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Gael Scoil

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School Days, Irish Style

The kids of Gael Scoil 2011.

By Tom Slattery

Not only did Mercer County’s AOH Division 10’s 4th annual Gael Scoil attract a record number of students, but it also added new cultural sessions, some high-profile teachers and an Irish breakfast. As the student count kept rising, the committee had to scramble to keep up, but like any good show, the audience was unaware of the backstage maneuvers.

At the last minute we had to go to a three-track program; however, this was almost seamless because we had put in place a formal monitoring system, with a supervisor moving the monitors as necessary. Yes, you have to have at least a male and a female monitor in each session to accompany the kids for nature calls and to report quickly on any student or facility problem. You also have to have a registered nurse on duty for emergencies which are going to occur when you have 64 7- to17-year-olds moving around, including an hour session outside learning Irish football and hurling.

But it was the infusion of qualified (actually, overqualified) faculty that marked the success of our 2011 offering. Dr. Christine Kinealy, author of seven books on the Great Hunger, gave two classes for the older children (12-17). Of course, she presented An Gorta Mor, along with a session on Irish Women. Carol Russell, author, art critic and Northern Ireland activist gave a class on Irish Literature, again for the older kids. Mary Kay Mann, an outstanding musician who also teaches, ran two classes on the tin whistle, each class with close to 30 students. The only way to prevent pure mayhem was to have three monitors in the room holding onto the whistles until Mary Kay had a chance to introduce the topic and was ready for the kids to sound off. Realizing the number of younger kids, we added a second storyteller, Dave Emerson, who has already been invited back for 2012.

Pat McCabe, a Dubliner and brother of Mick, who started the program, once again came over from Dublin to help the GAA run their sessions; however, as a chef by trade he indicated he would like to cook up something for the kids. As a result, with the generosity of Breffni Foods of Hamilton, owned by Division 10 member Frank Connell, and a contribution by Gerry Maguire, another Division 10 member, the 64 kids and some of their parents were served a great Irish breakfast of sausage, bacon, eggs and scone. Michael Snowden, a horseman who has taken two horseback riding vacations in Ireland and who was attending as a driver, ran two showings of National Geographic’s video “The Irish Horse,” and showed pictures he took in Ireland—including riding the horses into the Atlantic Ocean. These were run for the younger kids. We also showed “The Secret of Kells,” a great documentary making full use of today’s graphics, in the cafeteria during lunch. Lunch (pizza, juice and cookies) was included in the program.

Other sessions included Irish Language once again run by Daltai na Gaeilge, this time just for the younger students; two musical instrument sessions taught by Mark and Tim Carroll; a bagpipe demo and talk by Marty and Ian Ferrick; an Irish Song session led by Tom Glover; a step dance exhibition by the DeNogla Dancers; Irish Geography by Jim MacFarland; a session on Irish Heroes and one on the Wee People by Tom Slattery.

Saturday afternoon we handed out the “hoodies,” which always seems to create the sense of a school and camaraderie. On Sunday, like every Sunday before, all students wore their hoodie.

Sunday’s lunch time has become a beehive of activities, with the entire school moving around the spacious cafeteria, which is decorated not only with the Irish flag but also with the 32-County and Four-Province flags. One group is eating, while another is baking (scone), and still a third is making Brigid’s Crosses. Those who finish ahead of their classmates are able to view the copy of the Book of Kells, check out the GS library of 40-plus Irish youth books, or just relax and listen to the traditional Irish music in the background.

Sunday’s last half-hour was a great wrap-up. The kids all got called up to get their Certificate of Completion. This year they also received a scroll tied together with a green ribbon. The scroll contained the Irish Declaration of Independence. In their binders they got handouts from some teachers, a tri-fold on the Book of Kells; and info on the Irish Way Program presented by the Irish American Cultural Institute, who also loaned us a copy of the Book of Kells.

Of course, all of the above does not just happen. Starting in late September, the committee starts biweekly meetings. Within a month we move to weekly meetings. The committee, which has been intact since the first Scoil, includes GS founder Mick McCabe, Division 10 members Don Carroll, Gerry Maguire, Gerry O’Rahilly (Division President), John Walsh (Division Past President), as well as Trenton Division 1 member Jim MacFarland and Montgomery County (PA) member Tom Slattery. This year we added June Balaz, Division 10 LAOH, to oversee the Monitor program.

Key to keeping the cost low ($100 for first child in family, $75 for each additional) is the generosity of Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville, N.J., which permits us the use of their fantastic facility, along with major sponsors McCabe Concrete, CCC Celt, and Niall Brady. Thanks to those who sponsored students; AOH Philadelphia Division 88, NJ AOH State Board, and Bob McNally.
Thanks to LAOH 10 for supplying the scone baking assistance; and to James “Trader Jim” Walsh who made the tin whistles available for every child. Thanks to Daltai who made the language support pins available to the children.

Planning for 2012 is already under way. We look forward to creating a fourth-track for the young’uns (6- and 7-year-olds) that will pave the way for future entry into the 8- to 17-year-old main program.

You can follow the Gael Scoil history on www.gaelscoil.us . At their March 10 banquet, the Friendly Sons & Daughters of St. Patrick of Mercer County presented their annual Community Service Award to the Gael Scoil.

Photos by Gerard O’Rahilly

March 25, 2011 by Guest

News, People

Gael Scoil 2009

Irish baking got a rise out of the students.

By Tom Slattery

Building on the success of its initial entry into the realm of education, that of Irish cultural education for youth from 7 to 17, AOH Division 10 of Trenton, New Jersey, just completed its second Annual Gael Scoil.

Gael Scoil is Gaelic for Irish School. Held over the weekend of February 28 and March 1, the second class built on the success of of the 2008 venture and set a standard for future years. Last year Division President John Walsh stated that the Gael Scoil would be the Division’s signature event, and this year’s success was testament to the seriousness of that statement and Division 10’s commitment to make it happen..

The original committee returned intact but with one important addition, Gerry O’Rahilly. Gerry brought with him not only an intimate knowledge of computers which he translated into a clarification of the school’s logo, professional stationery, brochures and posters, but also that key commodity that escapes so many cultural organizations, youth and its enthusiasm. You better believe us older cats took advantage of this and worked even harder, and sometimes even smarter.

We learned a lot last year and so incorporated some new classes while rearranging some others. We also learned that the end of June was not the best time as we were up against vacations and other sports camps, so we took advantage of a rare open weekend in the Notre Dame High School schedule and switched the class to the start of the St. Patrick season. With the luck of the Irish we finished up about 12 hours ahead of the season’s worst snowfall.

Knowing that T-shirts, great for summer, would not work in winter, we voted on giving the kids “hoodies,” which looked like a budget-breaker until Joe Bradley and Mick McCabe combined to “make it happen.” We realized that the economy might prevent some from being able to attend and so we set up a sponsor program, which several organizations supported. Through this we grew attendance from 17 to 26, a 50 percent increase.

Two sessions we added were Irish Baking and Irish Movies. Baking was a wild success because of the four “bakers” from the Ladies Division 10. This was a true hands-on class that the kids loved. Their efforts were baked and then wrapped during the next few classes so that they all had their own loaf of soda bread to take home, along with the recipe. Since one of my grandsons attended, I can vouch for his “cake” which we had for dinner. In the Movies session we had to cut the time short, but the limited viewing of “Into the West” drew so many questions, we know it is a “keeper” session.

Aware that February 28 was not the best of times to learn Gaelic football outdoors, we came up with an alternative, which turned out even better. Pat Trainor, the local GAA Development Officer, started the Scoil off with a professional PowerPoint presentation with added film clips of Gaelic Football, and followed with a Q&A session which drew great participation. He also left a GAA football to be raffled among the students. Both Daltai and the Carrolls, Mark and Tim, built on their 2008 success in Language and Musical Instruments respectively, while filling longer time slots. The musical instruments covered were the harp, fiddle, bodhran, Irish pipes and dulcimer.

Jim McFarland gave a PowerPoint presentation in geography, which included a hand-out of all his pictures in a folder. Other topics which were all well received included history (Tom Slattery), dance (Joanne Connell Knox of DeNogla), songs (Tom Glover), highland bagpipes (Marty and Ian Ferrick), and storytelling (Tom Slattery).

There are so many that helped make this event a success. First, there is the staff of Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville, N.J., who allow us the use of one of the first-class venues in the area. Once again Mary Yeaple from York helped us with the county flags. This year she only had to lend us four since the Set of 32 which Division 10 had purchased came in, but missing four. John McKenna, a personal trainer at Notre Dame, again provided the expertise in meeting state and local filings and was the required on-site medical person. The committee consisting of Division 10 members Mick McCabe, John Walsh, Jerry McGuire, Gerry O’Rahilly and Don Carroll along with Trenton Division 1 member, Jim McFarland, and myself met pretty much weekly since October. Also, kudos to our bakers Patty Walsh, Maggie Connell, Philomena McCabe and June Balaz. June did double duty as a monitor throughout the two-day program.

Financial assistance came from McCabe Concrete Foundation LLC, who sponsored the “hoodies,” CCC Celt, who sponsored five students, Niall Brady whose generous donation helped to cover lunches, morning coffee and donuts, as well as a couple of kids. Sons & Daughters of Erin and AOH 1 Trenton each sponsored a student. George Zienowicz of Na Bodach once again provided us with a great entrance sign.

With three students from Philadelphia and one from Lower Bucks County we now realize that Philly and even Delaware County are not that far away. After all Notre Dame is only two miles south of Exit 7A (Route 206) of I95. Therefore we will try harder to attract more students from these areas next year. Without recruiting additional teachers, I feel we will be able to handle a maximum of 50 students in 2010. This is a very reachable number, so if you are interested either in sponsoring or sending a student next year, please let us know either through www.aohdiv10.org or 609 587-3208. Check the AOH website as well as Irish Philadelphia to see our 2010 Gael Scoil weekend date.

March 10, 2009 by Guest