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St Patrick's College, Cavan.

Creative Engagement—The Arts in our Schools. 2005-06

In May 2005, the Art Department of St Patrick's College, Cavan applied to the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals to take part in a new pilot project based on Art activities called, "Creative Engagement, The Arts in our Schools" programme.
St Pat’s was one of twenty schools nationwide selected to take part in this project which was initiated and funded by the N A P D, in partnership with the Dept of Arts, Sport and Tourism, the Dept of Education and Science, The Arts Council, supported by Ms Rhonda Tidy Cavan County Arts Office and St Patrick's College Parents Association.
Aims: To promote the Artistic Development of students within St Patrick’s College through involvement in areas such as: Drawing, Painting, Modelling, and Casting techniques. Investigative research would form a substantial part of the overall project.
The project, initiated by Mr Patsy Lee (Past Principal) and co-ordinated by Mr Leon Lynch, Art Teacher at St Patrick’s College, began with a Sculpture Design Competition in September 2005. Initially students were asked to arrive on a theme from which preparatory drawings could be submitted for discussion among the group. It was envisaged that the project would culminate with the making of a piece of outdoor sculpture for the main court yard area within the school.
Two entries were short listed, one designed by Edward Mackey 5th year Art student, and one by Richard Smith, 4th year Art student. Aspects of both students design were incorporated into the final proposal.
After more detailed drawings were carried out in the Art room and a satisfactory design arrived upon, it was given to the Technical Graphics class, who produced scaled drawings.
These drawings were sent to Mr Denis Brady from “Multi Tech Design” for fabrication in stainless steel. Mr Brady proved to be an invaluable source of expertise when it came to overcoming any technical details involved in the construction of the sculpture.
To aid in the cost of the manufacture of the sculpture, a choral concert featuring the National Chamber Choir was held in the College Chapel on Wednesday 8th March. The College Jazz Band and Traditional Group also provided entertainment.

Members of the National Chamber Choir.

The College Traditional Irish group with Mr Kieran Tackney, Music teacher.
An exhibition of work carried out in the workshops along with a scaled version of the proposed sculpture was put on display on the night of the choral concert. This concert was made possible with the generous support of Co Cavan Arts Office.


Mr Leon Lynch (Art Teacher), Dr Liam Mc Niffe (Principal), Mr Kenneth Redmond (Co Cavan Arts Officer), Richard Smith and Edward Mackey with their sculpture design, Mr Derek West (NAPD), and Ms Rhonda Tidy (Co Cavan Arts Office)

As part of the Sculpture Design process, Cavan Arts Office and the NAPD, Creative Arts Programme helped with funding workshops, one in Wood Carving by sculptor Joey Burns, a second in Glass Casting by artist Frances Traynor and a third by sculptor Holgar Lonze in Ancient Bronze Casting. For the Wood Carving workshop, the students had to make a small model of their proposed piece. They had two daylong sessions where they were introduced to the basic methods of carving.


A carved Irish Triscal in wood.
The second workshop was in Glass Casting by artist Frances Traynor. Again the students prepared models in clay, first as part of a collaborative jig-saw, which was used as an introduction to working in glass.


The second piece was worked on the theme of “The Trophy”. The number of processes used in glass casting ranged from clay modelling, mould making, casting, kiln firing and polishing.

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.......................................A cast Trophy piece in glass.

The third Work Shop in Bronze Casting, each student made a small clay model of their proposed piece. These were then used as marquette’s from which the students modelled final casting pieces in wax.



The mould making process involved in this workshop was different to what was used in the glass mould-making workshop, “horse dung and earth were the raw ingredients

The wax models.


Holgar explaining the Pit firing process.

The next stages involved firing the moulds and then a full day of pit firing and metal casting on the front lawn of the college.

Working the bellows.

A selection of some of the cast objects.
An important factor in this project was that students were exposed to as many artistic techniques involved in the production of sculpture as possible. Over forty students have benefited from exposure to new art methods through these workshops. The fourteen-foot high stainless steel sculpture designed by students, Edward and Richard was installed last week in the court yard area to St Killian’s wing. of the school

Mr Leon Lynch (Art teacher), Richard Smith, Mr Kenneth Redmond (Co Cavan Arts Officer), Ms Rhonda Tidy (Co Cavan Arts Office), Dr Liam Mc Niffe (Principal) and Edward Mackey.

Creative Engagement – “The Arts in our Schools Project”, concluded last week in The Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin where , Edward accepted certificates of completion from Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr John O’Donoghue on behalf of the school.


Mr Leon Lynch (Project Co-ordinator), Mr John O’Shea ( Deputy Principal), Edward Mackey,
Mr Derek West (NAPD) and Richard Smith. at the awards ceremony in Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin.

Mr John O’Donoghue and Edward Mackey.
This year long project would not have been possible without the continued support of, The National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, (NAPD) for developing the concept of Creative Engagement, The Arts in our Schools.
Mr Patsy Lee (Retired Principal).
Dr Liam Mc Niffe, (Principal).
Mr John O’Shea, (Deputy Principal).
Mr Derek West, NAPD.
Mr Leon Lynch, Art Teacher and Project Co-ordinator.
Ms Geraldine Smith and Ms Olivia Reynolds, secretarial staff.
Mr Eddie Duffy.
Mr Gerard Gunne.
Mr Paddy Mulligan.
Mr Kieran Tackney, and The College Jazz Band and Traditional Group.
Ms Rhonda Tidy and Mr Kenneth Redmond, Cavan Arts Office. Cavan Co Council.
Mr John Smith.
Mr Tommy Dawson.
Parents Association of St Patrick’s College.
The many students who helped out over the past ten months.
The National Chamber Choir.
Rev Fr Gerard Kearns, Kilmore Diocesan Centre
Mr Martin O’Reilly.
Mr Denis Brady, Multi-Tech Design, Laragh, Co Cavan.