Two young people's thoughts on the ICMA Summer School in Maynooth 2014.
(1) 2014 started off pretty badly for me. I was facing into another year of no job, social life etc. Then a number of people changed my life for the better. So around March, April time I went to the ICMA workshop in Brackenstown. This in turn led to me going to the ICMA summer school in Maynooth, in July. This was AMAZING. I met so many wonderful people at ICMA summer school. I met people involved with Knockadoon Music and Liturgy week, which I went to and that was AMAZING also. I met so many wonderful people one of whom I have to name as Mr Ciaran Coll.
I have to name him because he is the link to the next fantastic part of my year. So I’m in Grafton street McDonalds and I get a call from "the chief" asking me to join something called OLV Gospel Choir. Of course, as I was only new to the church music scene, I had never heard of them. I went though and observed, and when I say they were (again I say it) AMAZING I don't exaggerate. So naturally I joined them, felt like a bloody pro singer among the choir it was unreal.
So then to put a cap on my MUSICAL year OLV went to the Sligo International Choral Festival, and of course we won the gospel choir section. And in the background of all of this I have THE MOST SUPPORTIVE (BIOLOGICAL) FAMILY EVER. I put biological there because, in short, this year I have been accepted into 3 new Families: ICMA, KNOCKADOON & OLV.
Thank you to everyone who has been involved in this year and making it so special for me.
So to 2014 THANK YOU and to 2015 I look forward to this year but you have A HELL OF A LOT TO LIVE UP TO.
I especially want to thank the greatest woman in my life and she really doesn't get told that enough - Jean Mc Loughlin (AKA Mama Mc.)
Love you Mam.
(1) 2014 started off pretty badly for me. I was facing into another year of no job, social life etc. Then a number of people changed my life for the better. So around March, April time I went to the ICMA workshop in Brackenstown. This in turn led to me going to the ICMA summer school in Maynooth, in July. This was AMAZING. I met so many wonderful people at ICMA summer school. I met people involved with Knockadoon Music and Liturgy week, which I went to and that was AMAZING also. I met so many wonderful people one of whom I have to name as Mr Ciaran Coll.
I have to name him because he is the link to the next fantastic part of my year. So I’m in Grafton street McDonalds and I get a call from "the chief" asking me to join something called OLV Gospel Choir. Of course, as I was only new to the church music scene, I had never heard of them. I went though and observed, and when I say they were (again I say it) AMAZING I don't exaggerate. So naturally I joined them, felt like a bloody pro singer among the choir it was unreal.
So then to put a cap on my MUSICAL year OLV went to the Sligo International Choral Festival, and of course we won the gospel choir section. And in the background of all of this I have THE MOST SUPPORTIVE (BIOLOGICAL) FAMILY EVER. I put biological there because, in short, this year I have been accepted into 3 new Families: ICMA, KNOCKADOON & OLV.
Thank you to everyone who has been involved in this year and making it so special for me.
So to 2014 THANK YOU and to 2015 I look forward to this year but you have A HELL OF A LOT TO LIVE UP TO.
I especially want to thank the greatest woman in my life and she really doesn't get told that enough - Jean Mc Loughlin (AKA Mama Mc.)
Love you Mam.
(2) So the other day I experienced something I never thought imaginable. I attended a summer school in NUI for church music. I never saw church music as something I 'loved' or felt passionate about but I can honestly say this place was incredible. Meeting so many different people from all over Ireland who came together because they all share one thing in common, their love for liturgical music. When people ask me "What did you get up to for the weekend?" and I tell them, the response is mostly negative. I can say, hand on heart, it is not some bible bashing group who make you go to Mass and recite the gospels, it's a place where you can go and choose to take part in workshops and interact with people who know so much about this music. An utterly amazing experience and I can assure you all I will be back there next year!
