Helping raise spirits in Nenagh

After the first week off school Alex and Brian Ley were talking on FaceTime to their grandparents in Bray. Their Nana suggested that they go out to the Green the following Sunday and play a few tunes on their violins for the neighbours. Without any cajoling or coercion, the boys were very enthusiastic about going out and bringing a bit of cheer to their cocooning neighbours. This kind of community spirit is not uncommon in this particular housing estate where they have annual summer bar-b-ques and meet for Christmas drinks and finger food in the nearby Dapp Inn. The boys practised every day and compiled a playlist encompassing classical music, traditional music, guitar pieces and tin whistle.
While the weather was cold on that first Sunday, it was dry and the neighbours came out in force to see the 11-year-old Alex, with his eight -year-old brother, Brian. The boys played for approximately a half an hour and received a rapturous round of applause from the edge of every driveway. Neighbours had a smile and a wave for one another, which lifted everyone's spirits.  
The response was so positive that their mum, Claire, sent out a message on the residents' WhatsApp group to invite anyone interested to come out again two weeks later, on Easter Sunday. The wet weather did not deter the two young boys, however, and they performed on Easter Monday instead, to an even bigger number and after that concert some neighbours stayed out for a little while to have a chat from a distance and compare stories of life in isolation. This contact was some people's only interaction face-to-face since Government restrictions have been put into place.
Last weekend marked the third concert that the Ley brothers performed and each time they change up the playlist a little so as to keep people entertained and to prevent the rust from settling in with a variety of pieces. Of course their music teachers, Lisa Duffy and Liz Gaughen are delighted to hear that the boys are practicing and performing on a regular basis. Some of the pieces that they play are from the repertoire they have from the Gaelscoil's Banna Ceoil. The sense of community spirit is tangible and this event is a highlight of many of the residents' weeks. They're already looking forward to the next one!