We would like to let you know about a series which was recorded with children, teachers, grandparents, and friends of Faughart Community National School as part of the Brigid 1500 – Louth Birthplace of Brigid Programme and supported by Louth County Council. As part of the project, we collaborated with the Staff, Children and their families of Faughart National School to record and broadcast 3 x 50 minute radio programmes to commemorate Brigid 1500.
The series featured interviews, readings and music. The children were tasked with scripting questions, rehearsing in school and with their families at home and getting used to working with audio recording and editing equipment.
The project station Manager Alan Byrne, met the Principal and teachers to plan the running orders in early January.
The programme content featured songs and instrumentals of songs associated with Brigid and the community of Faughart, readings from historical books and Children’s essays about Brigid in Co Louth.
The programmes were recorded during 2 x half days at Faughart National School with Children and their Grandparents/Parents/Guardians who brought along items produced locally and old photographs.
Part 1 – features Principal Jackie McCusker who introduces us to the activities and educational ethos of the school which includes Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics along with arts, sports and creativity. Coleen Hardy, who is a Religious Education Facilitator, shared her childhood memories of school and the relevance of St Brigid’s Shrine to people living in Co Louth and the border counties of Monaghan, Down and Armagh. We also hear recordings of the children’s stories, poems, and singing.
In Part 2 – we hear pupils from 4th, 5th and 6th class chatting to John and Philomena Doherty, Kathleen Duffy, Lucy Murphy, Briege McKenna and Nuala McArdle.
Part 3 – features Alan Duffy, Roisin Cotter, Maura Lennon and Michael and Kathleen Rice.
Part 4 – is a continuation of the interviews from Part 3.
In Part 5 – we hear from Kitty and Phyliss Roe and Sean and Patricia Carragher.
The final in the series features a selection of songs, stories and Brigid diaries along with Principal Jacqui McCusker, Roisin Cotter and a poem created by Siobhan MacMahon for the Brigid 1500 celebrations.
The programmes can be listened to on the Dundalk FM Facebook page or on our listen again service – search for Dundalk FM on mixcloud.com.
The series was made at the end of January and on St. Bridget’s Day, the 1st of February 2024 and recorded and edited by Alan Byrne.
The programmes were broadcast between 26th January and 5th February.