This is some of our pupils work.
This is an interview which Gobnait Ní Shúilleabháin (6th. class) did with her grandaunt, Mary O' Sullivan, Cahersiveen.
1912-1920.
They say your school days are meant to be the best days of your life. True, but that was not always the case. In the early 1900s, in my grandaunt's time she had to get up very early indeed, to walk two and a half miles to school. Every day all the girls used to wear a hair-ribbon and a dress and the boys used to wear short pants. Yet every boy and girl had one thing in common. They wore no shoes or socks or no jewellery. She, along with my grandmother, my other grandaunts and granduncles used to go to Emlaghdrinagh School. They had to walk because they were no bicycles. But I suppose even if there was no family would be able to afford ten bicycles. Most subjects were through Irish i.e. History, Geography, Catechism, Arithmetic and of course Irish itself. Girls were taught knitting and sewing and girls and boys were taught Irish dancing. The teachers brought the pupils to a feis in Ballinskelligs every year. Most children won a lot of medals every year. When they were confirmed they had to know the Irish catechism questions , penny Catechism questions in English and Catechism notes by heart . They had cocoa at school during the winter. They also had white bread and jam. The pupils parents had to supply a horse rail of turf every winter and every pupil would bring two sods of turf every day. Every day they would play hide and seek for an hour in the playground. There was no football back then. School finished at three o’ clock .An inspector would examine the children every year. Mr. Thomas Reilly from Scarrif was the principal and Ms. Conway from Reenroe was the other teacher.
This is a piece written by Bridget Houlihan(5th. class) after our recent trip to Derrynane House
I was very excited that we were going to Derrynane House. When the day finally came I was delighted. Anthony McGillycuddy and Cornelius Murphy drove us in their busses. We left at 9:35 and we arrived at 10:15.
We were introduced to Evelyn Breen and James O’Shea, by our teachers. First we went to see a slide show. It was all about Daniel O’Connell. It told us that he was born in Carhan, Cahersiveen, on the 6th of August 1775 and that he went to live with his uncle “Hunting Cap.” He went to school in France to study law. He saw the violence of the French Revolution and he was so disgusted by the bloodshed that he witnessed he became a pacifist. He returned to Ireland when his education was completed. He became a barrister and was elected M.P. for Clare. He married his cousin Mary O’Connell in 1802. They had five sons and three daughters. He was challenged to a duel with John d’Esterre. D’Esterre shot and missed. O’Connell was on target and killed d’Esterre. From then on Daniel O’Connell wore a black glove on his hand when he was at mass. Daniel O’Connell fought for Catholic Emancipation at the time Ireland was ruled by Britain. Catholics were treated like second class citizens. O’Connell wanted the Catholics to be treated fairly. He fought for Catholic Emancipation in Westminster but he became ill and died before he succeeded. His motto was “Ciall agus Neart.” He earned the title “The Liberator.” When the slide show was finished we were divided into two groups. Evelyn guided the group I was in.We went into the Dining room. There was a big table and a piano. There was silver on the table that he had received from friends. After that we went up stairs, there was his hat, a snuffbox, dress sword and rings, bracelets and chains with Daniel O’Connell’s picture in them. Then we went into the drawing room where there were portraits of his children on the walls. There was also a table made of ash and a fireplace. Then we saw his books, his death bed ( Genoa ) his duelling pistol and black glove. After that we went to see his private chapel. There was a big seat at the back of the chapel. Daniel O’Connell used that seat to sit on when he was at mass. The seats were made from driftwood. After that we went to see his carriage that he used when he had been released from prison. The carriage was made from velvet and gold dust.
Then we visited the gardens. There were all different kinds of shrubs, flowers, trees and plants. James O' Shea showed us around and told us all the different kinds of plants. After that we walked across the Derrynane beach and then we went to Derrynane Abbey. We visited Mary O’Connell’s grave and his children's graves. Then we went back to the busses and they brought us back to school. I really enjoyed myself a lot and I would like to go again sometime. I also learnt a lot about Daniel O’Connell.
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Art work from Mrs. Flynn's
classes
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Tragedy at White Hart Lane
I awoke to the familiar buzzing sound of my alarm clock. This morning was different though and I didn't stay in bed for a second .I hopped out full of excitement and happiness. My brother and I were going to England to watch a Tottenham versus Manchester United game.
We boarded the plane in Cork and waved good bye to my homeland for a whole weekend. Touching down in England was a great relief as I was very nervous flying but did not want to seem afraid in front of my older brother. Our other brother Mickey collected us at the airport. That night I could not sleep, full of excitement at the thought of seeing the football game.
The crowds were gathering. We stood in the long queue. Eventually it was our turn. I snapped the tickets from the attendant's hand .We took up our places in the stand .The game kicked off at three thirty p.m. The cheers and roars echoed through the grounds. The excitement was wonderful. Then the songs from the fans got louder and louder. My brothers and I joined in. I was loving every minute of this game.
Then suddenly over on the left-hand side of the stand, the crowds of fans were shouting abuse at each other. They started hitting and kicking each other. What started out to be an enjoyable game turned into a huge brawl! The security guards tried to stop the fighting but it was useless. At this stage everyone was running towards the exit trying to escape from the crowds. People were getting squashed and walked on. My heart was beating fast, I was scared. What if I got squashed? What if my brothers were separated from me? For the first time I wished I was at home .I could see the red exit sign. I prayed to God to keep us safe. We ran as fast as we could. Eventually we got to the exit and squeezed our way out. We were out safe and sound. Tears rolled down my face with relief. It was a terrible scene that day in White Hart Lane and it sure was a near thing for my brothers and me.
Author: Aidan O Sullivan(6th. class), Kilmakerin
Cois Trá An Samhradh seo chaite chuamar go dtí an trá in aice leis an Gailf Chúrsa . Bhi an lá go hálainn agus ní raibh puth as aer. Shroicheamar an trá ag leathuair tar éis a haon. Thug Fionán brioscaí leis , thug Micheál buidéal oráiste leis. Thug Pádraig an radio leis . Thug Luke an liathróid trá leis . Ansin rinneamar caisleán gainimh le buicéad, sluasaid agus gaineamh. Nuair a bhí na caisleán gainimh déanta againn chuireamar ár éadaí snámha orainn . Tar éis tamaill bhí an ghrian ag dul faoi agus bhí an t-uisce ag eirí fuar. Chuamar amach as an uisce. Ansin chuamar ag bailiú sliogán. Chuaigh Luke taobh thiar de na carraigeacha agus chonaic se bosca adhmaid. Ghlaoigh se orainn. Ritheamar go dtí na carraigeacha agus chonaiceamar an bosca adhmaid ach bhí glas air. Fuair Pádraig cloch chun é a bhriseadh. Bhris Pádraig an glas agus d'oscail Micheál an bosca. Cad a bhí istigh ach sliogáin agus clocha beaga bána. Bhí an-sport againn ar an lá sin. Ansin chuamar abhaile agus d'insíomar an scéal d'ár dtuismitheoirí.Mícheál Ó Sé a scríobh