Many of our schools organise school choirs as an extracurricular activity while also complementing the music curriculum. The choir often performs at various school and community events and is a great tonic towards student and staff well-being. But did you know that one of our school choirs sings through the medium of Irish? In this blog, our Gairmscoil Chu Uladh music teacher Kelli Nic Ruaidhrí tells us more about it, and provides some tips on running a school choir and running a school choir through Irish.
Running a school choir is always rewarding, but running one through Irish brings something truly special. At Gairmscoil Chú Uladh in the Gaeltacht Láir, Co. Donegal, our choir has been an important part of school life since it was started by music teacher Kelli Nic Ruaidhrí in 2009. It’s a space where students come together, find their voices, and celebrate music and the Irish language.
How Our Choir Works
The Gairmscoil Chú Uladh choir is a 40+ strong group of students from 1st to 6th year all rehearsing together at lunchtimes. Everyone is welcome to join, whether they study music or not. Rehearsals are fun and collaborative with students helping to choose the music, which we translate into Irish.
We sing a mix of styles from traditional Irish songs to pop, country, and musicals. With three-part harmony as our signature, students practice in smaller groups before coming together for full rehearsals.
The choir isn’t just about singing. It’s about confidence, teamwork, and being part of something bigger. For those studying music, it’s great preparation for state practical exams but the main joy of the choir is how it brings everyone together.
They also get huge support from staff in the school, who value the time and effort students put into rehearsals. Their encouragement helps the choir thrive. Some staff even join in for big events like our annual carol service, creating an even greater sense of community.
Performances and Events
Our choir performs at many school events and their music is an important part of school life. They sing at open nights, lunchtime concerts during Seachtain na Gaeilge, awards days, graduation services, and even competitions like ‘Scléip’, ‘Waltons Music for Schools’ (2020 choir singing ‘Grace’ and ‘The Parting Glass’ from Walton’s Music for Schools entry) and most recently, ‘Lyric FM’s Choirs for Christmas’.
One highlight is our annual carol service, which extends beyond the school to include local primary students. We visit these schools to provide music workshops, ensuring that pupils as young as 3rd class can join in the festive celebration. It’s a beautiful example of music uniting a community.
This year, we added something extra special — a verse of Oíche Chiúin in Ukrainian, to celebrate our Ukrainian community. Moments like these show how music can bring people together.
We’ve also had the invaluable experience of live performances on Raidió na Gaeltachta and Highland Radio, proudly showcasing our original compositions. In 2023, our Transition Year students wrote the poignant song An Nollaig Mar a Bhí, reflecting on Christmases past, while in 2016, our choir celebrated success in the GAA 1916 centenary songwriting contest with three original pieces, one of which made the nationwide Top 5.
Tips for Running a School Choir
If you’re running a school choir, here are a few tips:
- Create a Welcoming Environment: Encourage participation from all students, regardless of experience.
- Get Students Involved: Let them help choose the songs.
- Be Flexible: Find times that suit everyone, like lunchtimes or short breaks.
- Celebrate Success: Big or small, acknowledge every effort and achievement – nailing a tricky harmony is so rewarding!
For a choir trí mheán na Gaeilge:
- Translate Carefully: Keep the meaning and rhythm of the song.
- Mix It Up: Combine traditional Irish songs with modern ones creating a rich repertoire.
- Celebrate Irish Culture: Perform at events that highlight Irish language and culture.
Running a school choir is about more than just music — it’s about creating a sense of community and belonging. In Gairmscoil Chú Uladh, the choir is part of who we are, helping students to grow, shine and literally find their voices!
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Reáchtálann go leor dár scoileanna cóir scoile mar ghníomhaíocht seach-churaclaim agus comhlánaíonn cóir scoile an curaclam ceoil fosta. Bíonn an cór ag ceol ag imeachtaí éagsúla scoile agus pobail go minic agus tugann seo ardú meanman iontach do na mic léinn agus don fhoireann. Ach an raibh a fhios agat go gceolann ceann dár gcór scoile trí mheán na Gaeilge? Sa bhlag seo, insíonn ár múinteoir ceoil ó Ghairmscoil Chú Uladh, Kelli Nic Ruaidhrí, níos mó dúinn faoi, agus tugann sí roinnt leideanna maidir le cór scoile a reáchtáil agus cór scoile a reáchtáil trí mheán na Gaeilge.
Bíonn luach saothair ag baint le cór scoile a reáchtáil i gcónaí, ach tá rud fíorspeisialta ag baint le ceann a reáchtáil trí mheán na Gaeilge. Ag Gairmscoil Chú Uladh sa Ghaeltacht Láir, Co. Dhún na nGall, tá ár gcór ina chuid thábhachtach de shaol na scoile ó chuir an múinteoir ceoil, Kelli Nic Ruaidhrí, tús leis sa bhliain 2009. Is spás é ina dtagann daltaí le chéile, ina n-aimsíonn siad a nguth, agus ina ndéanann siad ceiliúradh ar an cheol agus ar an Ghaeilge.
An Dóigh a nOibríonn Ár gCór
Tá 40+ dalta ón 1ú go dtí an 6ú bliain i gcór Ghairmscoil Chú Uladh agus déanann siad cleachtadh le chéile ag am lóin. Tá fáilte roimh gach duine a bheith páirteach sa chór, is cuma cé acu an bhfuil staidéar á dhéanamh acu ar an cheol nó nach bhfuil. Bíonn na cleachtaí spraíúil agus comhoibríoch agus cuidíonn na daltaí leis na hamhráin a roghnú, agus ansin aistrímid go Gaeilge iad.
Ceolaimid meascán de stíleanna ó amhráin thraidisiúnta na hÉireann go popcheol, ceol tíre agus ceoldrámaí. Is é comhcheol trí pháirt ár stíl inaitheanta, déanann daltaí cleachtadh i ngrúpaí níos lú sula dtagann siad le chéile fá choinne cleachtaí iomlána.
Ní amhránaíocht amháin atá i gceist leis an chór. Baineann sé le muinín, obair foirne, agus a bheith mar chuid de rud éigin atá níos suntasaí. Is ullmhúchán iontach é do scrúduithe praiticiúla stáit dóibh siúd a bhfuil staidéir á dhéanamh acu ar an cheol, ach is é an rud is fearr faoin chór ná an dóigh a dtugtar gach duine le chéile leis.
Faigheann siad tacaíocht ollmhór fosta ó fhoireann na scoile, a chuireann luach ar an am agus ar an iarracht a chuireann na daltaí isteach sna cleachtaí. Cuidíonn an spreagadh seo leis an chór le dul ó neart go neart. Glacann roinnt ball foirne páirt in imeachtaí móra fiú, ar nós ár seirbhís carúil bhliantúil, rud a chuireann leis an mhuintearas pobail.
Léirithe agus Imeachtaí
Ceolann ár gcór ag cuid mhór imeachtaí scoile agus is cuid thábhachtach de shaol na scoile é an ceol. Ceolann siad ag oícheanta oscailte, ceolchoirmeacha am lóin le linn Sheachtain na Gaeilge, laethanta gradam, seirbhísí bronnta céimeanna, agus fiú comórtais mar ‘Scléip’, ‘Waltons Music for Schools’ (2020 choir singing ‘Grace’ and ‘The Parting Glass’ from Walton’s Music for Schools entry) agus an ceann is déanaí, ‘Lyric FM’s Choirs for Christmas’.
Ar cheann de na buaicphointí tá ár seirbhís carúil bhliantúil, a mbíonn daltaí bunscoile áitiúla mar chuid di sa bhreis ar dhaltaí ár scoile féin. Tugaimid cuairt ar na scoileanna seo chun ceardlanna ceoil a chur ar fáil, ag cinntiú gur féidir le daltaí chomh hóg le rang a 3 páirt a ghlacadh i gceiliúradh na féile. Eiseamláir is ea é den dóigh a dtugtar pobal le chéile leis an cheol.
I mbliana, tá rud iontach speisialta curtha againn leis — véarsa d’Oíche Chiúin san Úcráinis, chun ár bpobal Úcránach a cheiliúradh. Léiríonn ócáidí mar seo an dóigh gur féidir leis an cheol daoine a thabhairt le chéile.
Bhí an taithí thar a bheith luachmhar againn chomh maith agus muid ag ceol beo ar Raidió na Gaeltachta agus Highland Radio, ag léiriú, le bród, ár gcuid cumadóireachta. In 2023, scríobh daltaí na hIdirbhliana an t-amhrán tochtmhar An Nollaig Mar a Bhí, ag machnamh ar na Nollag a chuaigh thart, agus in 2016, d’éirigh lenár gcór i gcomórtas amhránaíochta mar chuid de chomóradh céad bliain CLG 1916 le trí phíosa bhunaidh, ceann acu a bhí ar na 5 amhrán is mó tóir sna cairteacha náisiúnta.
Leideanna chun Cór Scoile a Reáchtáil
Má tá cór scoile á reáchtáil agat, seo roinnt leideanna:
- Cruthaigh Timpeallacht Fáiltiúil: Spreag rannpháirtíocht ó gach dalta, beag beann ar thaithí.
- Bíodh na Daltaí Rannpháirteach: Lig dóibh cuidiú ó thaobh roghnú na n-amhrán de.
- Bí Solúbtha: Aimsigh amanna a oireann do gach duine, ar nós am lóin nó sosanna gearra.
- Déan ceiliúradh ar gach rath: Tabhair aitheantas do gach iarracht agus éacht, beag nó mór – tá sásamh le baint as comhcheol casta a rá go paiteanta!
I dtaca le cór trí mheán na Gaeilge:
- Bí cúramach leis an aistriúchán: Coinnigh brí agus rithim an amhráin.
- Bíodh Éagsúlacht Agat: Bíodh amhráin thraidisiúnta na hÉireann á rá chomh maith le hamhráin nua-aimseartha, rud a mhéadaíonn stór saibhir amhrán.
- Déan Ceiliúradh ar Chultúr na hÉireann: Bí ag ceol ag imeachtaí a chuireann béim ar an Ghaeilge agus ar an chultúr.
Tá níos mó i gceist le cór scoile a reáchtáil ná an ceol amháin — baineann sé le muintearas pobail a chruthú. I nGairmscoil Chú Uladh, tá an cór mar chuid dár bhféiniúlacht, ag cuidiú le daltaí fás, lonradh agus go bunúsach, ag cuidiú leo a nguth a aimsiú!