Hollywood star Jack Black praises Longford actors on their 'magical' Skool of Rock event

Nine members of Longford/Westmeath branch of Down Syndrome Ireland made a short movie 'Skool of Rock' recently and received a Hollywood endorsement from actor and musician Jack Black during an 'amazing' night.

The film premiered in Backstage in Longford town and the participants ranged in age from 15 years old to 24 years old.

The film was directed by screenwriter and film editor Liam Izzard and it was followed by an 'Oscars' Ceremony during a memorable evening.

The magical night received a further boost when Jack Black, the original star of the beloved 2003 film, sent a video message to the nine actors and he congratulated them on their amazing performance.

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The local DSI branch described it as an amazing evening for Sam Bartram, Nathan Branigan, Ackachi Ndulewe, Niall
O'Beirne, John O'Meara, Éabha O Sullivan, Oisín Sullivan, Sophie Sweeney, all from county Longford, and Amanda Butler from Streete, county Westmeath on December 12.

Martina Branigan, parent and Director of DSI Longford/Westmeath branch described it as a 'magical' evening
She said the group of young people, which included her son Nathan (21), had an 'absolute ball' making the short movie over three days at Ardagh Primary School and Ardagh Community Centre last August.

"They were incredible, they sat in desks at the school for a whole day and you won't get too many kids around the country to do that and they took their lines seriously and they did their very best and they enjoyed every minute," she added.

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Martina, from Longford town said they had never planned on developing it into a 25-minute short movie.

"We started it as an activity as we organise activities for them in the summer, but it was just so good and Claire Wright in head office was saying, 'Would you not do something more with it, you should have a night'," she added.

Martina said director Liam Izzard, a friend of the O'Meara family managed to get in contact with Jack Black and none of them had any idea he was coming on screen with a message to the young people.

"Liam came on the screen and had the phone on his ear and he said you know what I will put you on the screen to them and then here is Jack Black sending them a message and he named every single one of them, it was out of this world."

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Martina stated they organised an evening event and it became a red carpet night at Backstage Theatre in Longford town that attracted a close to capacity audience of nearly 250 people.

"They all got dressed up in their tuxedos and dressed and it was a magical night to start with and I haven't laughed so much in a very long time, it was really funny and they were so good," she said. "It was a really lovely evening and they were so proud and so excited as they were each called up on stage to get their Oscars.”

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Martina said Liam made a short video with John O'Meara (21) about a year or two ago which was a take on Johnny English that was uploaded to YouTube and it was 'excellent'.

"I said to John's mother Emer, could we do something similar and that is how it started, Liam is such a professional and the finished product is so good. It was one of the most amazing nights of my life, let alone theirs," she stated.

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Emer's daughter Megan helped to produce and she said they said they were very proud and very thankful to the principal of Ardagh NS Theresa Kearney for letting them use the school.

The fundraiser collected over €2,800 for the Longford-Westmeath branch that will be used to improve the lives of their members with Down Syndrome and they are thankful to all those who supported it.

The group also thanked Maguires Hair, Esquires, Fabiani, Baxters Chemist, Spirit Clothing, Skakelums Chemist, Rapid Print, Omp Ltd, Sweeney Architects, Fenelon Engineering, Farrell Stationery, Fresh Today, O Brien Accountants, JR Spares, Butler Manufacturing, Quinn Insurance, EJ Gearty & Co, Paul and Vincent, Flynn and Lynch, Glennon Brothers and Core Components.

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