Latest news with #School'sOut
Irish Examiner
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Laethanta Saoire: The soundtrack to my coming-of-age summer, by Cónal Creedon
Funny how the music of an era becomes the soundtrack for a generation. I was happy living my germ-free adolescence in a Glam Rock bubble, throwing shapes to the shang-a-lang sounds of the Bay City Rollers. But then, just when least expected – I came-of-age. Coming-of-age is that monumental milestone when teenagers transition from childhood to adulthood. A life-defining change that usually occurs during the summer months; liberated from the restrictions of the classroom, our emotions become high on the first flush of freedom, and we take flight. This anarchic developmental stepping-stone is fuelled by a surge of invincibility and irreverence, powerfully portrayed in the primordial beat of Alice Cooper's anthemic School's Out. Well, that magical moment of metamorphosis occurred in this boy's life in 1977. I was fifteen years of age, and with the idleness of an endless summer stretching out before me, my mother and my Auntie Eileen contrived to remove me from the temptations of the pool halls and street corners of downtown Cork city. And so, I was dispatched by CIE bus to Bainnlann Cúil na nGabhar, my Auntie Eileen's shop on O'Connell St, Dungarvan. As the bus trundled Eastwards towards Déise that day, I had an epiphany. It was as if the ties connecting me to my mother's apron strings loosed, and a gentle surge of independence welled up deep inside my soul. My Auntie Eileen was an absolute joy; a natural born storyteller, a lover of history with a profound understanding and appreciation of all aspects of Irish culture. She was a modern-day bard, a wise woman; entertaining, engaging and erudite, and I loved her company. Her shop doubled as the Dungarvan Bus Office, where parcels were dispatched and collected. And so, it became a meeting place for interesting people to drop by for a chat and a glass of lemonade. It was nothing out of the ordinary to hear the Irish language spoken at Bainnlann Cúil na nGabhar; a trading post where social interaction took precedence over commercial transaction. And there in the side room of her shop, she taught me how to make brown bread. To this day, Auntie Eileen's brown bread is the standard by which I measure all bread – and none has yet to compare. 'The magic is in the simplicity.' she'd say. My cousin Ben stepped up to the mark – and took on the role of big brother to me, his kid cousin. Two doors up the street, Ben's record shop offered a portal to an alternative universe for my soaring teenage spirit; a magical world of music, an Aladdin's Cave of sound and vision in the golden age of rock'n'roll record sleeve art, with more vinyl than you could shake a stick at – he even had a discothèque out the back. Ben's well-stocked newsstand had a stack of music magazines – bringing the subversive vibes of an outside world right to the beating heart of Ireland. Ireland in the 1970s was monocultural and monochrome, isolated and insular. It was a world before internet, Spotify or YouTube. Sony Walkman, iPhone and compact discs had yet to be invented. Cassettes were beginning to needle the 12-inch LP – but vinyl was still king. Music was a scarce commodity, it was a time when contemporary culture was highly suspect, so a sanitised curated version was drip fed to a music-starved public by Larry Gogan from the government sanctioned national broadcaster. In 1977 the Eagles had landed; in the record shop it was the summer of Hotel California. But at the end of each day, when the musicos went home, Ben would shut the door, put a record on the turntable, and I was introduced to a most eclectic broad church of sound: classical, jazz, prog-rock, traditional and all points in between. It was an education, a broadening of my mind, an awakening of my soul, instilling in me a love of all musical genres that has remained with me throughout my life. Cónal Creedon with Never Mind The Bollocks, by the Sex Pistols, at a mural in Cork of a young Rory Gallagher. Some summer evenings me, my cousin Ben and his dog Max, would go for a wander down the town, maybe across to Abbeyside, or all along the watch tower of the waterfront. We talked about music and life, and what memories are made of. I had always been aware of Rory Gallagher. The Gallagher brothers were from our neighbourhood, and childhood friends of my older sisters. Apocryphal tales abound of teenage high jinks in the Cavalier Club across the street. Many years later, when the time came to commemorate Rory here in Cork – my sister Geraldine was selected to sculpt the bronze tribute that now has pride of place in Rory Gallagher Plaza. June 26, 1977, was a stop me in my tracks red-letter day. Memory is an unreliable witness, but to the best of my recollection – it was more a van with seats than a coach, and we belched out of Grattan Square, Dungarvan at the crack of dawn. We were on the road to Macroom to see Rory perform at the Mountain Dew Festival; Ireland's first outdoor rock festival, it goes down in history as a watershed cultural event. It was our Woodstock, and I was living the dream in the company of my cousin Ben and fifteen of Dungarvan's finest. Our magical mystery tour was an epic odyssey. It is said of rock'n'roll: If you remember it, you probably weren't there. And, what happens on tour stays on tour. So, keeping within those two tenets – not only has my memory of that most memorable weekend faded with time, but what happened on the bus, stays on the bus. But with the one-anecdote rule in mind - I shall relate one mirthful memory of that day that remains indelibly etched in the creases of my cranium. About a mile beyond the Dungarvan hairpin bend we came across a cyclist. I believe he was from the Netherlands, and because we had a spare seat in the van we invited him along. We somehow jammed his bicycle behind the driver's seat, and he climbed onboard. But here's the mad thing, 24 hours later, on our return journey, we dropped him and his bicycle off at the exact same spot on the road – and off he cycled on his merry way, vanishing into the morning mist. That summer in Dungarvan with my cousin Ben paved the way for my coming-of-age which I can pin-point to a specific date. October 28, 1977, The Sex Pistols erupted onto an unsuspecting international stage with Never Mind The Bollocks, and my world was never the same again. At the time, Rory Gallagher was riding high on the crest of a hugely successful global tour. He was in San Francisco putting the finishing touches to a new album. On a break from the studio Rory went to see the Sex Pistols at the Winterland Ballroom. The gig was cathartic. He returned to the studio and cancelled the recording, the tapes remained archived for more than 30 years. The session was posthumously released in May 2011 as the double album, Notes From San Francisco. This boy's coming-of-age was a musical journey that carried me from Bay City Rollers to the Sex Pistols – stopping off along the way for a life-reaffirming immersion in sound in a record Shop in Dungarvan. 1977 was a formative summer, lost in music, when the foundations of a lifelong friendship between me and my cousin Ben was set in stone. Cónal Creedon is an author from Cork city. He will be honoured as Laoch Reacaire at Féile na Laoch 2025 (July 31-August 3) in recognition of his contribution to culture. Féile na Laoch (The Festival of Heroes) is inspired by the life and work of Seán Ó Riada
RTÉ News
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
School's Out for summer with new short animations from RTÉ Kids
Launching on Monday, 9 June 2025 across RTÉjr, RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player, Sparks – School's Out is a magnificent collection of seven short original Irish animations, each offering a unique take on the end of the school term. From robot classrooms and shifting seasons to the quiet loneliness of a school caretaker after the final bell, these bite sized stories capture the joy, curiosity, and unexpected emotions that come with the start of summer. There's so much colour, emotion and memories made as kids head off for the summer we decided School's Out would be the perfect theme for the first series of short animations in our new Sparks scheme. The original Irish animations from new directors can be seen across RTÉjr, RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player from Monday. Read all about them below... Molly's Myths from Boulder Media - Directed by Gillian Comerford School's adventure is in! We follow Molly and her four-legged-bestie Penny's journey to a magical realm bursting with colour and enchantment. There, they reunite with some familiar friends from Irish folklore - the heroic Cú Chulainn, duelling giants, mischievous mini muiseogs and a haunting banshee - for an unforgettable adventure of friendship, freedom and mythical magic! Released as Boulder celebrates its 25th anniversary, the film is a joyful tribute to storytelling and a fitting milestone for the studio with a score by Eímear Noone and Craig Stuart Garfinkle. Monday at 6.35pm on RTÉjr Droid Academy from Pioneertown - Directed by Will Sliney Renowned Marvel comic book artist Will Sliney makes his directorial debut with Droid Academy, a striking 3D CGI animated short created in Blender for RTÉ as part of the Sparks short film initiative. The film premiered at the Animation Dingle Festival, drawing praise for its powerful message and visual innovation for the Pioneertown Productions' short. A playful robot struggles to fit into her rigid school environment. Unable to connect with her classmates, our hero is forced to break with routine and start to explore outside the rules of her school. By finally going outdoors for the first time she discovers the beauty of nature. She then brings those new connections back into the school hoping to make it a brighter place for all. Monday at 7.20am on RTÉjr/ 2.24pm on RTÉ2 Little One from Little Moon Animations - Directed by Avery Angle In this heartwarming short, we follow the daily walks home from school through a forest between a fox father and his young daughter cub and explore the little rituals of play and kindness that follow. Set against the backdrop of four seasons in one short year, we see them play games with leaves, protect themselves with conkers, distract themselves through snow and finally acknowledge their growth in Spring. In each of these scenes, they make and collect trinkets to display at home, gathering memories of their time together from the day. Monday at 11am on RTÉjr The Caretaker from Whackala As the children leave for the summer holidays, the school caretaker enjoys the peace and quiet while doing his chores, but as the days pass, the emptiness and silence of the school building make him tired and lonely. Someone notices, 10-year old Eva. Suddenly, on a grey and rainy day, small gifts appear and bring a smile to the Caretaker's weary face. Who could be behind them? Monday at 4.30pm on RTÉjr No Worries! from D11 Stories - Directed by Chris Dicker Meet 10-year-old PJ Gallagher's anxieties aren't just in his head, they manifest into a 300-pound Silverback Gorilla, only he can see. When it's time to return to school after the Summer holidays, Gorilla Joe gives PJ a list of worries. What if his friends don't like him and what if he can't remember how to write or read? With the help of his mother, can PJ find a way to live with his anxiety, get rid of the stinky smell in his school bag and know that he's got this! Monday at 2.50pm on RTÉjr Pals from Taunt - Directed by Tom Getty Facing his last summer in the countryside before starting big school, Shane meets older kid Stevie. Their newfound friendship blossoms into a month of carefree adventures, chronicled in voice memos Shane sends to his dad abroad. But will Stevie still be his friend when the school year starts. Monday at 2.26pm on RTÉ2 Points of Shoe from Flickerpix - Directed by Jamie Mills Step into the holidays with a colourful cast of shoes as they explore what makes holiday time special. Told from the shoes' unique point of view, this short animation answers what teachers do when we are not around to what it's like to live the high life in a mansion. From beach trips to the playground, every pair has a story to tell! Brace yourself for a shoe-per time. Monday at 10.30am on RTÉ/ 1.30pm on RTÉjr
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
6 things to do during the final week of school
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS-TV) – It's Parenting Connection Tuesday, and 6 News is here for you with tips, strategies, and helpful reminders from child development experts on how we can be better parents and guardians. Today's topic: 6 things to do during the final week of school Some of us older parents can already hear Alice Cooper's 'School's Out' gradually getting louder as we enter the final week of the school year. Summer vacation starts for most mid-Michigan kids Friday afternoon. This week is usually fun, which includes things like field days, yearbook signings, and parties… but with all the excitement, sometimes families forget a few things they wish they had done before the year wraps up. Child development experts say, try to do these 6 things before school's out for the summer that'll all go a long way for creating great memories: Take a last day of school picture and don't just keep it in your smartphone, print a copy out. Work with your kid on a memory scrapbook. This can include pictures, but other things like awards or symbolic items. Make a time capsule. Fill something up that includes items that were popular or newsworthy over the past school year. Have your child write a letter to their future self. Have your child write thank-you notes to their teachers, coaches, and adults who helped. Plan a last day of school surprise with your kid, like going for a scoop of ice cream. None of these takes much effort — and many years from now, child development experts say, your kids will thank you for making them do it. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Scottish Sun
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Nineties pop icons unrecognisable 25 years after hit as they reunite in London – can you guess who?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TWO nineties and noughties pop icons look unrecognisable yet ageless 25 years after they dominated the UK charts. Reuniting in London this weekend for the Mighty Hoopla in Brockwell Part, this duo - who shot to fame in 1999 - turned heads. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 7 The 90s icons reunited at Brockwell Park over the weekend Credit: Tiktok 7 The two hitmakers were seen donning sparkling sequin minidresses Credit: Tiktok 7 Fans went wild when they realised who they were in the TikTok video Credit: Tiktok 7 The duo were big in 2000 Credit: Getty - Contributor Daphne and Celeste were spotted at the iconic event in London as they donned minidresses and plenty of glitter. The pair are an American pop duo, consisting of Celeste Cruz and Karen 'Daphn DiConcetto. Three of their singles reached the top 20 in the UK Singles Chart. In a video shared by the festival, Daphne and Celeste could be seen giving a "dramatic reading". The two ladies were seen standing backstage at the event in sequin minidresses. They said: "Oooh. Stick you, your mama too. And your daddy. "Oooh. Stick you. Your mama too. And your daddy." The lyrics were from their song Ooh Stick You. The caption of the post shared on Mighty Hoopla's page read: "A dramatic reading by Daphne and Celeste." Reacting to the video, one person said: "Why in my head will they always been teens haha! Love to see these icons!!!" 90s soap star, 47 looks unrecognisable three decades after TV fame Another gushed: "Legends!!!!!!!!" A third swooned: "They look exactly the same." "Icons. They deserve the world," said a fourth. A fifth then penned: "I rewatch their incredible performance at Reading festival regularly." While a sixth said: "Queens." And a seventh added: "Icons." The musical duo released three singles in the UK. Their singles included Ooh Stick You and U.G.L.Y., as well as a cover version of Alice Cooper's School's Out. Their album, We Didn't Say That!, was released in June 2000. Another single, named Party, was due to be released in November 2000, but this never came out. 7 The singers had three hits that dominated the UK charts Credit: Handout 7 They hail from the United States Credit: Getty Images - Getty
The Irish Sun
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Nineties pop icons unrecognisable 25 years after hit as they reunite in London – can you guess who?
TWO nineties and noughties pop icons look unrecognisable yet ageless 25 years after they dominated the UK charts. Reuniting in London this weekend for the Mighty Hoopla in Brockwell Part, this duo - who shot to fame in 1999 - turned heads. 7 The 90s icons reunited at Brockwell Park over the weekend Credit: Tiktok 7 The two hitmakers were seen donning sparkling sequin minidresses Credit: Tiktok 7 Fans went wild when they realised who they were in the TikTok video Credit: Tiktok 7 The duo were big in 2000 Credit: Getty - Contributor Daphne and Celeste were spotted at the iconic event in London as they donned minidresses and plenty of glitter. The pair are an American pop duo, consisting of Celeste Cruz and Karen 'Daphn DiConcetto. Three of their singles reached the top 20 in the UK Singles Chart. In a video shared by the festival, Daphne and Celeste could be seen giving a "dramatic reading". Read More about 90s Stars The two ladies were seen standing backstage at the event in sequin minidresses. They said: "Oooh. Stick you, your mama too. And your daddy. "Oooh. Stick you. Your mama too. And your daddy." The lyrics were from their song Ooh Stick You. Most read in Showbiz The caption of the post shared on Mighty Hoopla's page read: "A dramatic reading by Daphne and Celeste." Reacting to the video, one person said: "Why in my head will they always been teens haha! Love to see these icons!!!" 90s soap star, 47 looks unrecognisable three decades after TV fame Another gushed: "Legends!!!!!!!!" A third swooned: "They look exactly the same." "Icons. They deserve the world," said a fourth. A fifth then penned: "I rewatch their incredible performance at Reading festival regularly." While a sixth said: "Queens." And a seventh added: "Icons." The musical duo released three singles in the UK. Their singles included Ooh Stick You and U.G.L.Y., as well as a cover version of Alice Cooper 's School's Out . Their album, We Didn't Say That! , was released in June 2000 . Another single, named Party, was due to be released in November 2000, but this never came out. 7 The singers had three hits that dominated the UK charts Credit: Handout 7 They hail from the United States Credit: Getty Images - Getty 7 Some fans thought they looked exactly the same as 25 years ago Credit: Spotify
