Tallaght

The second set of schools that the project is working with are located in a section of Dublin known as Tallaght. The teachers in Tallaght are amazing people filled with lots of energy and heart. Tallaght is a markedly different area than Glinsk and very much is part of the heart of inner city Dublin, even though it is really an outlining area. Tallaght for years has struggled to pull itself up and to overcome its many challenges. One thing Tallaght has in a big way is heart.

Glinsk

One of the schools the children at St. Anthony's will be working with is found in the rural village of Glinsk. Glinsk is located in County Galway and is very remote and very small. There are just 60 students in the entire primary school. Enjoy a glimpse.

Ireland

This past week I have been in Ireland working on an exciting project linking Irish schools with St. Anthony's Elementary School in Manchester, NH. The project is the brainchild of many teacher/dreaming discussions and the result of a lot of hard work. The concept is simple, link St. Anthony's with other schools around the world, with hopes of one day having a school that is completely linked and wired with others schools throughout the world. One of the great things about Irish schools is that they are wonderful and the teachers are very energetic and game for such things. It also helps having a few friends in the classroom.

For the past week I have been making my way throughout the country organizing the project and interacting with the schools and community. In the beginning I thought the week long initial project would be a breeze and that I would have half the week to put my feet up and relax. In the end I found myself incredibly busy, but all for good things. I was able to reconnect with many old friends and visit Old Dublin again. It was great fun, minus the three hour delay from Continental Airlines, going over, and the current delay going back.

Surprise

Surprise! Together with the help of my two sisters- Lisa and Sonya, and my brother Will, we were able to pull off a surprise party for my father. The party was nothing special, just an afternoon together for lunch followed by a family portrait. My dad turned 67 on Saturday, so I thought it would be a good idea to get everyone together and show him how much he means to us all. So at the beginning of the week I called my siblings and through out the idea. They all loved it and agreed. My brother invited my dad and mom out to lunch on Saturday. When they arrived at the restaurant they saw all of us sitting at the table waiting. My dad loved it and was completly shocked. My two sisters are married and live in Vermont. With everyone having families, off at school, etc... it is hard to all get under one roof at the same time. Added to the surprise was the fact that I had convinced my parents that I was flying to Ireland Friday night. I am actually flying to Ireland today for one week to work on a special project of which I will post more from across the pond. I hope to add a few pictures up here as well.


On a side note, my plane has been delayed at Newark International Airport for two hours. Thanks to a gift from my Aunt Susie I have spent the last four hours in the President's Club at the airport. It is like heaven in here. Lots of comfortable leather seating. No crowds, free food and drinks and peace, quiet and calm. I never want to go back to the regular section of the airport again. I am sure lady luck will not smile on me and I will be seated next to screaming babies on the plane for the next seven hours. Never-the-less I will enjoy my happiness why I can.

A Little Winter Fun!

I can finally report that I am getting better after two weeks with a terrible cold! Despite it being 66 degrees today I felt compelled to post these fun pictures from our big snow storm of the winter which struck about two weeks ago. We decided to try and make the largest snowman in the world. Clearly we did not succeed but we were able to create a 12 foot snowman, make that snow bishop. We named him Archbishop Snobrien- instead of Archbishop O'Brien the archbishop of Baltimore.