Today we had a jam packed programme of events and activities organised to celebrate the end of our topic “Know your Ireland”. 🇮🇪
Our first visitor was Aoibhínn’s Dad, Barry.
Barry has a long, distinguished hurling career playing for his club Portaferry GAC and also County Down. In more recent times he has gone on to be a well respected referee throughout the area. Barry spoke to the children about how playing sport, in particular the GAA, improves physical health, mental health and enables young people to forge strong friendships with their peers.
Irish music and dance was next on the agenda with a special visit from well known fiddle player and teacher from Ards Ceoltás, Niall McClean. Niall played with Evan’s dad Liam (on the banjo), Evan on the concertina, Oscar on the bodhrán and Hannah accompanying on guitar. We all loved the session music and clapped along to reels and jigs as our four beautiful dancers Méabh, Aoibhínn, Isla and Brooke took to the floor.
We had worked up quite an appetite by this stage and were delighted to welcome Isla’s Granny Catherine who made us some delicious soda farls which we enjoyed with a bowl of Mrs Breen’s Irish stew.
Next Mrs Breen’s sister Mrs Fowler came to read us some Irish myths and legends. Our chat took us on a journey to Tír Na nÓg (Land of the forever Young) and ended up in the local area while we listened to stories of quite a mysterious fairy known as Pogey Flynn!!
Our next visitor was Seamus Ennis who showed us a PowerPoint all about the geography of Ireland and the Irish Language. We heard about local place names and surnames of which we were all familiar. He talked about how the GAA has been brought to different communities all over the world by Irish emigrants.
No better way to finish our day than to watch a video call all the way from Sydney Australia, given by a young Gael called Cian Mc Mullan from Co Derry who plays hurling for a club in Sydney.
A fantastic day for the children and adults alike in P6 and P7, as our very kind volunteers immersed us in Irish culture in an extremely tangible and engaging way. A massive Go raibh míle maith agat to them all!! ☘️
