Scoil Mhuire NS, Bornacoola, Proclamation Day 15th March 2016

​

On Tuesday last every school in the country took part in one of the flagship events to mark Ireland’s ongoing celebrations of the 1916 -2016 Centenary. Each school had previously been presented with a copy of the 1916 Proclamation and a National Flag and all schools were to raise the flag at noon in a nationwide event. Schools were invited to reimagine and write a new proclamation for the next century.

Scoil Mhuire NS, Bornacoola, had been presented with its 1916 Proclamation Copy and the Irish Flag on November 13th 2015 by members of the Defence Forces and on Tuesday last the flag was raised in a memorable ceremony at the school. Parochially this was an excellently attended event and, in a number of cases, three generations of family members were represented. People from the wider parish community, with no current connection with the school, attended and were made feel very welcome. The pupils of Mary Mallon Pre School attended also to witness proceedings.  A large number of pupils and indeed staff dressed up 1916 style and the event was marked in beautiful weather conditions.

​

Scoil Mhuire Principal Declan Bohan welcomed all in attendance and acted as MC for the event which commenced with the reading of the 1916 Proclamation. This was carried out by former Vice Principal Mary Reynolds, current Vice Principal Patricia McGoldrick and current senior pupils Szymon Kozak, Chloe Donnelly and Jake Shiels. It is worth noting that in 1966 Mary Reynolds shared the reading of the Proclamation as a senior pupil in Cloonturk NS, as part of the marking of the 50th Anniversary of the Rising.

​

The pupils from First to Sixth class had worked on their new version of the Proclamation over the previous couple of weeks and this was then read to the attendance by representatives of First to Sixth classes  Jack Naughton, Zara Imran, Blánaid Reynolds, Noah Beck, Ríona Costello, Eimear Healy, Lauren McGarry, Odhran Grennan and Derek Collins. The pupils work on this Proclamation can be viewed online at www.scoilnet.ie This Proclamation has been signed by representatives of all classes from Junior Infants to Sixth Class respectively and for the record these are Michael Hanley, Isabelle Devine, Conor Reynolds, Naithí Costello, Katelyn Boyle, Eimear Healy, Robert Hickey and Niall O Beirne. It has been printed and framed to be placed alongside the 1916 Proclamation Copy on display at the school for future generations of pupils.

​

There then followed a reading of poems by 1916 signatories. Áine Mulligan read “The Mother” by Padraig Pearse. Óran Healy followed with “The Presence of God” by Joseph Mary Plunkett and Sarah Donelan read another Pearse poem “The Wayfarer”.

The raising of the flag was next on the agenda and this was done in stages by Ella Reilly, Kealan Lyons, Elana Kilrane, Ryan Fanning, Ben Carney and Áine Mulligan. His was followed by a musical interlude as the pupils of Second to Sixth Classes played “Amhrán na bhFiann”, “Ireland’s Call” and “Grace” on their tin whistles and this brought the formal proceedings to a close. There was a cup of tea and various refreshments for all afterwards and a most enjoyable event that was appreciated by all in attendance was well marked. Those who attended were invited to view the work done by pupils on their family trees which extended back five generations in most cases, and beyond that in some to the early 1800s. Various memorabilia from 100 years ago were also on display.

​

The staff and pupils of Scoil Mhuire NS would like to thank all who attended their celebration and those who helped to prepare for the event. A special word of thanks is extended to John Shanley of JS Landscaping who had the flag stand plinth prepared in advance. To Alan Carney who recorded the action and took many photographs we are very grateful and to Micheál McGowan who provided amplification on the day the school would like to return its gratitude.