Comóradh 1916 sa Ghaelscoil
Deir an t-údar Pearl Buck, a bhuaigh duais Nobel don litríocht: “If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday”. Táimid ag comóradh Eirí Amach 1916 agus na daoine a bhí páirteach ann i mbliana.
Mar thús air seo, thug Óglaigh na hÉireann cuairt orainn ar an 12/10/2015 mar chuid den Chlár Comórtha Céad Bliain na hÉireann 2016 agus Scéim Bhratacha do Scoileanna atá ar siúl ar fud na tire faoi láthair. Bhí garda ónóra againn chun fáiltiú roimh na cuairteoirí. Bhíbeirt is tríocha páiste ó Rang 3 gleásta i ngeansaithe CLG an dá chontae is tríocha. Istigh sa halla, bhí ceoltóíri na scoile ag seinnt “An Drúcht Geal Ceo “.
Chuir An. M Aingeal fáilte roimh na cuairteóirí agus labhair Leifteanant Marcus Ó Brógáin leis an slua. D’inis se dúinn faoi stair na brataí agus faoi conas meas a léiríú uirthi agus an tslí cheart an bhratach a chrochadh ar leathchrann srl. Leigh sé píosa ó Fhorógra na Poblachta le cabhair ó dhaltaí agus ó mhúinteoirí agus bhronn sé bratach na hÉireann ar an scoil. Crochfar an bhratach go hoifigiúil os comhair na scoile ar an 16ú Márta 2016, mar a dhéanfar i scoileanna uile na tíre.
On March 15th, as part of the nationwide ceremonies for primary schools, we held the official raising of our National Flag. We were truly honoured to have both Pearse and Harry O’ Hanrahan, grand-nephews of the executed Rebel Leader Michéal O’ Hanrahan, to hoist the flag. Micheál and his family resided for a number of years here in Carlow, on Tullow street, so it was fitting that the O’ Hanrahan brothers were our guests of honour here in the Gaelscoil. They were accompanied by Professor Paul Horan, another Carlow native, who has done great research into the O’ Hanrahan family history.
Both Pearse and Harry addressed the gathering in Irish, explaining about the part played in the Rising by other members of their family too. A time capsule, containing something from every single child in the school was then sealed by An M. Bríde and An M. Aingeal , and is to be re-opened in 50 years time. The two O’ Hanrahan brothers were then presented with a handmade slate memento of their visit to us. Following a prayer of blessing, the school community sang the National Anthem and then proceeded to the school yard, for the flag raising.
Adam Ó Murchú, a fifth class pupil, researched his family history and in particular, that of his grand-uncle P.J Ramsbottom, who is credited with firing the first shot of the Rising. This was a warning shot over the head of a rail-worker, at Coltwood, in Co. Laois, where Paddy and his comrades were attempting to disrupt troops and messages getting to Crown forces in Dublin. Adam drew from a wide variety of sources such as the Bureau of Military History, the 1911 census, local newspapers and interviews with many members of his extended family an created an extremely detailed project. This work has deservedly been recognised both locally and nationally, as the research won the local Education Centre prize and also the “Decade of Centenaries” competition, an all- island initiative in conjunction with the Department Of Education, Mercier Press and UCC. The presentation was held in the Aula Maxima in UCC. Adam’s work will now be posted on the www.scoilnet.ie to make it easily available to any interested parties, both nationally and internationally.
Launch of the 1916 Commemoration in Carlow College
Musicians from Carlow Pipe Band opened proceedings by playing our National Anthem. Members of the College staff read the Proclamation in Irish and English. The crowd was then introduced to Pearse O’ Hanrahan, grand-nephew of the executed Rebel Leader, Micheál O’ Hanrahan. Pearse spoke of his family involvement in the events of 1916 and reminded us that other family members were also very active in the Rising. He also spoke of the importance of preserving the stories of 1916 and of our own family histories.
The children were delighted to get the chance to meet Pearse as he has kindly agreed to help raise our National Flag on March 15th. He spoke with the children and stood for photos. A day to remember!
Buíochas le Dermot O’ Brien a ghlac na griangraif seo.
Bhí taighde speisialta déanta ag Adam Ó Murchú, Rang 5, ar stair a mhuintire, go háirithe a shean uncail, P.J. Ramsbottom, a scaoil an chéad urchar den Éirí Amach, a deirtear. Ba urchar rabhaidh é seo, a scaoileadh thar ceann oibrí iarannróid, ag Coltwood, Co. Laoise, áit a raibh Paddy agus a chomrádaithe ag iarraidh cur isteach ar fheadhna agus ar theachtaireachtaí a bhí i mbun fórsaí na coróine a sheoladh go Baile Átha Cliath. Bhain Adam úsáid as foinsí éagsúla chun an taighde a dhéanamh, ina measc Biúró den Stair Mhíleata, daonáireamh 1911, nuachtáin áitiúla agus agallaimh le mórán dá mhuintir shínte, rud a chabhraigh leis tionscnach lán de mhion-shonraí a chur le chéile. Tá aitheantas tugtha don saothar seo, ar bhonn áitiúil agus ar bhonn náisiúnta. Bhuaigh sé duais ón Ionad Oideachais áitiúil agus ghnóthaigh sé an chéad áit i gcomórtas “Decade of Centuries”, tionscnamh uile Éireannach i bpáirt leis an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna, Mercier Press agus Ollscoil Chorcaí. Bronnadh a dhuais ar Adam in Aula Maxima in Ollscoil Chorcaí. Roghnaíodh saothar Adam le foilsiú i dtréimhsiúchán “History Ireland”, rud a chuirfidh ar fáil ar bhonn náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta é.
Ardaíodh an Bhratach Náisiúnta sa Ghaelscoil ar an 15ú Márta, mar chuid de shearmanais náisiúnta do bhunscoileanna. Ba mhór an onóir dúinn Piaras agus Anraí Ó Anracháin, gar-naíonna an Cheannaire Reibliúnaigh a cuireadh chun báis, Mícheál Ó Anracháin, a bheith linn chun an bhratach a ardú. Bhí sé an-oiriúnach iad a bheith mar aíonna speisialta againn os rud é gur chaith Mícheál agus a mhuintir seal ag cur fúthu ar Shráid na Tulaí anseo i mbaile Cheatharlach. Ina dteannta, bhí an t-Ollamh Pól Ó hÓráin, de shliocht Cheatharlach chomh maith, a bhfuil mórán taighde déanta aige ar stair Mhuintir Uí Anracháin.
Labhair Piaras agus Anraí leis an slua trí Ghaeilge agus rinne siad cur síos freisin ar an bpáirt a ghlac baill chlainne eile de mhuintir Uí Anracháin san Éirí Amach. Chuir An M. Bríde agus An M. Aingeal séal ar chapsúl ama ina raibh rud curtha ag gach páiste sa scoil, capsúl nach n-oslófar go ceann caoga bliain. Bronnadh clár cuimhneacháin speisialta ar na deartháireacha i gcuimhne ar a gcuairt orainn sa Ghaelscoil. Tar éis bheannacht speisialta agus Amhrán na bhFiann canta ag pobal na scoile, ar aghaidh le gach duine chun an bhratach a ardú taobh amuigh den scoil.
Adam Ó Murchú , a bhuaigh an comórtas “Decade of Centenaries ” lena chuid oibre bunaithe ar “The Coltswood Incident” lean a mhuintir ag an mbronnadh i UCC.
