St. Marnock's National School, Portmarnock, Co. Dublin

'Rhythm Rulz' performed by Marnock's Music Group (Senior Infants – Sixth Class) Primary Finalist, 2026 Waltons RTÉ lyric fm Music for Schools Competition The school began work on their entry with small groups of students brainstorming ideas around the theme. These coalesced into two: 1. Rhythm rules that we follow 2. Leaving these rules aside to make our own rules when making music They also looked to nature and the influence of the school’s seaside location. The sea provides its own ‘pulse’ through the natural rhythms of waves and tides. The group then chose songs that represented their ideas of rules that we follow and rules that we break free from. They looked at the work of graffiti artists who break the rules of traditional painting and represented with their painted graffiti slogan, 'Rhythm Rulz'. They also decided that the sea would be visually represented by moving silks and two boats on either side. Finally, the teachers encouraged improvisation in the group, and their early sessions included 'jamming' and exploring material suggested by the performers. Their original music, used to link the whole piece together, is structured around the two contrasting themes. It began with a chord progression suggested by two of the students, with brainstormed lyrics and a melody developed in their jam sessions. Echoes, harmonies and accompaniment were also developed over the weeks. They then decided on existing songs that both represented their themes and worked with their original material. 'I Want to Break Free' by Queen was suggested by the group's guitarist and vocalist. They then chose the traditional song 'Dúlamán' for its strong rhythm, because it contrasted so well with the previous song and because it was so appropriate for a school by the sea. (Dúlamán is a type of seaweed in Irish.) After 'Dúlamán', strong drumbeats introduce the song ‘Believer’ by Imagine Dragons. The song was a particular favourite with the group and lyrically supported the journey of the piece: ‘Don’t you tell me what I can be. I'm the one at the sail, I’m the master of my sea’. The piece concludes with a return to their original themes. St. Marnock’s National School has participated in Music for Schools before and won Second Prize in 2025.