Influencing pupils through the ages – Clare Champion

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Written by Victor O’Sullivan
Thursday, 24 May 2012 12:04
IRELAND’S first comprehensive school has been quietly churning out performers and musicians who have helped to shape Ireland’s contemporary musical heritage for almost half a century.

A founding father of Celtic Rock, Johnny Fean was one of the first pupils to attend St Patrick’s Comprehensive in Shannon Town back in the sixties.

Johnny, the lead guitarist with the legendary Horslips noted, “The comprehensive school did play a big part in developing the confidence of its pupils in those early days. It was the first of its kind in Ireland, with boys and girls attending, it opened up whole different outlook for a teenager like me”.

He embraced the new world that Shannon and its experimental co-educational school provided. “Mixing with different nationalities in the new Shannon town back then, was like nothing that had ever been known before in Ireland and, when I look back now, I consider myself very lucky to have been part of it.  In a way, it was saying goodbye to the old Victorian way of schooling and opening up a brand new chapter with a new outlook.”

Around the same time as creative director Bill Backer was conceptualising Coca-Cola’s I’d like to teach the world to sing just down the road at a café in Shannon Airport, Johnny was fine tuning his Celtic Rock guitar-sound with Horslips.

“Over the years there have been some remarkably talented people that have emerged from Shannon, with the likes of Patrick Cassidy, Ray Fean and more recently Gari Deegan achieving great recognition on RTÉ’s The Voice,” Johnny added.

He attributes part of his drive to those confident early days in Ireland’s new town. “What I learned on guitar in Shannon in the 1960s; from that music gave me the confidence to take it where ever I pleased and I saw no obstacles in my way…the musical landscape seemed endless to me.”

Eamonn Lenihan, presenter with RTÉ’s Lyric FM recalled his own time in Shannon. “There were the factory managers and their families from North America and mainland Europe and refugees from Northern Ireland, Chile and Vietnam and so forth, people who brought a very different dynamic to Shannon, compared with other towns.”

He recalled an interview he held with the ground-breaking guitarist. “As musician John Fean agreed during a radio interview – it was no coincidence that a Celtic blues guitarist like himself came from Shannon and not Dublin or Donegal.”

It’s a view shared by St Patrick’s current principal, Morgan Heaphy. “Music and the performing arts are a very important part of today’s life at our school. This is recognised in the wider community and, as a result, we seem to attract students who are interested in music and drama rather than sport for example.”

In fact, it’s hard to distinguish the comprehensive school from the wider Shannon Town community. Former students established the acclaimed Shannon Gospel Choir and also the Muse theatrical workshop company, where the town’s two post-primary schools challenged each other to the death in a remarkably successful production of Romeo and Juliet.

St Patrick’s Comprehensive has also hosted the musical society’s annual production over many decades and the principal noted the significance in the choice of the venue, “the long association with the Shannon Musical Society also has an influence on how others view the school”.

It’s no coincidence that the school piloted projects such as transition year from its curriculum centre. Mr Heaphy also said the school nurtures a sense of the individual, which can challenge pupils to explore new ways of thinking.

“I think the fact that we don’t have a school uniform or rules in relation to hair length and colour means that students have the opportunity to express their individuality and creativity on a daily basis. Students are encouraged regularly to step outside their comfort zones.”

Former student Dominic McInerney is the lead guitarist with pioneering metal band, Censura. The band charted in 2011 with their debut EP The Island and are currently preparing for a European tour.

“I think what set St Patrick’s Comprehensive School apart from others in the time I was there was the freedom to be different. No uniform meant you could express yourself without saying a word. If you were the new guy and if you didn’t have a group to hang out with, all you had to do was look around for the crowd of Metallica shirts hanging out beside the radiators next to the sweet shop,” he noted.

Dominic remembers extra-curricular activities such as setting up the stage for the annual musicals, which resulted in a hall pass. “It was definitely a peek into the life I wanted, although I would have done anything to get out of memorising the Irish language or pulling my hair out in maths.”

He added, “I think ‘the Comp’ had some very encouraging teachers that supported my non-academic and creative mind…intentional or not, the school did help me to become the person I am today.”

GUARANTEED LAUGHS AT THE OAKWOOD ARMS WITH MUSE PRODUCTIONS

Muse Productions return to the Oakwood Arms Hotel this April with ‘Run for your Wife’, a classic farce guaranteed to chase away the winter doldrums.  This hilarious comedy centres round the travails of a London Cabbie who has been successfully juggling a double life until an accident derails his meticulous schedule.  The audience are made privy to his ‘little secret’ in the opening scene as two concerned wives simultaneously phone the police regarding the whereabouts of their missing husbands – and describe the one and the same John Smith!  The stage is then set for hijinks and mayhem as John (played by Chris Rowley) dashes from one home to the other, desperately struggling to keep his two carefully orchestrated worlds from colliding.

As John endeavours to cover his tracks, his lazy but likeable neighbour Stanley (played by Chris Willetts) becomes his unwitting accomplice, and the preposterous scenarios that ensue make for two hours of nonstop action and light-hearted fun that will have you wondering what can possibly happen next.  This play, by Ray Cooney – the uncrowned king of farce, is comedy at its best.  Laughs are fuelled by slapstick, physical comedy, double entendre and cases of mistaken identity which cross all boundaries with virtually no holds barred.  Joining Chris and Chris on stage are Kathleen Browne and Aideen Clancy as the unsuspecting wives, Martin McNelis and Eoin Sheedy as the police officers investigating the missing persons report, Eoghan Rice as the colourful upstairs neighbour and Helen White as the intrepid reporter.

‘Run for your Wife’ will run for 5 nights from Tuesday April 10th to Saturday April 14th at 8pm nightly in the Oakwood Arms.  Tickets are €10 and are available on the door, or can be prebooked on 087 155 3055

 

The full cast of "Run for your Wife"
The full cast of "Run for your Wife"

Choke Comedy return to the Oakwood Arms!

Muse Productions are delighted to welcome back our friends from Choke Comedy Improv for another night of spontaneous comedy and unrehearsed wit on Friday March 23rd!  Those who were at Choke’s last visit to Shannon in Autumn of last year will attest to the great nights entertainment provided.  Tickets are €10 and can be purchased on the door!

Run for Your Wife – January Rehearsals

Following is the rehearsal schedule for January

Tuesday Jan 10         Act 1.

8pm    Mary & Barbara
8.30    John & Troughton
9.00    Stanley

Wednesday Jan 11    Act 1

8pm  Mary, Barbara, John, Stanley, Reporter
8.30  Porterhouse
9.00  Troughton

Thursday  Jan 12      Act 1.

8pm  John, Stanley,Barbara
8.30   Bobby
9pm   Porterhouse,Mary

Tuesday    Jan 17     Act 2.

8pm  Troughton, John, Barbara, Stanley
9pm  Mary

Wed         Jan 18      Act 2

8pm  Troughton, John, Stanley, Barbara, Mary
9pm   Bobby,Porterhouse

Thurs        Jan 19      Act 2

8pm  All act 2 cast.

Tuesday   Jan 24   Act 1

8pm    Mary & Barbara
8.30    John & Troughton
9.00    Stanley

Wed         Jan 25   Act 1

8pm  Mary, Barbara, John, Stanley, Reporter
8.30  Porterhouse
9.00  Troughton

Thurs       Jan 26    Act 1

8pm  John, Stanley,Barbara
8.30   Bobby
9pm   Porterhouse,Mary

 

I’ll set out February schedule later this month as rehearsals progress.  The time line for script dropping is as follows:

Act 1.  End of January

Act 2  End of February

Cast for “Run for Your Wife” announced

Just a heads up before the Christmas break.  I know we’ve been a bit remiss with our contact lately, but we have a Cast finalised (hopefully) for “Run for your Wife”

John Smith Chris Rowley
Stanley Gardner Chris Willetts
Barbara Smith Aideen Clancy
Mary Smith Kathleen Browne
Detective Troughton Eoin Sheedy
Detective Porterhouse Martin McNelis
Bobby Franklin Gary Keane
Photographer Helen White

The play will be running in the Oakwood Arms from Tuesday April 10th – Saturday April 14th for 5 performances.

Ted Germaine will be directing, and Clare McNelis will be doing Set Design and Dressing

Anyone who would like to get a copy of the script so they can get an early start on their lines can drop in to Ted in the Oakwood and ask at Reception.

Here’s looking forward to a great 2012 for Muse Productions!

Muse presents Choke Comedy Improv for one night only!

As part of our mission to bring new theatrical experiences to Shannon audiences, Muse are proud to present Choke Comedy Improv on October 13th in the Oakwood Arms.  Choke are based in Limerick and were founded by Myles Breen and have made a name for themselves over the last couple of years, culminating in a weekend tour of the 32 Counties earlier this year, performing once in each County over the course of the weekend.  The format of the night is similar to the hit TV Show “Whose Line is it Anyway” and invites the audience to provide settings and scenarios for Improvised comedy.  A great night is guaranteed for all, so please let your friends and neighbours know, and join us for a fun night in the Oakwood Arms on Thursday October 13th.

Reading for Ray Cooney’s “Run for your Wife”

There will be a reading for this hilarious farce in the Oakwood Arms, on Thursday 1st September at 8pm.  As usual all are welcome.
The story of London cab driver John Smith, with two wives, two lives and a very precise schedule for juggling them both. With one wife at home in Streatham and another at home in Wimbledon, and with occupants of the flat upstairs at the latter location.

Trouble brews when Smith is mugged and ends up in hospital, where both of his addresses surface, causing both the Streatham and Wimbledon police to investigate. Having upset his schedule, Smith becomes hopelessly entangled in his attempts with his lazy layabout neighbour upstairs in Wimbledon, to explain himself to his wives and two suspicious police officers.

The cast required is as follows:

Mary Smith: (F) Middle aged.  Smart, and attractive.  Wife of John Smith
Barbara Smith: (F) Middle aged.  Smart, and attractive.  Wife of John Smith.
John Smith: (M) Middle aged.  Very mild mannered.
Det. Sgt. Troughton: (M/F) Young Adult.  Uptight, hard nosed, cop with a chip on his/her shoulder and something to prove.
Stanley Gardner: (M) Middle aged.  Great character.  Lazy out of work friend of John.  Great comedic role.
Reporter: (M/F) Good starter role. Pushy reporter.
Det. Sgt. Porterhouse: (M)  Middle aged – Older.  Good old boy.  Great character
Bobby Franklyn: (M) Young – Middle aged.  A gay, very gay, man.  A great comedic character, and must be played as over the top.