Last Friday, as schools around the country prepared for St Patrick’s Day, staff and students at Finn Valley College honoured and celebrated Ireland’s national flag.
In a poignant and moving ‘Flag Day’ ceremony, students and staff performed readings, poetry, song and dance in homage to the tricolour.
A country’s national flag is a visual symbol of the core values of a nation, core values that are very closely aligned to those of Finn Valley College including inclusivity, respect, care and community.
Special guest Mr Declan Collum (Ballybofey and Stranorlar Historical Society) spoke eloquently and with passion on the history of our national flag and its current status both in Ireland and internationally.
Highlights of the ceremony included Ms Garry’s powerful performance of ‘A Song for Ireland’, Geraldine Mc Cafferty’s rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann and readings from the Proclamation.
John Gregg, a celebrity in Finn Valley College didn’t leave a dry eye in the house with his performance of ‘Grace’ which relays the story of the wedding of Joseph Mary Plunkett’s marriage in the final hours in the lead up to his execution.
Shauna Scanlon, singer/songwriter sang her rousing ‘Homebird’, a song that holds that oftentimes there is no grass greener than that of our own hometown.
Lisa Marie O’ Brien and Tia Conaghan danced a two-handed reel beautifully and Cara O’Neill expertly executed a toe tapping jig.
Iryna Shutak, winner of the Digital Art category of the Thomas Meagher Scholarship 2023, presented her work and provided a moving interpretation of what Ireland as symbolised by the tricolour, means to her as a student from Ukraine. Iryna captured the essence of Ireland for her with a single word; ‘safety’.
Angela Ward thanked the organisers of the event Aisling Connolly, Martina Garry, Kathleen Mc Menamin, Keith Bradley and Paddy Mc Daid.
The ceremony ended with upbeat Irish traditional music performed by David Francczak on the button accordion.
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