A group of musicians from Horizons’ Community Hub and Day Centre in Mallow are hoping their talents will inspire people of all abilities to follow their dream.
A group of people supported by Horizons at the centre in Mallow came together two years ago and formed ‘Bandmates’, and they were presented with an opportunity to perform at Scoil Ghobnatan Primary School in Mallow for Neurodiversity Week Ireland last March.
After weeks of rehearsals, they performed their own version of Coldplay’s ‘Fix You’ in front of pupils and teachers at the school, who joined in to create a memorable experience for all involved.
Horizons staff member Finbarr Murray said of the experience: “Music united complete strangers that day, bridging the gap between those with intellectual disabilities and those without, bringing us together as one and that’s what Bandmates has always been about.”
Finbarr captured the performance along with the preparations leading up to the event. The centre recently hosted a premiere for the video in Mallow’s Gate Cinema.
A red carpet was rolled out for stars of the video, including their family, friends and pupils and staff from Scoil Ghobnatan. Speaking on the video, Bandmates member Shaunna McGowan said she hoped their performance would inspire the pupils of Scoil Ghobnatan to follow their dreams.
Fellow band member Euan Pickard said about his own experience at Horizons: “I do feel different, but I love myself. I love my life and that I can come into Horizons and do stuff. Don’t feel sorry for me because I don’t. I’m happy being me.”