Madam, - Tá Córfhéile Ath Cliath 2008 thart. I am one of a small group of teachers who voluntarily organise this Dublin music festival in the Basketball Arena each year. Throughout last week, about 3,500 children participated in this wonderful festival of music, song , dance and drama.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the young performers for their magical entertainment. They came from all parts of Dublin and beyond - as far afield as Mullingar. They had worked for weeks, learning their lines, perfecting their songs, practising their instruments; and the performances were brilliant.
Thank you to Geraldine O'Connor from Rathmines College of Education who came to open the Córfhéile, and who praised highly the efforts of our young participants. Thank you to all the dedicated teachers who prepared the children.Thank you to all the thousands of parents who braved all sorts of weather and traffic hassles to deliver the performers and support the festival.
Like our colleagues in Feis Cheoil, we are badly in need of sponsorship. We survive from year to year on admission charges alone and - despite the fact that performance features prominently in our revised primary school curriculum - we receive no funding from the Department of Education and Science. - Yours, ete,
JOE JOHNSTON, PRO, Córfhéile na Scoileanna, Scoil Mhuire, Ballyboden, Dublin 16.