The EU PEACE IV funded Project ‘A Bridge Beyond’ Final Event and Performance took place on Friday 14th May, 2021 with almost 80 joining on zoom.
‘A Bridge Beyond’ is a multicultural popular music and digital arts production, performance, recording and publishing project.
The Project is underpinned by the principles of global citizenship in which the students explored through creative music making, spoken word and digital media what being a global citizen means to them, how they relate to others especially those from different cultural backgrounds and the responsibilities they feel to society and to the natural world.
Sarah Murphy from Wall2Wall Music hosted the Zoom Event and outlined the itinerary for the morning, joined by the Wall2Wall Music Team of facilitators – Feargus Murphy, Seamus Devenny, Lorna McLaughlin and Cheylene Murphy.
Sharleen Tinney, Project Co-ordinator, Donegal County Council welcomed everyone to the Event and said ‘the success of the Project was due to the TY Students part and that without their part it would not have been possible’.
She welcomed the schools taking part; The Deele Vocational School in Raphoe, Scoil Mhuire in Buncrana, Moville Community College, Abbey Vocational School Donegal Town and Loreto Community School Milford. Sharleen paid tribute to the amazing work put in by Wall2Wall Music, pupils, teachers, TY Co-ordinators and all involved in making this Project a huge success.
The energy, enthusiasm and engagement was fantastic right from the start.
Cllr. Paul Canning, Chairman of the Peace Partnership welcomed everyone to the Event and thanked the funders, SEUPB for bringing such Projects to Co Donegal.
He advised that the students had been working enthusiastically over the past number of months during online workshops.
He paid tribute to the special guests who kindly took part in the Project, Ralph Rolle, drummer for Nile Rodgers & Chic and entrepreneur; Ciara O’Connor, Freelance Vocalist & Song Writer and Backing singer for ‘Dua Lipa’; Jacob Sam-La Rose, Writer and Editor and Artistic Director of the London Teenage Poetry SLAM, Editor-in-Chief of Metaroar.com, and an editor for flipped eye press.
The Wall2Wall Team showcased the video productions from each school on – ‘Human Race’, ‘Freedom’, ‘Calm Calling’, ‘Show the World who you are’ and ‘Endless Dreams’. The work by the students on recording, music, vocals, video filming was remarkable and thoroughly enjoyed by all in attendance. The video creations were filmed in scenic areas across the County. Students from different parts of the world also took part with video provocations ‘Walk in my Shoes’.
Sarah introduced the special guest, Ciara O’Connor with a warm welcome. Fresh from her performance at the BRIT Awards on Tuesday, Ciara shared some of her remarkable experiences as a successful international backing singer, and spoke about the power of music to change lives and make a difference. She shared personal stories of supporting her mother’s work as a Music therapist, and the power of it to improve cognitive impairment and enhance wellbeing.
Ciara also talked about global citizenship, having the desire to grow community beyond our own identities, and living with compassion. She challenged the TY’s to discover their passion and live their best lives. “The world is a better place when you are happy”. Ciara very kindly stayed on after the Event for a questions and answers session.
Ralph Rolle kindly joined the Event and said how moving and emotional the experience was listening to the music and watching the music the TYs had created and how delighted he was to be at the event.
As part of A Bridge Beyond a new poem was commissioned from Jacob Sam-La Rose called “A Field Guide for Belonging” which was made up of thoughts and ideas around global and personal identity as expressed by TYs in poetry workshops. Jacob recorded the poem for presentation at the showcase.
At the end of the event, Sharleen Tinney, Project Co-ordinator stated she was ‘blown away’ by the work and creations of the students on what was an amazing event and Project. She paid a special thank you to Wall2Wall Music for their excellent work on this Project.
You can view all the videos from the project here: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8463848
This exciting initiative is supported by the EU’s PEACE IV Programme and managed by the SEUPB and delivered locally through the Donegal PEACE IV Partnership. Match-funding for this project has been provided by the Executive Office in Northern Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development in Ireland.
