UH/1270

TO SWIM WITH DOLPHINS

A Musical Tribute to Jolene Briege Marlow 18th February, 1981 - !5th August, 1998
This day fortnight (24th) will see the launch of what will, undoubtedly, be a very touching tribute to teenage Omagh Bomb victim Jolene Marlow. At a ceremony in St. Joseph's Hall, Omagh, at 8.00 p.m. the Loreto grammar school choir will join with Father Brian D'Arcy and others, to launch a 15 track album commemorating that extraordinary young lady's life.
The album which features the Convent Choir and soloists and musicians from the Loreto Music Department, was largely conceived of by a close family friend who, working behind the scenes, brought the idea of a tribute album to fruition.
IN JOLENE'S WORDS
"I'm really glad things are working out for you. I really admire you Colette, you've achieved everything you set out to do." Thus wrote a then 14-year-old Jolene Marlow in the closing lines of her letter of Wednesday, 23rd July, 1995 to one of her dearest and closest friends. She continued, "I only hope that when I'm older I'll have the courage to be like you. There are two things I really want to do, one is to become a marine biologist and the other is to swim with dolphins........ that would be Paradise."
Jolene's own words give this new 15-track album, performed by Senior & Junior Choirs, soloists and musicians of the Music Dept. of Loreto Grammar School, Omagh, its title. The CD was recorded at the state-of-the-art 'Cuan' Recording Studios in Spiddal, Co. Galway as well as in St. Mary's Hall, Omagh. It is accompanied by a 32-page, full-colour CD-booklet, which focuses on Jolene's brief life, its highlights and the things and people she loved most. Recording took place over several months, commencing in the late winter of 1998/1999. The project was coordinated and managed by Enniskillen-born Ciaran Mulhern, with whom Jolene worked until 15th August, 1998, the day of her tragic death.
Jolene Briege Marlow, daughter of Bridie & Joe Marlow, was the eldest of a family of five two girls and three boys.
A GIFTED STUDENT
A very gifted student, Jolene attended the Loreto Convent Grammar School in Omagh for seven years. She completed her A-Level year there, obtaining high grades, which would have taken her to the University of Ulster in Jordanstown. This was quite an achievement for one so young. Jolene had gone right through Grammar School a year younger than her classmates. Her friends describe her as having been confident, mature, pleasant, friendly, responsible, dependable, popular, outgoing, and, quite simply, good fun to be with.
During her years at school, Jolene received many awards, both in the areas of education and sport. She enjoyed considerable success at County, Ulster and All Ireland levels. Her great love for sport understandably extended beyond the boundaries of Loreto. She played camogie
for the Parish of Eskra, receiving the Most Promising Player of the Year Award in 1997. Jolene was a highly-regarded member of St. Macartan's Gaelic football teams, at both Minor and Senior levels. On 8th August, 1998, wearing the maroon and amber of St. Macartan's, she proudly held
high the County Championship Cup, the fulfilment of yet another of her many ambitious dreams. Just one week later to the day, Jolene Briege Marlow's young and promising life was cruelly brought to an end through a mindless act of terrorism perpetrated in Market Street in the town of Omagh, Co. Tyrone on Saturday, 15th August, 1998 at 3.10 p.m.
LIFE CUT SHORT
There can be no doubt in the minds and hearts of those privileged to have touched, and to have been touched by, her life, just who Jolene Marlow was and what she stood for, or what she experienced on her brief journey. Few in this life are so patently honest as Jolene was, or wear their heart so openly and proudly on their sleeve as Jolene did. Take her many dreams, passions, hopes and aspirations together, and we are presented with a vision of how this life really should be lived. We are invited to become concerned about the world we live in and to see and reach out beyond ourselves. Jolene's qualities, enthusiasms and triumphs were an unfailingly upbeat celebration of a life lived to the full.
Laid to rest at the Cemetery adjoining St. Patrick's Church in Eskra, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, Jolene's headstone of black marble bears a final, brief message made up of four lines of simple verse, secured for all time in letters of gold, from loved ones who mourn the loss of a friend, a leader, a giver and a champion:
"Rest in Peace Dear Jolene
And Thanks For All You've Done
We Pray That God Has Given You
The Crown You've Truly Won"
"...to swim with dolphins" is Jolene's hour. It is indestructible, it is beyond the reach of the hand of man, it is here to stay, it is forever, "...to swim with dolphins" is for us all. It is a musical panorama, it is everything music has to offer, nothing has been left out, says, Ciaran Mulhern of 'Jolene Productions'.
THE MUSICIANS
"It is a tribute to a gifted, vivacious and stunningly beautiful young woman. It is the combined effort of a devoted team of individuals dedicated to securing Jolene's ultimate success. They have worked indefatigably on creating and capturing this unique moment. It is the product of a magnificently talented Gerard Bradley, Strabane, Musical Director for the occasion and teacher of Music at Loreto Grammar School, Omagh, who so ably guided and supervised his many young and gifted contributors from Loreto Omagh's Music Department throughout this daunting project."
Mr Mulhern continues; "From the opening moments we are captivated from the outset with a powerful choral rendition by the Senior Choir of Lennon & McCartney's well-known "Yesterday". A highly professional performance of Trisha Yearwood's "How Do I Live" follows Lorraine Coll and Elaine Kelly excel in their interpretation of the very talented Gianna Cassidy's complex arrangement of this number, which was one of Jolene's favourite pieces of music in the days and weeks before her death. This gives it an infinitely deep significance and very special place in this musical collection.
"The talent, versatility and professional brilliance of the Senior Choir - recent finalists in UTV's Choir of the Year - thrill and inspire throughout what has to be viewed as an ambitious undertaking. "Yesterday", "Some Enchanted Evening", "I Once Loved a Lad", "The Very Thought of You" and Duke Ellington's "Satin Doll" cover a vast expanse of musical terrain, each nonetheless impresses comfortably and in equal measure."
A BEAUTIFUL FINISHED PRODUCT
He went on to praise Loreto's traditional musicians who "Skilfully directed and supervised by a still very young and promising Paula Daly, receive and seize the opportunity to contribute memorably to this unique experience."
Individual contributions and performances stand out, such as that of Aoibheann McEnhill, with her own composition "Footprints". Gianna Cassidy's mature and highly complex arrangement of "How Do I Live", her warm and comforting rendition of Beth Nielsen-Chapman's "Say Goodnight" our dedication on this album to Jolene's sister, Nikki - and her contribution to an ambitious acappella interpretation of the All Saints number "Never Ever", in which she teams up with Siobhan McCrystal, Elaine Kelly and Sarah McGale are highlights. Elaine and Sarah will, no doubt, in the opinion of Aileen Moynagh, composer of "A Song for Jolene", have 'delivered' on the occasion. They carry Aileen's four-and-a-half minute piece with ease, ably supported by Aileen on backing vocals and a high-calibre chorus comprising Niamh McMahon, Gianna Cassidy, Siobhan McCrystal and Ciara McGlinchey. Ciara also features on flute for the same track accompanied by Gerard Bradley on keyboard strings and Gianna Cassidy on viola. Ciara's solo piano-performance of the haunting "Ah, Sweet Dancer" by Michael O Suilleabhain is outstanding.
The Junior Choir's performance of "Rhythm of Life", the last track but one on the album, is exhilarating. It is a celebration, and appropriately so. It signals hope, optimism and enthusiasm, and as such constitutes a fitting contribution to the truly unique occasion, musical event and milestone that "to swim with dolphins" has become for those who had the privilege of participating in its creation.
Concluding Mr Mulhern comments; "But all of this is, and remains, Jolene Briege Marlow's hour, and of this we are gently reminded when the makers of music return in the closing seconds of her album, albeit only briefly to "How Do I Live", the song she so loved. Permit me to take this opportunity of expressing my sincerest thanks to all who accompanied me on this very special journey."
The launch of the 15-track album will take place on Thursday 24th June, 8.00 p.m.
in St. Joseph's Hall, Omagh. Guest Compere for the event will be Fr. Brian D'Arcy who will be accompanied by Musical Director Gerard Bradley, Loreto Grammar School, Omagh and the Organisers & Prompters 'Jolene' Productions, Enniskillen.
The launch and performance is strictly ticket only. Tickets are available from Loreto Grammar School, Omagh, priced Adults £4.00, Concession £2.50. The album will be available for purchase on the night and all profits will be donated to charity.
AVAILABILITY
Available from 21st June, 1999 the CD is priced £14.99 whilst the cassette is MC £9.99. To find out the name of your nearest stockist, please call one of the following numbers from Monday to Saturday between 9.30 a.m. and 7.30 p.m.
N. Ireland: 01662-24 17 17 Rep. of Ire.: 1890-200 568 or 091-56 90 66
Mail Order (please allow £1.50 for postage & packaging) Open Ear Productions Ltd., Main Street, Oughterard, Co. Galway, Tel/Fax (0)91-55 28 16. Credit card enquiries are welcome.