Bands space gets jazzed up

FORMER Dublin Gaelic footballers Bryan Cullen and Tomás ‘Mossy’ Quinn joined volunteers at the Artane School of Music recently to transform their dull and lifeless hall into a bright and vibrant performance space.  

The renovations were part of Marks & Spencer Ireland’s ‘Spark Something Good’ initiative, which saw the completion of 24 community projects across Dublin over the course of a week.  

Painting and decorating the Artane School of Music facility was a whole new ball game for the players who are better known for their skills on the pitch. 

However, they were instrumental in jazzing up the hall and giving it a much-needed makeover so that the world-famous band can keep marching on and enjoy a bright, musical future.

Projects completed over the course of the week included transforming the playground of Scoil Eoin in Kilbarrack with a colourful mural, hosting a skills workshop with charity Dress for Success, and painting and decorating a brand new centre for Pieta House.

‘Spark Something Good’ aims to inspire and motivate M&S’s employees and customers to improve the lives of others by donating time to their local community.  

The initiative was launched in London in July and transformed 24 community projects around the UK capital in just 24 hours.  

A further 24 cities across Ireland and the UK will take part over the next two years, with Dublin being the second city to be chosen.

Head of Marks & Spencer Ireland Alison Grainger said: “Helping others on a voluntary basis can make a profound difference, not only to the communities in which the volunteers serve,
but also for the volunteers
themselves.”