There was great excitement in Gaelscoil de hÍde on on Wednesday afternoon when children from the school's two first classes took part in a unique link up with their counterparts in St Augustine's school in the tiny Caribbean island of Montserrat.

The children sang, recited poems and otherwise interacted with one another via Skype. It was arranged by journalist and Fermoy resident Graham Clifford, whose daughters Molly (7) and Aoife (5), attend the school. Both were in the classroom in Fermoy on the day to greet their Dad on the other side of the world. Graham hit on the idea when he knew he was going to be in Montserrat on media assignments in the run up to St Patrick's Day.

The Gaelscoil pupils had decorated their classroom especially for the occasion and there was a great sense of occasion about the event.

The aim of the Skype call was to teach the children in Fermoy a little of what it's like to grow up in Montserrat and vice versa.

In St Augustine's the young pupils were helped by Montserrat's Catholic priest and Cobh native, Fr George Agger, to prepare for the occasion and they too were in fine voice.

blog comments powered by Disqus