Newsletter Northern Ireland

MONDAY 23rd MARCH

On the first day we all met in the hall of the hotel and we went to Tannaghmore Primary School in Lurgan by private bus.
Once there we were greeted by the headmaster and some Irish students were waiting for us with lovely welcome written in all languageas used in the countries involved in this Comenius Project.
After we were offered tea and coffee with delicious and traditional Scones served with jam and cream.
In the theatre-gym of the school we assisted to the Hip Hop dancing workshop with Mrs Pamela Cassells. It was very funny for all the students and for all the teachers.
We had lunch at school with students and Irish colleagues. We tasted the traditional dishes of their cuisine and everything was delicious.
Then we took the private bus to the Tour of Tayto Crisp Factory. The factory was inside in a old and amazing castle. Here we learned the potato storage techniques and the process that turns potatoes into crisps. We get the opportunity to experience the full magic of Tayto and our students met the mytical their mascot: Mr Tayto!
When we finished visiting the factory we went back to the hotel and the Italian students went back to their host families.
At the end of a fantastic day, the teachers went to the Zios Restaurant by private cars of Irish colleagues. We enjoyed very much the evening with welcome dinner offered us from the Irish partner.
We spent a lovely time!
By Italy




Tuesday 22nd of March 2015
Our Comenius project day started with a very pleasant musical moment when a group of former Tannaghmore Primary School pupils played some traditional Irish songs. The proficiency of the players and the harmonious sounds of the enchanting tunes delighted the audience and made everyone want to start dancing to the rhythm almost immediately.
Next came the loveliest dancers of traditional Irish music! Some of the young female pupils dressed in the most gorgeous traditional dance costumes graced us with their performance. And then they invited us to dance with them. Needless to say we didn’t do enough merit to the marvellous traditional Irish dances and the students’ dancing skills…
After flavouring some of the best of our hosts’ culture, it was time to present our Comenius project works (related to the theme of Dance): we were given the opportunity to watch some very daring and difficult choreographies (with some very cool dance moves!) performed both by students and teachers to not only the sound of traditional music from the different countries but also to Hip-Hop; we were also shown some presentations about the most popular and exquisite traditional folk costumes. Some students even performed an excerpt of the soundtrack of the film “Titanic” on their flute and violin!
Finally, it was time for the graffiti activity: students and teachers decorated or painted some cardboard outlines of dancers. It was really incredible to see the black of the cardboard being transformed into colourful silhouettes, full of movement, almost as if they were alive!
At the end of a fabulous day filled with art, music, dancing, sharing and different emotions, the pupils went back to their host families. But the teachers still needed to have dinner. And so they were driven by the very hospitable group of Irish hosts to the dapper little town of Hillsborough, to The Parson’s Nose, a Georgian building with lots of interlocking rooms linked by twisty staircases. Good food and fantastic company – it was the perfect ending to a wonderful day.

By Portugal

Wednesday 23rd March 2015

         The day started sunny. It was the day of our trip to Belfast. We travelled by coach because we planned to have a bus ride along Belfast. We stopped twice to see graffiti on the walls. These pictures were there to commemorate people fighting for peace and freedom or they were dedicated people who died in Belfast during the riots.
         We could see the  Parliament Buildings, commonly known as Stormont because of its location in the Stormont Estate area of Belfast. It is the seat of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The most interesting part of our trip started in the site of the former Harland & Wolff shipyard where HMS Titanic was built.
Titanic Belfast's exhibition was designed by London based exhibition designers Event Communications and consists of nine interpretative and interactive galleries, covering the following themes:
Boomtown Belfast  the city at the start of the 20th century
The Shipyard  a ride aboard a mini-car up and around a replica of Titanic's rudder
The Launch  how Titanic was launched on 31 May 1911
The Fit-Out  the fitting-out of Titanic from her launch through to April 1912
The Maiden Voyage  the journey from Belfast to Southampton, and from there to Cherbourg, Queenstown and westwards.
The Sinking  the disaster of 14/15 April 1912
The Aftermath  the legacy of the disaster
Myths & Legends  the facts behind some of the stories about the Titanic
Titanic Beneath  about the wreck of the Titanic and its rediscovery by dr Robert Ballard with the gallery illustrated his expeditions to the ship through footage, audio and images.
         After  exciting "trip to the past" we went to the cicy centre to do some shopping. Souvenirs from Norhtern Ireland will remind us this wonderful time spend on the island.

By Poland


Thursday 26th of March

         26th it was a sunny day. This is our last day in Northern Ireland. Today all participants were ready to go Lough Neagh Discovery Centre for bread making and survival crafts workshop.
         Lough Neagh is the biggest lake in British island. There are a lot of species of birds and    wild animals that they live here. Today students were going to discover and learn how to survive in wild. Students separated in two groups. First group went to forest to learn how to make a fire and survive in the wild. Second group stayed at the class. Guide teacher made a brilliant presentation about wild animals. He taught some hunt weapons like blowing stick and bow. Students got chance to perform these hunting tools. They tried to shut them by blowing and students had experience to touch lizards and snakes. After all these useful activities groups came together for lunch. We did a short walk in to the Oxford Island. Students went to lake side they saw a sundial and they learn how it works.
        In the evening all Comenius participants got prepared for certificate program. The certificate program was wonderful. We had chance to listen Irish folk music and also we tasted delicious Irish foods. Tannaghmore Prep Schools manager assistant Stephen Mc Cann gave a thank speech to all participants. All our impression is wonderful. Tannaghmore Prep Schools teachers and students were really so hospitable and they did their best for us.
By Turkey

Friday 27th of March

In the morning the other countries were departing, we had another day at school. We were welcome to visit some classes and to talk with the director as well as with the teachers about the educational system.
As the Irish school is a primary school there was a lot for us to see and to learn about. We sometimes miss the enthousiasme of the smaller children in our classes.
After a nice and very welcome stay it also was time to pack our suitcases and leave for home.
After all...in a few weeks time it is our turn to be the hosts, and we only hope we will do a job equally as good as all other countries have done before us.


By the Netherlands

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