Léargas at S.H.N.S., Newbawn

JF Kennedy Arboretum

On 5th March Ms. McGovern's 3rd & 4th Class went to the JF Kennedy Arboretum. Dedicated to the memory of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, President of the United States from 1960 to 1963, the Arboretum is a park dedicated to plants and trees.

It covers 252 hectares (623 acres) on the southern slopes and summit of Slievecoilte (pro-nounced shl-eeeve - kwee-cha...and taken from the Irish for "forested mountain). It contains 4,500 types of trees and shrubs from all temperate regions of the world. There are 200 forest plots grouped by their  continents.

There is a special feature called the "Ericaceous Garden" which has 500 different rhododendrons, and many varieties of azaleas and heathers), dwarf conifers, hedges, ground covers and climbing plants.

The lake is the most popular part of the Arboretum, and it attracts all types of waterfowl.

All the children (and adults) had a super day at the Arboretum as can be seen from the gallery. Click on the link below.

Fethard Lifeboat Station

On 30th March we went on a tour to the Fethard Lifeboat Station. At the lifeboat station we were shown all the equipment , walkie-talkies and the lifeboat. They told us the prices of the equipment and the lifeboat they use cost €43000.

The lifeboat they use a D-class lifeboat. It can be used 6 - 10 kilometers off shore. It saves twice as much lives as any of the bigger boats e.g the Trent. On the way we passed the memorial for the 9 lifeboat crew members that died trying to save the crew of the schooner ship the “Mexico”. The lifeboat was called the “Helen Blake”.

Two pupils in Poulfur N.S are the great-grandchildren of one of the crew members of the Mexico disaster. At the lifeboat station they showed us how they communicate with each other from the lifeboat to the lifeboat station and the frequencies.

Click on the "Mexico" for an account of the disaster.

Hook Head Lighthouse

Earlier this year we went to get a tour of the Hook Lighthouse. Our tour guide was called Kevin. At ground floor there was a replica light that is in lighthouse on the coast of Mayo. At the first floor he told us that’s where the lighthouse keeper lived with his/her family for 2 months and then he/she moved to another lighthouse.

On the second floor he said the red on the wall was cow’s blood, The monks used it as a monastery. On the third floor he let us go onto the balcony. After that we had our lunch at the café

Click on the lighthouse for a photo gallery.

Secret Valley Farm

On Friday 8th May Ms. McGovern's Class visited the Secret Valley Farm. An account of the day will follow, but you can click on the link below for a photo gallery of the day. Special mention and thanks to Samuel's Dad Tony for his photography skills on the day.

Click on the thumbnail for a photo gallery.

Rock Pooling in Tramore

Even though Wexford is a maritime county we had to visit our near neighbours in Waterford to explore our coastline in safety. We had to pick a day when the tide and the weather would allow us explore Tramore's shoreline in comfort.

When we left Newbawn the weather was dull but dry but by the time we had reached Tramore there was a light mist. We met with our guide, Grace, in the Red Cottage and she told us how to walk safely across the rocks and pools. She told us to be particularly careful that day as it was wet.

She also told us that she was with Greenpeace before she went to Oceanics School.We first walked along the beach until we came to the rocks. Then we went on the rocks and started too looked in the little pools of water. We all found lots of little creatures that we seen before. Lots of us got wet in the water some of us ran through a deep puddle of water they though it wasn’t as deep and they got wet from hip to toe.

We spent about two and half hours exploring the various pools and puddles. It was really fun and I really enjoyed it. I would go again and for me the best part was learning about all the different sea creatures while walking along all the different types of rock-pools. I would definitely go again. The gallery of what we saw is available below and does not include the "Barney" ball and hoola-hoop found washed up by some of the boys. (SA-6th)

Click for the Gallery from our Rock-pooling.

The Dunbrody Famine Ship

We went on the replica of the “Dunbrody” famine ship which is permanently docked at the Quayside in New Ross. In the 19th century, the original “Dunbrody” brought Irish people all the way across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States. Many of these people never wanted to leave Ireland but because of famine and the dream of a better life many Irish people took the chance of this long and arduous journey.

The “Dunbrody” was considered a good ship for its time. It could take about 300 passengers and only three or four of all of the 300 passengers died. That tragic statistic was good compared to the other famine ships.

The replica was built in recent years and it has an engine so that the ship does not fully rely on the wind. The ship has two floors under the deck, a floor with the passengers and a floor for luggage. When we visited the replica we saw the bell which is the only remaining artifact from the original ship. We also saw the captain’s cabin, the bunks in which the many steerage passengers were cramped; we saw where the crew stayed. The crew were in the front of the ship which was the worst part because the front was where the waves hit the ship first.

It cost £25 which was a lot at that time. Not many could afford it and many of the people who arrived in America were penniless as a result of paying for their very expensive trip to their new lives
 

Click for the Gallery from "The Dunbrody.".

The Irish National Heritage Park

We went to the Heritage Park in Wexford where we got a guided tour and painted different designs on shields. On the tour we were guided around by our tour guide we also had Dutch teachers with us. Our school is involved in a “Léargas” project with two Dutch schools and two English schools. It was a totally new and enjoyable experience for them.

We painted our shields first after that we went into a special room where we watched a movie about the Park after that we went into the park. There we saw different types of houses from the past. We then saw a circle of stones. Mystery has always surrounded these types of "structure" but it is thought that they were built with the solstices in mind and as a place where ancient peoples worshipped (possibly the sun).

We also were shown different types of burial chambers including a dolmen and tomb where you were put in a crouched position and laid to rest along with couple of their belongings. The same applied for the dolmen where you were given a couple of your belongings for use “in the after-life.”

Later we went to a farm with a ring shaped structured wall for protection with different types of buildings scattered around it also had a trap door for escape when needed we were then shown a old time mill and “fulacht fia” and finally we saw a Viking longboat.
All in all it is a great way to see “a whistle-stop” tour of Irish history in one day. (BB & GB - 6th)
 

Click for the Gallery from "The Heritage Park.".