Míle buíochas to everybody who came to join us in celebrating Proclamation Day in St Fergus’ on the 15th March 2016. It was a special day in the life of our country and a memorable day for the whole school community. We reflected on the past, thought about the present and imagined the future.

Preparations for the day began long ago, with staff and pupils embarking on project work and poetry and song singing based upon the theme of events of Easter Week 1916. These ranged from a beautiful Big Book telling the story of the Rising by Infants to a comical modern take on the week by local artist Fergal Mc Cormack. These beautiful projects and art work adorned the school building for all to see during the course of the evening. All pupils learned a range of songs, from “The Foggy Dew” to “Grace” and performed them with respect and gusto in equal measure.

The events started at 12:30 with pupils from the Infant room retelling the story of what happened in the GPO in rhyming verse. Each class then went on to represent the struggle for National independence through music and drama. Many songs we learned in school featured again such as “Ó Ró Sé Do Bheatha Bhaile”, “Mo Ghile Mear”, “A Nation Once Again” and “We’re On The One Road”. Fifth and Sixth Class beautifully retold the love story of the final hours of newly weds Joseph Mary Plunkett and Grace Gifford. There was hardly a dry eye in the room as Leo serenaded us all with his haunting version of “Grace”.

Dúirt Fr Crawford paidreacha os cionn ár mbratach náisiúnta roimh é a thógaint amach ag Adam Robb-an scoláire is sine sa scoil. Chuamar go léir amach agus d’árdaigh Liam Culhane agus Jack Connolly an bhratach ar an gcuaille bratacha. Rinne Liam an post chéanna caoga bliain ó shin agus ina dheanta bhí áintín Jack-Sally Connolly. Faraor, fuair Sally bás an bhliain seo chaite agus d’árdaigh Jack an Tricolour ina háit. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílís. Le cabhair Breean, ar an gconsairtín, chanamar go léir “Amhráin na bhFiann”. Bhí fíor bhród againn go léir an amhrán speisialta seo a chloisteáil chomh binn agus chomh díograíseach agus an bratach uaine, bán, agus flannbhuí a fheiceáil inár scoil.

Following this, Mr Tom Donovan unveiled our beautifully commissioned commemorative stone on the front lawn. The quote “…cherishing all of the children of the nation equally”, taken from the Proclamation of 1916, is the basis around which we pride ourselves in St Fergus’ National School. It is central to everything we do and every lesson we teach. We were delighted to welcome former Principal Mr John Anthony Culhane back to the school to plant our Rowan Tree (Mountain Ash) behind the stone. This native tree features in many Celtic Folklore tales and is valued for it’s mythical healing powers and for the Good Fairy who is said to live underneath it. The year round beauty of the tree can only add to our scenic surroundings. These two pieces will be central to our Garden of Tranquillity going forward. Eight pupils, one from each class, then released eight white balloons, signifying the peace that we are now lucky enough to experience in our own country.

Tea, coffee and treats for the adults were served by the ever ready Parents Council. The biggest treat was reserved for the pupils however. Many thanks to Glin Grub for sponsoring the delicious treats of pizza, chips, sausages and onion rings for the boys and girls of the school. No one was left hungry! Parents, grandparents and community members, browsed the school building and the effort put in by all did not go unnoticed. Old Leabhair Rolla were on display in one classroom and many old photographs and newspapers from long ago were perused.

As a memento of the day, each pupil received a commemorative medal with the school name and crest. We hope that they will be stored away and brought out on years to come with fond memories shared. Keeping along this theme, the school compiled a Time Capsule while will be opened “le cúnamh Dé” in the year 2016. We hope and pray that many of us will be around to celebrate that occasion!

Thank you to all who contributed in any way to this very special day in the life of our school. Tá súil againn go bhain sibh taitneamh as an tráthnóna agus go bhfuil sibh chomh bhródúil agus atáim faoi gach dalta agus an scoil.