Arts Week 2008

Our Lady's Bower celebrated Arts Week for all pupils from 13^th-17^th October, 2008. The Arts Week was a special occasion for all the pupils- an opportunity given by the school to learn more about what is called "The Arts".  It has been the aim of the school that every girl should experience a week devoted to the Arts once in her school career. There has been four such Arts Weeks before in the school: 1984, 1990, 1995 and 2000. The Arts Week was first instituted in 1984, by Sr. Christopher and Ms Josephine Maloney, when the La Sainte Union sisters celebrated their centenary in Athlone. Arts Week 2008 was the 5^th such event, and turned out to be a rich festival of Poetry, Sculpture, Music, Fashion, Crafts, Drama and Cinema. The white walls of the new building were vibrant with colour and style, from students work to exhibitions of paintings and photos.

Our Lady's Bower has a long and well-deserved reputation for excellence in the fields of Art, Literature and Music. Through past pupils and staff, many links with writers and artists have been possible and the invited participants include many well-known speakers, artists, performers and exhibitors such as:

To name a few.

The week started with an arousing recital from the Western Command Pipe Band for the whole school in the new gym.

Local contributors to Arts Week 08 include the following personalities 

                Vera Hughes                                                         Desmound Egan

                Frankie Keena                                                     Joe Ducke of Passion Fruit Theatre

                Maria Mahon                                                        Tadgh Carey         

                Fiona McGinty                                                     Maggie Dolan

                Vanessa Van Denbulck                                     Grainne Managhan

                Brain O Ruairc AIT                                           Darina Ganly

                Imelda Geraghty                                                  Michelle Lynch

                Jennie Hoo                                                            Robbie Ryan

                Science Magic by Randle Henly                       Patricia Kiernan UCD

All Students experienced some hand-on art activities such as felt making, silk cottage and embroidery, chocolate and butter sculpting. They were also given the chance to act, sing, and make music. Many got the chance to juggle and to make balloons, walk on stilts and paint faces. The IFT mobile cinema brought films to the Bower, and the week was brought to a close by a table quiz for all the school gym. 

Months later, the Arts Week has left pleasant and long-lasting memories of a special event, which will stand out as a week where normal timetables were suspended, 

and students listened, painted, drew, experimented, tasted, sang, danced and enjoyed the Arts.

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