Pádraig returns home to COBH and Walterstown N.S.

 

A Chailíní agus a Bhuachaillí, Táim tagtha abhaile  go Cóbh , i gContae  Chorcaí. Tá áthas an domhain orm agus ba mhaith liom go dtiocfaidh sibh ar an turas seo liom chun áilleachtaí na háite d'fheiscint.

 

Well boys and girls, I'm home at last in Cobh. I'm so happy to be able to share the sights of my beautiful town with you and to  visit with the pupils and staff of my base school at Walterstown. Let's start the journey in Cobh and enjoy some of the local landmarks and monuments. I was blessed with beautiful summer sunshine and Cobh really sparkled that day. It's an amazing town at the best of times but when the sun shines and the blue skies are reflected in the waters of Cork harbour, there's no better place for a travelling bear  to be!

I suppose the best thing to do when you're a tourist is to check out the Tourist Information Board - I know I'm a native but I still think it's best to check out where everything still is. You never know when town planners might decide to move something to a new location and forget to tell little old bear about the changes!!

First stop is the Annie Moore Memorial at the Deep Water Quay. This Rheinhardt sculpture depicts Annie and her two brothers as they waited  to board a tender to take them to a ship at the mouth of Cork Harbour. This ship would bring them to America, like  so many hundreds of thousands of emigrants who left the shores of Ireland in search of a better life in the New World. Such sad times. Annie was to be the first Irish emigrant to be processed through Ellis Island in New York and another statue of her stands there. The Heritage Centre in Cobh allows people from all over the world to research their ancestors' journeys through this great port of emigration.

Cobh was also the very last port of call for the ill-fated Titanic on her maiden voyage. A tender brought the passengers from the quayside in Cobh to the mouth of Cork Harbour where Titanic was awaiting departure to New York. Of  course , as we all know, she never completed that journey. The pupils of the primary schools in Cobh compiled a book "Touched by Titanic" along with school children from Belfast in Northern Ireland and children of Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada.

This deep water berth also welcomes the largest ocean cruisers. Cobh was one of the last ports of call for the majestic and historic QE2 before she was finally laid up as a working cruiser. While I was in Cobh a Norwegian Cruise Liner was berthed alongside and I took advantage of a perfect photo opportunity.

 

I had a great look around the public park at the promenade waterfront. The bandstand looked so elegant and I believe there will be live music there every Sunday during the summer months

 I checked out the sculpture of Brendan the Navigator. I haven't reached that position on Green Dragon yet but I'm watching Ian Moore very carefully and learning a few tricks of the trade. (I promise not to drift off to Iceland like St .Brendan did though - I believe our next leg is in a more North Easterly direction!) Mrs O'Bear couldn't resist putting me in the hands of the saint - was she trying to tell me something?

 

St. Colman's Cathedral takes pride of place overlooking the town. Did you know that it took forty-seven years to build and cost £250,000? It has a bishop's throne and is very important as the main liturgical ceremonies are held here throughout the year. St. Colman's also has a magnificent choir - Cathedral and Chamber combined. I have it on very good authority that the choir will sing at Westminster Cathedral and at the Vatican during the summer. I was so impressed I went to hear them sing.

 

 I would loved to have taken some time out to bring Mrs. O'Bear on the guided tour of "The Titanic Trail" but we simply didn't have time during this stopover. But the next time we come back to Cobh I'll ask Michael Martin for a personally guided tour.He created this historical tour and it is a must do with visitors to my town. I'll  send Theresa a copy of the DVD "The Mists of Time" and that'll prepare her for the real tour next time. (Nach bhfuil sé sin cliste? Smart thinking bear!)

 

The excitement started to mount when I realized that I would soon be on the road out into the countryside where I would meet up with the boys and girls of Walterstown N.S.  The new school was opened in 2002 but this year marks the 125^th Anniversary of the founding of Walterstown National School. Can you imagine the number of pupils who passed through the doors of this school over the past century and a quarter. (Wow! My maths are still in tip top shape. It must be all the hard work that Miss O'Shear did with me in second class. I listened very gard when she was telling us all about fractions. I can still remember all those circles we had to cut up - ½'s , ¼'s,  etc.)

 

The whole school turned out to meet us and I do believe I even saw a tear escape from  under Mrs. O'Bear's sunglasses.(She calls them shades!) The school presented her with a framed composite picture which captured memories of our round the world journey. It even had the school motto - "Ar aghaidh le chéile"engraved on it. I hope Mrs. Ryan has kept a copy for me too.

 

The pupils of the school are so sweet and every class had its turn to talk with Theresa and ask her questions about the Green Dragon adventure. She assured everyone that I am the very best and well behaved bear afloat!! Of course she's absolutely right!

 

 Mrs.O'Bear brought a traditional story book from a Boston fan dedicated to the pupils of Walterstown N.S. and  Theresa took great joy in reading it to the Senior Infant pupils .They loved the story of the ducklings looking for a home in Boston. They hope to send a special irish book back to Boston in exchange. Great chance to learn about other children in schools outside of Ireland. Reading is such a great skill. I know I worked very hard when I was at school and I absolutely love books now. Who knows, but when all this travelling is over, I might just write my book of memoires!!

 

Every class wanted to meet with me and I really had to spread myself around. Junior Infants were great fun and they sang a song for me! They also said a big long rhyme about a worm. They even did a listen in Gaeilge - our Irish language - all about my clothes ....geansaí, hata, briste, bróga etc.

 

I had such a fabulous day in my school that I really did not want the day to end. Some of the children even wanted to bring me home, but what would Mrs O'Bear do then? It's difficult enough sailing off across the oceans without her, so I have to spend as much quality time as I can with her once I'm ashore.

 

Some day, when I'm all grown up I'm going to be a sailor like Mr. Bear (aka Johnny Smullen) and I'm going to sail around the world. I'm learning lots and lots on this VOR and so are all the boys and girls who are following the race. When I've travelled all over, I'll come back to Walterstown N.S. and tell the children all about it. I'm sure many sailors of the future will come from Cork! I hear Eddie English of Sailcork.com will give the pupils of the school a taster session of sailing and powerboating soon. What a great idea to get kids started. Go Eddie!!

Tá sé in am dom imeacht anois agus an turas fada a dhéanamh go Gailimh aris. I'm off now, back to Galway. I believe Tom mc Sweeney wants to talk to Mrs. O'Bear and Mrs. Dee Ryan about my escapades live on radio. Can you believe it? What a celebrity I am. Ah well ... someone has to do it!

 

Slán agus beannacht a Cháirde go léir, Do Chara go deo, Pádraig.