John Scotus School students star in Radio Drama
On The Shortest Day of Winter is an exciting new radio drama for children, based on the acclaimed children’s books. The Shamrogues’, written by Niall Spratt and Patrick Meehan and first published in 1990. It tells the story of a group of magical characters from the past who mysteriously arrive in Ireland today
The title of the series is borrowed from a poem in Book One ‘The Shamrogue’s First Challenge’, which explains the origins of the ancient Shamrogues, They are discovered by three children in the twenty first century and the Shamrogues then set out to begin their first challenge in modern day Ireland.
Programme 1: The Making of ‘On The Shortest Day In Winter’
Presenter Ken Tuohy interviews the children and gets their views. What’s it like portraying characters with magic powers? How did these characters arrive in the twenty first century? What was Ireland like in the mythical past when these characters first lived? And what are the challenges facing them now in today’s Ireland?
Programme 2
Caffa the druid is summoned to Tara and ordered by the King to stop using his magic powers. Obeying his king, Caffa, returns to his home in the Boyne Valley and sits dejected by the fireside. The magic of the ages will be lost forever. What’s to be done? When a small stone bursts from the fire, he gets an idea of how the ancient druids’ magic may preserved.
Programme 3
It’s Newgrange before dawn on the winter solstice. Three children have their first encounter with the Shamrogues who magically appear at the burial mound.
Played by the children of John Scotus School in Donnybrook, Dublin, the characters really come to life as they address issues of concern today such as environmental pollution, bullying and corruption. On the Shortest Day of Winter is directed by Liz Byrne Kilroy, with music by Fran Dempsey.
Broadcast Details
Radio broadcast on Dublin City 103.2 Fm and via the Internet www.dublincityfm.ie
Programmes 1 & 2 WED 16th Dec. 3 pm.
Programme 3 WED 23rd Dec. 3 pm