Presentation College Headford have released a virtual performance of the 1993 song ‘Ordinary World’ to mark the end of a school year that has been anything but ordinary.
The song chosen is a cover of Duran Duran’s classic ‘Ordinary World’. Teachers Ms. Siobhán O’Shaughnessy, along with Ms. Niamh St John and Ms. Sinéad St John, have overseen a virtual performance involving a choir and orchestra that includes 51 students from Third Year up to Leaving Cert. It is also fitting that this musical performance was released during Creative Schools Week. The school have established a JustGiving Page and are hoping to raise some much needed funds for Jigsaw Ireland.
TY students have also created a beautiful electronic pamphlet ‘Your 5 A Day for Summer Wellness’ which is available on the school website and across various social media platforms.
Jigsaw is a community of professionals, supporters, and volunteers with a shared belief in an Ireland where every young person’s mental health is valued and supported. They offer a listening ear and give advice and support to young people aged 12 – 25 years-old in Galway and across the country. They also give families, teachers, and those who support young people’s mental health ways to cope and skills to be there for young people. For more information, please visitwww.jigsaw.ie
Speaking ahead of the song’s release, Mrs. Aisling McAlpine, school principal, welcomed the return of music to the school:
“We are delighted to hear the sound of music albeit virtually ringing through the halls of Presentation College Headford once again. On behalf of the Board of Management, I pay tribute to the wonderful students in PCH, our dedicated staff and supportive parents who have kept community members safe all the while ensuring continuity of teaching and learning.”
She also praised and expressed gratitude to the teachers involved in this innovative process: “Presentation College Headford is synonymous with excellence and innovation in all creative forms and this latest musical offering is a testament to that fact. I express my gratitude to Ms. Siobhan Shaughnessy of our Music department who was ably assisted by past pupils Ms. Niamh St. John and Ms. Sinéad St. John in working with our young charges to produce such an emotive and meaningful offering.”
The song, written by Simon Le Bon, includes many lines likely to resonate with people who view the performance, such as “Where is the life that I recognise?” and “I will learn to survive”. Aisling McAlpine explained: “Our partnering with Jigsaw on this worthy project endeavours to place a focus on the mental health and wellbeing of our young people in what has been a most extraordinary year for school communities the length and breadth of Ireland.”
Said Conor Henry, Youth and Community Engagement Worker with Jigsaw in Galway;
‘We are so genuinely delighted to be part of this fantastic project with the students and staff of Presentation College Headford. To see such a talented group of young people coming together, while being apart, to create such a beautiful version of ‘Ordinary World’ to raise vital awareness of young people’s mental health and funds to support Jigsaw is magical. Thank you all on behalf of all the team here in Jigsaw’.
Conor continued, ‘With the caring support of all the students and staff of Presentation College Headford, you are ensuring that the ever-changing and complex challenges facing young people and their mental health here in Galway during this current crisis and beyond, is met by the continued growth and development of our supports, such as:
- Supporting young people and their families through jigsaw.ie, our new mental health service, accessible online 24/7.
- Working to build strong communities, by providing our information and training, so that everyone can feel confident to support young people’s mental health.
- Allowing us to continue our pioneering research into what life is really like for young people in Ireland.
