This article is from page 31 of the 2008-02-26 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 31 JPG
CHILDREN attending the gaels- coil in Shannon were given the chance to enjoy a personal tour of their local garda and fire stations last week!
Twenty-one infants from Gaels- coil Donncha Rua, accompanied by their teacher Aisling Harnett and one of their parents Geraldine Hickey, were given guided tours of both venues.
Their school principal Eamonn
Bromell decided to request the visits, amid enthusiasm among the youngsters, who were keen to learn how both services operated.
Their first port of call was the fire Station, where Richie Sunderland gave them a tour of the building and a close-up look at the fire engines.
This tour lived up to the eager childrens’ expectations and they then took in the garda station.
Garda Sean O Murcht – himself a Gaeilgeoir – gave a guided tour, as Gaeilge. One of the highlights of
that visit was their trip to the hold- ing cell at the station – the young- sters compared it to a prison cell and expressed hope that they would never get to experience a real cell in the future!
Mr Bromell said the initiative was an unforgettable experience and benefited the young children im- mensely.
“It was good for them to see dif- ferent people working in the com- munity. School is one service, the fire service 1s another, while the
gardai also provide a Service,” said Mr Bromell.
The trips formed part of an overall project and the youngsters recalled the afternoon’s excitement when they wrote of their experience.
The extra-curricular activities are sure to continue over the next term as Mr Bromell’s next plan is to bring a mobile pet farm to the school.
This 1s poised to create much ex- citement for the children, who will be able to show care for the animals on the farm.