Rath N.S. Cultural Exchange Gathering.
Rath N.S recently held a very special “Gathering Event”. The power of the pen was reinforced once again.
What started out as a simple pen pal writing project in fifth and sixth class culminated into a visit from twenty nine German children,
to Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Eoin, Rath. They were accompanied by five teachers.
It all began a few years ago when teachers Ms Mary Walsh (Rath) and Mr Philip Oprong Spenner (Hamburg) set up a writing project between the two schools. Pupils wrote letters regularly, exchanging information about hobbies, schools, sports, music, languages, news etc.
As a result the students and teachers in Stadtteilschule Am Heidberg hamburg became very interested and decided to visit Ireland. They “fund raised” to cover some of the costs of the trip to Ireland by creating and selling cakes, postcards, bracelets.etc they received some sponsorship from local businesses in Germany too.
Principal, Mrs Maria Davis gave a “cead míloe fáilte” to the visiting pupils and teachers. Her class entertained the guests with a
repertoire of Irish and German tin whistle tunes. One child actually sang a song in German!
Ms Ryan and her Junior and Senior Infants class sang songs and action rhymes, and did the “wiggle dance”. The German visitors joined in the
“wiggling” and fun too! Ms Howell’s first and second class proudly displayed Irish poetry and songs. The school hall was a magnificent display of German and Irish colours.
Ms Walsh said that Ireland may be experiencing a lack of “monetary” wealth at present but it is certainly very “rich” in culture ie. Music, dance, literature, folklore etc. her Fifth and Sixth class performed the Legend of Diarmuid and Gráinne through drama, music and dance. In return the German children did a modern dance for the whole school and released balloons into the air.
The gathering was a great success for all. Local storyteller and historian, Mr Paddy Heaney related stories from the Slieve BloomMountains. Mrs Nora Carroll introduced the visitors to “Set Dancing”. Both Irish and German students performed an Irish dance together in the school yard.
Sport featured very significantly in the gathering event too. It was a sight to behold. German and Irish children hurling in the school pitch. Mr. John Leahy taught the German visitors basic hurling skills. Indeed some of the Drumcullen/Eglish pupils remarked that the Germans were
fairly nifty at striking and catching the sliotar, not to mention “jab lifting or rising the ball” !!!. The pupils also played games of soccer and basketball together.
At lunch time some past pupils attending local secondary schools returned to Rath N.S. to meet up with their penpals. Cards and friendship bracelets were exchanged.
All in all “The Rath N.S. Cultural Exchange Gathering” was a huge success. It was most interesting to observe how pupils from a huge city school in Hamburg interacted and integrated with those from a small rural school in the heart of Ireland. Common interest in friendship, sport, music, dance and the children’ enthusiasm overcame the language barriers. As a result many long lasting memories and acquaintances will continue well into the future years.
Rath N.S recently held a very special “Gathering Event”. The power of the pen was reinforced once again.
What started out as a simple pen pal writing project in fifth and sixth class culminated into a visit from twenty nine German children,
to Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Eoin, Rath. They were accompanied by five teachers.
It all began a few years ago when teachers Ms Mary Walsh (Rath) and Mr Philip Oprong Spenner (Hamburg) set up a writing project between the two schools. Pupils wrote letters regularly, exchanging information about hobbies, schools, sports, music, languages, news etc.
As a result the students and teachers in Stadtteilschule Am Heidberg hamburg became very interested and decided to visit Ireland. They “fund raised” to cover some of the costs of the trip to Ireland by creating and selling cakes, postcards, bracelets.etc they received some sponsorship from local businesses in Germany too.
Principal, Mrs Maria Davis gave a “cead míloe fáilte” to the visiting pupils and teachers. Her class entertained the guests with a
repertoire of Irish and German tin whistle tunes. One child actually sang a song in German!
Ms Ryan and her Junior and Senior Infants class sang songs and action rhymes, and did the “wiggle dance”. The German visitors joined in the
“wiggling” and fun too! Ms Howell’s first and second class proudly displayed Irish poetry and songs. The school hall was a magnificent display of German and Irish colours.
Ms Walsh said that Ireland may be experiencing a lack of “monetary” wealth at present but it is certainly very “rich” in culture ie. Music, dance, literature, folklore etc. her Fifth and Sixth class performed the Legend of Diarmuid and Gráinne through drama, music and dance. In return the German children did a modern dance for the whole school and released balloons into the air.
The gathering was a great success for all. Local storyteller and historian, Mr Paddy Heaney related stories from the Slieve BloomMountains. Mrs Nora Carroll introduced the visitors to “Set Dancing”. Both Irish and German students performed an Irish dance together in the school yard.
Sport featured very significantly in the gathering event too. It was a sight to behold. German and Irish children hurling in the school pitch. Mr. John Leahy taught the German visitors basic hurling skills. Indeed some of the Drumcullen/Eglish pupils remarked that the Germans were
fairly nifty at striking and catching the sliotar, not to mention “jab lifting or rising the ball” !!!. The pupils also played games of soccer and basketball together.
At lunch time some past pupils attending local secondary schools returned to Rath N.S. to meet up with their penpals. Cards and friendship bracelets were exchanged.
All in all “The Rath N.S. Cultural Exchange Gathering” was a huge success. It was most interesting to observe how pupils from a huge city school in Hamburg interacted and integrated with those from a small rural school in the heart of Ireland. Common interest in friendship, sport, music, dance and the children’ enthusiasm overcame the language barriers. As a result many long lasting memories and acquaintances will continue well into the future years.
