In 2010 Spink Comhaltas had four trophies made to promote the playing of traditional music in schools. The trophies were for both junior cycle and senior cycle.
They were donated to Heywood Community and Castlecomer Community schools.
These awards have been presented every year since, and Spink Comhaltas are delighted to be able to support the promotion of traditional Irish music in our local schools.
In 2017, we donated additional trophies to Rathdowney Community School and Johnstown Community School for the promotion of traditional Irish music.
Spink Comhaltas and St Fergal’s Community School Promote Music Excellence
Spink Comhaltas is delighted to donate two trophies to St Fergal’s Community School Rathdowney to award to their best Junior and Senior musician of the year.
With a unique design reflecting both the traditional Irish harp as well as the Comhaltas logo, the trophies were hand crafted by Joe Cahill, vice-chairman of Spink.
The trophies are intended to promote excellence in music, particularly traditional Irish music, and will form part of the annual awards event that St Fergal’s hosts at the end of its academic year. Music is an integral part of the curriculum in St Fergal’s since 2006 where there is a tradition of outstanding young musicians over many years, and the trophies are intended to encourage and promote future young musicians. The school already has a well established ‘Trad for Trocaire’ annual event.
Speaking on behalf of the school, principal Áine O’Neill thanked Spink Comhaltas for the donation, and expressed confidence that the quality of the future award winners would meet and exceed the high standards set by both St Fergal’s and Spink Comhaltas. Ms Vicky Murphy, music teacher in St Fergal’s, noted that the music and performances skills developed by traditional Irish musicians complemented the school music curriculum very well, where music exam candidates can present in a mixture of traditional and classical music should they wish to do so. Sean Conroy remarked how applicable Spink Comhaltas’ motto (“Cleachtadh a dhéanann maistreacht” – “Practice makes perfect.” ) is for many other activities and life skills.
