School made me repress my creativity, says Bressie

The Irish education system focuses too much on academics at the expense of creativity, according to the star of RTÉ’s The Voice.

“Creativity is at the root of everything,” said singer-songwriter, Bressie who wants the culture shift in schools to continue.

“I actually had to repress my creativity in primary school because the particular school I was in didn’t celebrate it. It was something I almost felt embarrassed about, which was wrong.

“I was obsessed with music, yet I wasn’t allowed embrace that because it was seen as something that wasn’t important and ironically, it’s what I’ve made my career out of,” he said.

He felt his only creative outlet in St Mary’s CBS, Mullingar more than 20 years ago was “a top-class choir” run by Br Frank Crummey, who grounded his love of music.

“I owe him a lot,” said Bressie. “It’s amazing now that we’re opening our eyes to the importance of creativity.” He was speaking in Tullamore, Co Offaly at the launch of The Custodian, a novel written by eight sixth-class students from Durrow National School and their principal, Frank Kelly under the name DA O’Connor.

It’s the first novel written by a group of children to be published by an Irish publisher.

Educate.ie, based in Castleisland, Kerry expects to sell 100,000 copies of the book to young people and schools over the next three years, according to the company’s marketing manager, Jim McGann.

The Custodian, which is set in Offaly, deals with growing up, family and cyber-bullying and tells the story of Matt O’Connor, a descendant of the O’Connor’s of Durrow Abbey, whose father was killed by criminals seeking his family’s historic treasure.

Bressie congratulated the authors’ achievement: “I don’t think you should take it lightly; it’s a very hard thing to do.”

“The age of 12, 13, 14 is where you start realising where your passions [lie], and if it’s in writing, don’t let anyone tell you can’t do it. I remember back in my old school, Niall Horan being told that he shouldn’t bother being a musician, because it’s a waste of time.”

“Now, no mother or father can turn to their kids and say that,” he said.