The boys in Teach Mary and Manus had a most wonderful view last night from their bedroom windows.  At about 10 o'clock when we left them, there was a fiery red sun setting over the bay and as we teachers walked down the mountain a cuckoo called out - an old Irish symbol of the arrival of summer.
Certainly, the sun followed us yesterday from east to north west - we arrived in Anagaire under a blue sky with only the occasional wispy cloud floating by.  Even at the end of our long journey everyone was in great spirits - the chat and the singing (fueled by industrial quantities of sugar) never relented for one moment on the buses!
We were deposited at the college around four thirty, the bags strewn all over the lawn while the college staff went about the unenviable task of sorting the children into their houses and making sure they had the correct bags. There were a few hiccups - bags left on buses and the inevitable lost jumpers -  but eventually they were on their way to their rooms and a good meal.
Back at the college at seven o'clock we all tried our hand (and legs!) at Irish dancing but there was plenty of time for a bit of football out in the fresh air and the sharing of news in huddled groups. About nine o'clock they headed back to their houses and we three teachers hitched a ride on the bus to the furthest house located about 3km from the college and meandered back on foot visiting all the houses in between. (My fitbit tells me we did 22,500 steps yesterday.)
In the houses we chatted with the children, smoothed out one or two issues on rooms (not all the rooms were configured as we had been told) and very importantly doubled checked that all dietary and other information had been passed on to the Bean an Tí. They're kids - so there were a few grumbles about creaky beds and tooth paste in the sink - so you can fully expect them to appreciate you more than ever when they get home.
Inevitably there was a bit of homesickness last night and a few tears.  We had to do a late night visit about 11 o'clock to sooth a couple of gentle souls but rest assured parents all were smiling this morning.
This afternoon we are heading to Dún Lewey - there is internet there so hopefully I can post during the afternoon.