5th Year history class visit the National Library of Ireland, 17 January 2017
On Tuesday 17 January our 5th Year history class visited the National Library of Ireland, located on Kildare Street, in the heart of Dublin city. The National Library is next door to Leinster House where Dáil Éireann sits.
The purpose of visiting the National Library was to give us an opportunity to learn research skills and how to analyse sources. We attended a workshop in which we learned how to use the library catalogue. We were also shown the reading room where people carefully (and silently!) examined sources of interest to them.
Our journey around the city was rich in history. Our train arrived at Pearse Station which is named after the 1916 leader Pádraig Pearse. We then walked past the Merrion Square entrance to Leinster House and on to the Shelbourne Hotel and St Stephen’s Green. British snipers were stationed on the roof of the hotel during the 1916 Rising with a group of rebels below them in St Stephen’s Green. We saw the Mansion House on Dawson Street where the First Dáil met in 1916 before walking to Kildare Street to the National Library.
After our work in the library was done we walked to O’Connell Street to the General Post Office, the rebel headquarters during the rising. It was truly fascinating to see the bullet holes and shell damage that remains on the pillars in front of the GPO. Our train back to Newbridge departed from Heuston Station which is named after Seán Heuston who was executed in Kilmainham Jail in 1916.
The workshop and tour will certainly be exceptionally useful as we complete our Leaving Certificate Research Project!
By Dominika Pawlik, 5G
The purpose of visiting the National Library was to give us an opportunity to learn research skills and how to analyse sources. We attended a workshop in which we learned how to use the library catalogue. We were also shown the reading room where people carefully (and silently!) examined sources of interest to them.
Our journey around the city was rich in history. Our train arrived at Pearse Station which is named after the 1916 leader Pádraig Pearse. We then walked past the Merrion Square entrance to Leinster House and on to the Shelbourne Hotel and St Stephen’s Green. British snipers were stationed on the roof of the hotel during the 1916 Rising with a group of rebels below them in St Stephen’s Green. We saw the Mansion House on Dawson Street where the First Dáil met in 1916 before walking to Kildare Street to the National Library.
After our work in the library was done we walked to O’Connell Street to the General Post Office, the rebel headquarters during the rising. It was truly fascinating to see the bullet holes and shell damage that remains on the pillars in front of the GPO. Our train back to Newbridge departed from Heuston Station which is named after Seán Heuston who was executed in Kilmainham Jail in 1916.
The workshop and tour will certainly be exceptionally useful as we complete our Leaving Certificate Research Project!
By Dominika Pawlik, 5G
Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany, 28 October 2016
On 28 October 2016, St Conleth’s Community College school tour visited the Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany. We spent most of the morning there. We had a tour guide who gave us information about the concentration camp, the conditions the prisoners faced and what became of the concentration camp after it was liberated by the Allies at the end of the Second World War.
Walking through Dachau was emotional. I felt as if I was walking in a graveyard among the graves of the victims who brutally died from labour and terrible conditions. There was no life, no birds flying overhead. It was as if they could feel the bad energy, as if they knew the horrible experiments that were performed and the daily torture that the people in the camp had to endure.
It was such an eerie place. Seeing the conditions in the camp and learning about its history made me want to share the experience with others in order for them to be able to know what happened there. I believe that all people should go and visit these places and see what happened so that history does not repeat itself.
By Elizabeth Ryjkova and Nicole Morrissey 2G
Walking through Dachau was emotional. I felt as if I was walking in a graveyard among the graves of the victims who brutally died from labour and terrible conditions. There was no life, no birds flying overhead. It was as if they could feel the bad energy, as if they knew the horrible experiments that were performed and the daily torture that the people in the camp had to endure.
It was such an eerie place. Seeing the conditions in the camp and learning about its history made me want to share the experience with others in order for them to be able to know what happened there. I believe that all people should go and visit these places and see what happened so that history does not repeat itself.
By Elizabeth Ryjkova and Nicole Morrissey 2G
1916 Sackville Street Exhibition, 27 May 2016
Students from Ms O'Connell's 1Y history class and Mr Evans' 1G history class visited the 1916 Sackville Street Exhibition at the newly refurbished Newbridge Town Hall on Friday 27 May. The exhibition showcases the work of a project organised to commemorate the 262 innocent civilians who lost their lives during Easter week of 1916. 262 model houses were constructed by various groups and individuals around the country. Each house represents one of the civilians killed and together they make up a virtual Sackville Street. Both classes were impressed with the quality of the artwork on display and thoroughly enjoyed their visit.
1916 Walking Tour, 11 April 2016
Second, third and sixth year history students were accompanied by Ms O'Connell, Ms Thornton and Ms Carroll to Dublin on 11 April to complete the 1916 Walking Tour. Despite the poor weather, the students enjoyed an interactive experience, visiting all of the prominent sites of the rebellion. The tour was enjoyable as well as informative and a great day was had by all.
Proclamation Day, 15 March 2016
Tuesday 15 March was Proclamation day in St Conleth's Community College. Students throughout the school showcased their talents in music, acting, oratory and writing.
A ceremony was held in the school hall with Mr Flannery as the MC. Among the activities during the ceremony was a reading by two first year students - Amy Staudt and Jessica Stirrat of the proclamations that they had written for their generation. First year students Elizabeth Ryjkova and Omasan Ayavaro spoke about the important role of the people of Kildare during the 1916 Rising. Sixth year student Mark Hennessy read the proclamation as the flag was hoisted by Roisin Cullen and Maeve Garner of second year. Further to this was a portion of the great speech by Padraig Pearse given at the grave of Fenian O'Donovan Rossa which was delivered eloquently by fifth year students David Pop and Melissa O'Reilly.
A dramatic production about those lost during the Rising was delivered by First and Second year students and the music was provided throughout by the school choir. Caoimhe Gately of second year sang a beautiful rendition of the song she had written in memory of the children lost during the Rising. The commemoration was rounded off by Victoria Herzig and Abigail Dala (School Captain and Vice Captain respectively) reciting the poem Easter 1916 by W.B. Yeats.
A ceremony was held in the school hall with Mr Flannery as the MC. Among the activities during the ceremony was a reading by two first year students - Amy Staudt and Jessica Stirrat of the proclamations that they had written for their generation. First year students Elizabeth Ryjkova and Omasan Ayavaro spoke about the important role of the people of Kildare during the 1916 Rising. Sixth year student Mark Hennessy read the proclamation as the flag was hoisted by Roisin Cullen and Maeve Garner of second year. Further to this was a portion of the great speech by Padraig Pearse given at the grave of Fenian O'Donovan Rossa which was delivered eloquently by fifth year students David Pop and Melissa O'Reilly.
A dramatic production about those lost during the Rising was delivered by First and Second year students and the music was provided throughout by the school choir. Caoimhe Gately of second year sang a beautiful rendition of the song she had written in memory of the children lost during the Rising. The commemoration was rounded off by Victoria Herzig and Abigail Dala (School Captain and Vice Captain respectively) reciting the poem Easter 1916 by W.B. Yeats.
Local Historians Visit St Conleth's, 12 February 2016
Local historians James Durney and Mario Corrigan visited St Conleth's Community College on Friday 12 February. They delivered a talk to first, second, third and sixth year history students about the events of Easter 1916. Students were also shown some of the uniforms and weapons that were used during the rebellion. It was a very informative morning organised by Ms Kelly. We would like to thank James Durney and Mario Corrigan for coming to our school to speak to our history students.