School Trips and Visits by St. Mary's Cobh Convent National School

St. Mary's, Cobh, Co. Cork

Field Trips

Water Tower

Heritage Centre

Cathedral

Library

Museum

Fourth Class Trip
to the Water Tower

RANG IV

Homepage of St. Mary's, Cobh Convent National School

Sign Guestbook

Read Guestbook

Our local field trip this year is to Cobh Water Tower at Carrignafoy. Our water supply comes from a lake in Tibbotstown near Carrigtwohill. If everything goes according to plan our new water tower will be completed by December 1999.

Did you know that there is only a three-hour reserve of water which is very inadequate should the water supply from Tibbotstown become unavailable? With the new water tower, Cobh will have a 24-hour back up supply. Areas of our town having problems with water supply will be catered for adequately and a general improvement in capacity will be evident. On our nature trail we will identify:

(a) Evidence of pollution.

(b) Name and behaviour of birds, animals and mini beasts.

(d) Record sounds heard.

(e) Find a large stone in soil turn it. Record findings. Replace stone etc.

I hope you enjoyed hearing about our field trip. Please e-mail with comments or hints to further our investigations or if you would like to receive a copy of our Water Tower Trail.

Be Aware Show You Care

LOOK AFTER THE WORLD, IT IS IN OUR HANDS

The New Water Tower is now constructed and in service. Read more_HERE

The Queenstown Story

In April the 6th class students went to the Cobh Heritage Centre as part of their history course on the Famine and Emigration. Here, the girls discovered Cobh's special connections with the ill-fated Titanic and they explored the conditions on board the early emigrant ships including the dreaded "coffin ship".

They experienced life aboard a convict ship leaving Cove for Australia. The story of shipping, from tall ships to the majesty and splendour of the great ocean liners of the 20th Century, was explored.
The horror of World War l and the sinking of the 'Lusitania' off Cork Harbour was relived.

They also studied the story of Annie Moore.

A very enjoyable visit was had by all. Cobh Heritage Centre - well worth a visit

Top

Not to be missed - Cobh Cathedral

As part of our local history study we, in Rang lV pay a visit to St. Colman's Cathedral. This beautiful Cathedral overlooks the town and harbour. The Cathedral stands on the site of the former Parish Church which was taken down in 1868. The foundation stone of the Cathedral, a huge limestone rock, was quarried at Shanballa near Aghada. It is laid at a depth of 14 feet under yard level. The preparation of the site involved moving the roadway, which ran through the area which new forms the base of the spire, out to its present position. The style of architecture is French Gothic and most of the outside is made of granite. It was designed by E.W. Pugin and G. C. Ashlin in 1868. It took 47 years to build 1868-1915 and when one considers the fact that the Diocese of Cloyne was still recovering from the Great Famine of 1845-1848 it took great courage and determination to start such a project.

Points of Interest:

1. The Carillon consists of 49 bells tuned to the accuracy of a single
vibration. Did you know that five smallest bells had neither names nor numbers. As part of the recent restoration and modernisation (1997 - 1998) they have been named after the four Evangelists and Blessed Ingatius Rice.

2. Two hundred feet above the ground is the largest bell, 3440kg in
weight and named St. Colman.

3. The West Front - (Location - Outside Front Door)
At the very top, 105 feet above ground level is St. Colman,
donated by Archbishop Croke of Cashel, first patron of the G.A.A.

4. The Stained Glass Windows in the northern aisle depict the
parables of Christ and those in the southern aisle depict the
miracles of Christ.

5. The High Altar was a present from the priests of the diocese to
Bishop McCarthy to mark his Golden Jubilee and ironically the
first Mass to be celebrated on it was his own Requiem Mass.
6. From the High Altar looking towards the rear of the Cathedral we
see the magnificent Rose Window which depicts St. John's vision of the throne of God as told in Apocalypse (4:1-11).

We could go on and on and on. During the summer months guides are available to give a detailed tour. We highly recommend a visit to our beautiful town of Cobh and St. Colman's Cathedral.

Top

Fifth Class Look Into The Past......

As part of their history programme fifth class visited our local museum. The students introduced two items of social, historical and maritime interest.

Maritime objects, such as model ships, photographs, creatures of the sea and a crest of the Cunard Line along with wartime artefacts, many of which were dredged from the harbour, can be seen. Other very interesting artefacts relating to butter making and printing are also on display.

Having completed their trip the girls received a student pack containing many activities that can be completed in the classroom.

A visit to our museum is indeed an enjoyable one for both students and teachers.

- Maybe you have a museum in your area that you would like to tell us about, e-mail us and let us know.

Top