WATCH: Pupils take to stage as school hosts ‘Schoolvision’ event

A CONCERT in a Douglas primary school heard a dozen superb performances and witnessed special guest appearances from two a-list Hollywood stars, maybe, and from possibly a three-time Grammy-winner.

The screams were deafening in the sports hall of Scoil Bhríde Eglantine NS recently for the 19th Schoolovision, and the sense of joy was infectious as pupils took to the stage to perform their own songs.

The selection process had been arduous, with 32 acts being winnowed down to 12, and the finalists – there was no outright winner, with qualification for the final being in itself the prize – were drawn from third, fourth, fifth and sixth classes, so the microphone stand had to be adjusted multiple times for the performers.

All of the songs in the final were brilliant, with some of the performances and songwriting of a professional standard.

The whole concert seemed to be a presentation by the entire school, with contributions from students and staff too many to single out, and the audience of 400 or so students (and assorted adults) playing their part too, singing, clapping and cheering along, with the younger fans holding aloft hand-drawn posters supporting their favourite acts.

It might be unfair to mention one song from the superb dozen finalists, but for sheer nutty energy, ‘The Life of my Chicken’ by the Pipster Popsters (sample lyric: “I hugged him so much / He turned into mush”) from Miss Lyons’s fourth class stood out, with its frenetic chorus “1,2,3,4 chickens, chickens, chickens”. In fairness, the Ramones built careers out of far less.

Barbie and Ken showed up on stage after the performances, with Barbie cartwheeling while Ken did his press-ups.

Unconfirmed rumours had it that staff members Emma Lawlor and Seán Corry may have been doubling for the plastic pair.

To the tune of the Marvelettes’ ‘Please Mr Postman’, teacher Miss Maxwell welcomed the postman to the stage, and after a few false alarms involving Valentine’s cards, a special delivery arrived for her, with a giant, gift-wrapped package wheeled into the auditorium and, on its unwrapping, tuxedo-clad global superstar Harry Styles – for it was (possibly) he – stepped out to rapturous cheers.

It may or may not have been the real Harry Styles – Douglas-based singer, actor and UCC Arts student Aaron Kelly has been known to stand in for Mr Styles at Scoil Bhríde when the English singer has been otherwise engaged – but in an atmosphere of such sheer fun, nobody in the auditorium seemed too bothered either way.

After the show, school principal Ger O’Brien said Schoolovision was an annual event, curated by teacher Rosie O’Shea.

“It involves the children writing, creating and performing their own unique songs. Ours is a school with a rich history and culture of music and performance, and we have a very talented staff who are very invested in nurturing the children’s talents, wherever they may lie.”

Ms O’Brien pointed out that the school had recently been awarded a kindness flag by the Department of Education, something she felt embodied the school’s ethos.

“That’s what the school is about, kindness and wellbeing, and nurturing the confidence of the girls and encouraging them to nurture each other as well,” she said.