Mullingar's lockdown rockdown to Caravan of Love

(Above) Some of the local singers who appear in the Caravan of Love video.

Over 250 singers and 2,500 schoolchildren from Mullingar have joined forces with The Blizzards for a cover of the Housemartins' 1980s classic, Caravan of Love.

The accapella performance of Caravan of Love (or Lockdown Acapella Rockdown), was launched on this week's episode of Breslin's award winning podcast, Where is My Mind. The video of the song will be premiered on YouTube at 7pm this evening.

The episode and song is about recognising and celebrating the diversity of this community, carrying a special message of unity and acceptance as we begin to imagine our world post-covid.

Over the course of the latest six-week lockdown, which came to an end last week, Breslin brought together a diverse mix of families and communities to sing on a brand new track and special music video set to coincide with a Where Is My Mind? podcast episode on the topic of the interaction between social inclusion and mental health.

The recording features a total of over 250 singers, accompanied by Niall's band The Blizzards. The lockdown track will drop on the Where is My Mind? podcast today, Monday 7th December 2020 and will be released as a single on Spotify. The episode itself goes behind the scenes to follow the creation of the “Lockdown Acapella Rockdown” choir, and speaks to local community activists and campaigners from disability groups, traveller rights activists and migrant rights activists about championing the diversity of Mullingar. The music video features over 2,500 school children around Mullingar singing and performing ‘ a specially choreographed dance to Caravan of Love’, devised by the Mullingar disability theatre group, Across the Boards.

Head of the Across the Boards theatre group, Sarah Nally, whose group were a cornerstone of the project, said: “For my group to be a part of it was so important, and for their parents and guardians to see them being included, was so important. It was a truly community project, not about perfect singing or perfect choreography - it was about seeing people enjoying themselves.”

Local community activist, Peace Commissioner and Chairman, Westmeath Immigrants Network, Rashid Butt, who was interviewed as part of the podcast, said:

“I was really glad to be part of this project as the theme of social inclusion has been very close to my heart, and I work hard with Westmeath Immigrants Network to promote inclusion in our wonderful and diverse community.”

Niall Breslin, musician, mindfulness expert and host of Spotify exclusive Where Is My Mind? said, “I found myself thinking more and more during this lockdown about people who feel ‘locked out’ of society every day - people in my own community - and how much harder this must be for them. I wanted to create something that shows the power of bringing all our voices together. The project is symbolic for the kind of community spirit I’d like us to carry forward into life post-covid. Now more than ever we need each other - we need to take comfort in each other’s unique gifts and presence, and I think we can all recognise the importance of diversity in every town and village around our country and what a more diverse community can give back to society. We’re delighted to release this in support of the brilliant Minding Creative Minds. If you’d like to support the Minding Creative Minds initiative. text SONGS to 50300.”