St Brigid’s make short work of ‘Skool of Rock’
‘Skool of Rock’, a short movie starring members of the Longford Westmeath branch of Down Syndrome Ireland, received a special showing at St Brigid’s School, Mullingar, last Friday week.
Members of the cast were guests of honour at the event and having made their grand entrance, they each introduced themselves to the gathered crowd.
The stars are Sam Bartram, Nathan Branigan, Akachi Ndulewe, Niall O’Beirne, John O’Meara, Éabha O’Sullivan, Oisín Sullivan, Sophie Sweeney, and Amanda Butler.
Two members of the cast, Akachi and Sam, are current students at St Brigid’s and two, Nathan and John, are past pupils.
The movie, which has received a Hollywood endorsement from actor and musician Jack Black, also features parents, sisters and other family members of the stars. The movie was followed by a showing of the ‘Director’s Cuts’, which gave a flavour of the fun and laughter that went in to making this movie.
Martina Kelly of the Longford Westmeath Down Syndrome Association, who plays Ms Mullins, the principal in ‘Skool of Rock’, said that the whole filming process, “from start to finish, took just three days”. She was amazed at how willing and adept the stars were, learning and delivering their lines impeccably, and taking the whole process in their stride.
Martina’s daughter, Kate Branigan, was also involved, as were Emer O’Meara and her three daughters – Niamh, Megan and Bronagh.
Lorna Butler, deputy principal at St Brigid’s, was a driving force behind the film and last Friday’s special showing. She spoke of the “excitement of having it shown here today”.
As the stars and their guests enjoyed refreshments after the show, Martina Kelly, a former principal of a secondary school, spoke to the Westmeath Examiner about the importance of St Brigid’s School.
“We would have the height of respect for the school. It is superb, the work they do, the way they treat the students, it is so child centred. It is an amazing school. Even during Covid, they were incredible,” she said.
Jo Jordan, principal of St Brigid’s, expressed her pride in the students and their performance. She said the school currently has 86 pupils and a staff of 12 teachers, 22 special needs assistants, 17 bus escorts and four ancillary staff.
40th anniversary
Ms Jordan announced that St Brigid’s will be celebrating its 40th anniversary with three days of events in mid-June, including a special event for those who originally pressed for the opening of the school.