Damien shows Almighty Love for the pupils at St Cronan’s

PUPILS at a Northside school enjoyed a memorable visit from leading Irish singer Damien Dempsey as part of a prize for winning a national competition.

The Donaghmede balladeer performed a number of songs for Audrey Power’s second class students at St Cronan’s Junior National School in Brackenstown, Swords. The school was one of the winning entrants in the People’s Recovery Empowerment Development Assistance (PREDA) photography competition.

Damien is a supporter of the Philippines-based charity which works to help children trapped in lives of poverty and exploitation.

Dublin-born priest Fr Shay Cullen, who has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize on three occasions, established the charity.

The national competition encouraged primary school students to take a photo of what freedom meant to them and was proudly supported by leading school lunch supplier Carambola Kidz.

The students at St Cronan’s JNS created an inspiring photo profiling the message of Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.

Damien was struck by the deep sense of empathy and awareness of human rights issues displayed by the winning class.

The children were delighted to be given a chance to ask him questions relating to his life and musical background.

The visit culminated in a musical session which a lot of

‘Damo’s’ fans would have been envious of. The talented musician joined in with the children singing a number of his own songs, including

‘Apple of My Eye’,

‘Your Pretty Smile’ and the crowd pleasing

‘Rocky Road to Poland’. The memorable visit was rounded off with an autograph session and a request from a student for all the class to sing the title track of

‘Almighty Love’ with

‘Damo’.

For more information on the work of PREDA visit www.predaireland.org or email [email protected]