Tuesday, 31st May 2016

Postcards from Anagaire

 

 

The second day is a great leveller.  Things are not so new and awkward any more.  Expectations and reality find common ground and everyone settles down.  The next phase begins - befriending students in other schools and having some good, old fashioned fun.

There are four other schools here with us in Anagaire - over one hundred and fifty 10 to 12 year olds in total! (The population of the village is just over 250.)  Mixed in with the eclectic range of global accents from St. Kilian's are those of children from an all Irish school in Buncrana in Donegal, a small group of students from Manorhamilton in Leitrim, another from Grangegorman in Dublin and a group from Dunshaughlin in Co. Meath. But language or accent is no barrier and the 6th class children in particular are making new friends.
We had a fantastic Tuesday afternoon in Dun Lewey which is situated in a stunningly beautiful valley called the Poison Glen.  There are a few different stories about how a heavenly place became known by such a wicked name.  The first explanation is a simple one.  The Heavenly Glen is An Gleann Nemhe in Irish which one English cartographer transcribed as An Gleann Neimhe.  By substituting Neimhe for Nemhe he gave it an entirely opposite meaning - the Poison Glen.

The rhododendrons are in bloom in the Poison Valley.

Another explanation is more fantastical.  In ancient times a giant called Balór, the one eyed king of Tory, was murdered here by his own grandson. As he died Balór's eye split open, seeping out poison which tainted the valley for ever!
Among the teachers here in the Coláiste is a TG4 actor who likes to tell tales of Balór and other Irish legends (some entirely of his own making!) to the children. Naturally, the children have responded in kind with creepy stories of bedroom ghosts who whisper in their ears and open doors noiselessly. With the luck of the Irish they are, of course, experiencing friendly ghosts only!  His name is Jimmy apparently.
Today, after morning school,  we are off on the ferry to Arranmore Island.  The children probably have notions of a sleek Stena Line passenger ship so stay tuned! We'll be sailing from Burtonport for a short but magical island hop through a sheltered stretch of the North Atlantic.

Some islands are inhabited by cattle only!

Tonight it's the talent show and we have multiple entries from St. Kilian's ranging from all singing, all dancing soloists and groups, a card trickster or two, saxophone, violin, trombone and guitar players, gymnasts and much more - we have a fabulous night in store. Many times in the past we have carried off the top prize, so fingers crossed!
They are all very well behaved and have received many compliments from their hosts and hostesses. Of course there have been one or two spats - they are children after all - and about the usual things: football, lost earphones and shoes disappearing into a bog (maybe not so usual!).  We have sorted them out with little more than a few well timed words and meaningful looks (the kind teachers are really good at).  Some room configurations were different to what we had planned so that too had to be tackled.  Finding out that 5 into 4 doesn't work when it comes to divvying out the bunk beds can be disappointing but it's not the end of the world - there are few waking minutes spent in the bedrooms without your friends from other bedrooms being able to drop in.  And it's part of the reason we're here - being independent and growing up outside the school gates.
On the other hand, it is truly heartening to witness children who don't always come to the fore in the classroom, either academically or socially, showing how independent, friendly, caring and inspiring they are in real life situations. They have organised their rooms, shown respect and friendship to all and generally just set about enjoying themselves!
We visited them all in their houses again yesterday, striding up dale and down valley and enjoying the breathtaking views.

Fifth class girls have a stunning view of the bay from Teach Ann Marie.

And - call this scientific research if you like -  they really can survive without a phone permanently in hand and one eye fixed on a blue tinged screen.  'I wish I had my phone!' is a remark we have heard once or twice but generally they are too busy to care.
This blog too has gone global!  Almost 500 views so far with family and friends looking in from Ireland, of course, but also Germany, the U.K., the U.S., Russia, Poland, Serbia, Denmark, Belgium and France. On our last trip the blog had over 3,500 views..........
Last word; Fitbit count 28,500 steps! Expect new, sleeker versions of us teachers by the end of the week!