Green day Pupils from the Gaelscoil na Cruaiche in Westport celebrating the raising of their third green flag. Pic: Frank Dolan
Slovenian links celebrated at Gaelscoil na Cruaiche
Neill O’Neill
GAELSCOIL na Cruaiche has never known a day of celebration like last Thursday, when months of hard work on many fronts were rewarded with the raising of their third green flag and a special concert for the Slovenian Ambassador to Ireland, Franc Miska.
This was to celebrate a cultural twinning between Gaelscoil na Cruaiche and Osnova sola Ivanjkovci, in Ormoz, Slovenia. Also present at the function in the Castlecourt Hotel was Dr Jimmy Devins, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science.
Long before the music and dancing however, the celebrations began in an unorthodox fashion when a teacher from each of the schools was hoisted to the top of the town clock in Westport to hang their respective national flags from the east and west directional arrows on the weather vane.
After a rain delay and a colourful photo-shoot with some of the youngest and oldest pupils attending Gaelscoil na Cruaiche, it was then back to the school yard for the raising of their third green flag.
This was performed by Cllr Martin Keane, who was acting in his first official role as Cathaoirleach of Westport Town Council. He acknowledged the presence of 14 teachers from the Slovenian school – which also has a green flag – and congratulated the students at the Gaelscoil on their efforts and initiatives in achieving the green flag.
All present were then treated to a performance by the school band and some unique, but impressive, choreography, from the third class pupils.
The main event of the day came later in the evening when the guests of honour gathered with pupils, parents and friends of Gaelscoil na Cruaiche, to celebrate their Slovenian link.
The twinning between the schools has been on-going for the last academic year and has seen pupils on either side of Europe learn all about the culture and people of the other country. This was done through the exchange of DVDs and packages of information and pictures about the history and culture of the schools, towns and country.
Addressing the large crowd at the evening event – in his last official function while Slovenia held the Presidency of the EU – Ambassador Franc Miska told the pupils that he already knew many of them through watching the DVD they had made and sent to Slovenia. He said that he was genuinely looking forward to coming to Westport, and in his excitement he forgot to address and welcome his compatriots.
In his speech, Minister Devins said that he was delighted to see that the changing face of Europe in recent years was being embraced at Gaelscoil na Cruaiche, who are ‘building bridges’ and embracing the cultures and ‘free movement’ of citizens of the EU.
“This project brings to life, in a practical way, the intercultural approach that is now being taken in Ireland, and it seeks to educate our children about other countries and teach them in a way that avoids racism and separation, which are attributes that nobody wants for their children. The teachers from both schools are role models in that they encourage children to avoid bias and appreciate diverse cultures,” he said.
He then congratulated all involved in the project and said that through such initiatives everybody can grow as better citizens of Ireland and Europe, and as better human beings.
Following the presentation of gifts to the Ambassador and his wife, and the Slovenian teachers, the fourth, fifth and sixth class pupils of Gaelscoil na Cruaiche put on an excellent concert for all present, which incorporated singing, musical performances and Irish dancing.
