This article is from page 43 of the 2008-11-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 43 JPG
YOUNGSTERS taking part in the Mountshannon based Alpha Project were getting a chemistry lesson last week which had nothing to do with fusty diagrams of molecules and eve- rything to do with real life.
Instead of watching dust motes dance in the classroom, the five stu- dents were out in the field, building a limestone kiln, learning about the chemistry involved in producing lime and also getting a lesson in traditional craft and history into the bargain.
“Traditionally, cottages were paint- ed with lime and lime was also used in mortar for buildings. It’s been
replaced now with cement but lime was a much more breathable sub- stance and more ecofriendlly”, said Alpha Project development officer, Caroline Kelly.
To learn about the versatile mate- rial which our grandparents would have used, the youngsters first built a lime-kiln from wattle and daub which they collected and made them- selves, under the expert eye of tradi- tional craftsman, Bernard Graves, who travels the world teaching crafts which are all but lost.
Having collected the ash for wattle and the wood to make charcoal in the Tuamgraney Community Woodland, the students were given limestone by McGrath’s quarry in Tulla. They lay-
ered the lime and charcoal, heated it to 900 degrees which left quicklime then slaked it with water to produce lime.
“They are anxious to use the lime and we will be doing some painting with it as well as letting some mature to make mortar’, said Caroline.
The project was funded by the Her- itage Council.
The Alpha project provides educa- tion through experience and the five students who took part in the lime kiln building have already gained Fetac certification in six subjects af- ter three years on the project.
“these are the first group to ask us to continue their education. Usually, when they reach 16, the students go
to do their Leaving Cert’, said Caro- line.
Established for seven years, the Alpha Project has put many students through and into the world of further education and work and they have just been awarded a research grant.
“We will use it to see where our students have gone and what has happened with them, so we will have a better picture next March’, said Caroline.