part in the Music Generation Laois Bodhr‡n programme at 4th class, Scoil Ph‡draig Naofa, Mountmellick, which is supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council. Picture: Alf Harvey.
Taking part in the Music Generation Laois Bodhr‡n programme at 4th class, Scoil Ph‡draig Naofa, Mountmellick, which is supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council. Picture: Alf Harvey.

Dale McKay currently teaches bodhrán in 6 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.

Staff in the school are also very pleased with the bodhrán programme, Helen Conroy, teacher in Scoil Phádraig Naofa, spoke about the music classes, ‘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. 

Musician educator Dale McKay from Music Generation Laois delivering the Bodhr‡n programme to 4th class pupils at Scoil Ph‡draig Naofa, Mountmellick, which is supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council. Picture: Alf Harvey.
Musician educator Dale McKay from Music Generation Laois delivering the Bodhr‡n programme to 4th class pupils at Scoil Ph‡draig Naofa, Mountmellick, which is supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council. Picture: Alf Harvey.
Taking part in the Music Generation Laois Bodhr‡n programme at 4th class, Scoil Ph‡draig Naofa, Mountmellick, which is supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council. Picture: Alf Harvey.
Musician educator Dale McKay from Music Generation Laois delivering the Bodhr‡n programme to 4th class pupils at Scoil Ph‡draig Naofa, Mountmellick, which is supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council. Picture: Alf Harvey.
Musician educator Dale McKay from Music Generation Laois delivering the Bodhr‡n programme to 4th class pupils at Scoil Ph‡draig Naofa, Mountmellick, which is supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council. Picture: Alf Harvey.
Musician educator Dale McKay from Music Generation Laois delivering the Bodhr‡n programme to 4th class pupils at Scoil Ph‡draig Naofa, Mountmellick, which is supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council. Included in picture are principal Mr John Murrell and teacher Ms Josephine Byrnes. Picture: Alf Harvey.

Music-rich Schools is supported by Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council.

Music Generation is Ireland’s National Music Education programme, initiated by Music Network, and co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds and The Department of Education. Locally Music Generation Laois is part of Laois Offaly Education and Training Board, and supported by Laois County Council. 

To find out more about Music Generation Laois, see musicgenerationlaois.ie