WHILE MOST schools were quiet over the half term break, St. Patrick's at Bohreen Hill in Enniscorthy was anything but silent as the campus hosted the fifth annual Arts Alive! festival. The event, promoting participation of people with disabilities in the arts, came to a cheerfully rowdy finale on Friday afternoon
Drums, strings and the sound of the human voice raised in song and ensured that no-one was likely to fall asleep at the end of the four day extravaganza. The 200-plus participants were joined by a squad of volunteers, all attired in their brightly coloured Arts Alive! tee-shirts.
Organiser and mistress of ceremonies Rosaleen Molloy, county council arts officer, led the excited audience in a chorus of 'we've had a great week and we'll come back next year'. The participants were joined by Cllr. Paddy Kavanagh representing Enniscorthy Town Council; county council chairwoman Anna Fenlon; Father Colm Murphy of the Wexford Mental Health Association and Mental Health Ireland chairman Brian Howard.
'It is about ability and about everyone's talent being celebrated. Everyone can be included in the arts,' summed up Cllr. Fenlon. Her enthusiasm was shared by Brian Howard who suggested that the unique Wexford event should be replicated throughout the country: 'It's fantastic,' he exclaimed.
The drummers, musicians and puppeteers were to the fore during Friday's finale as various groups were called up to perform. However, much of the emphasis during the four days was on arts such as weaving, basket making, painting, pottery and writing.
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