This article is from page 35 of the 2009-07-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 35 JPG
THE Rachel O’Dwyer Memorial Award keeps not only the memory of the late schoolgirl alive, but also the strong tradition of Irish music among Quilty school children.
This year the award went to sixth class student Eoin Shannahan, a tal- ented accordian player who won the school’s Board of Management mu- sic award two years ago.
The Board of Management Award
coincides with the Rachel O’ Dwyer Award each year, and the winner of both prizes receives a certificate and have their fees paid at the Willie Clancy Summer School.
Fifth class student and accordion player Darragh Moloney won the Board of Management Award this year.
Rachel’s mother Rita sponsors the prize in memory of her daughter.
Rachel, who was a pupil at Quilty National School died from encepha-
litis in November 1999, aged just 10 years old.
While the brave young girl is re- membered often by the school, she is remembered in a special way each year when the most promising music student is chosen.
Quilty National School encourages all of its pupils to learn music and follow in the footsteps of local mu- sical heroes such as Paddy Galvin, John Fennell, Joe Cunneen, Michael Falsey and JP Downes.
All 43 pupils learn a musical in- strument during music classes in the school, and it is through music their late colleague and fellow pupil is teyatelennere