Amhrán na bhFiann

Posted on March 7, 2016 by Teacher

Amhrán na bhFiann

Sinne Fianna Fáil

Atá faoi gheall ag Éirinn,

Buíon dár slua

Thar toinn do ráinig chugainn,

Faoi mhóid bheith saor

Seantír ár sinsear feasta,

Ní fhágfar faoin tíorán ná faoin tráill.

Anocht a théim sa bhearna bhaoil,

Le gean ar Ghaeil, chun báis nó saoil,

Le gunna scréach faoi lámhach na bpiléar,

Seo libh canaig Amhrán na bhFiann

The Soldiers’ Song

Soldiers are we,

whose lives are pledged to Ireland,

Some have come

From a land beyond the wave,

Sworn to be free,

no more our ancient ireland,

Shall shelter the despot or the slave.

Tonight we man the “bearna baoil”,

In Erin’s cause, come woe or weal,

’Mid cannon’s roar and rifles’ peal,

We’ll chant a soldier’s song

Fionn Mac Cumhail

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Teacher

PowerPoint based on Fionn Mac Cumhail

Fionn fionn1 fionn2 Link here: fionn Gaeilge

Gathered throughout my study. No copyright intended. This work in not my own. Use for educational purposes only.

Conas mar a fuair Cú Chulainn a Anim

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Teacher

Here is a PowerPoint gathered as Gaeilge about Cú Chulainn.

link here: CUCHULAINN Gaeilge

Second PowerPoint

CUCHULAINN Gaeilge cu4 cu3

This is not my own work. No copyright intended. Use for educational purposes only.

Valentines Lesson

Posted on January 31, 2016 by Teacher

Hi there, thanks for stopping by the blog. It can be hard to find lesson content for St. Valentine so I decided to do a bit of rooting online and compile two lessons. One for the Junior levels and one for the Senior levels which you can tailor to your needs.

Please scroll down to find Senior lessons at the top and Junior lesson at the end of this post.

I usually use this kind of lesson for History, Religion, Music, and Art for the Junior classes. There are also opportunities to link Valentines with Green Schools or the Environment in Geography if you were to use figures easily found online about wastage on St. Valentines Day. It can also be linked to Geography if we look at how Valentine’s day is celebrated around the world.

Here are some ideas, below you will find lesson ideas, PowerPoints, Videos, and Worksheets, I hope it helps.

If you like the blog, why not follow it, or like it on facebook to get new lessons regularly.

Lesson ideas for 3rd – 6th Class if adapted

Introduction

Show an image of marmite and valentines and ask your class what the two images have in common:

love-and-marmite-valentines-lesson marmite-404_685611c

I would use this to create a discussion:

What do you think the message is about Valentines? Discuss with your friends.
Why do you think some people like Valentines and why others do not?
Who might benefit from Valentines?
Have you ever heard of St. Valentine?
Why do you think there is a day named after him?

2. Explain that we will be learning about St. Valentine and create a WILF chart about St. Valentine (chart from https://kpike92.wordpress.com/2015/03/16/introducing-walt-wilf-and-tib/

wilf

I would put my main objective here: Two new pieces of information about Who Saint Valentine is? Why we celebrate this day etc.

3. I would then complete a KWL chart, link to chart here: http://tweenteaching.blogspot.ie/2012/08/kwl-chart.html

classroom kwl chart

4. PowerPoint about Saint Valentine for Senior Classes

Here are some images from the PowerPoint so you know what you are downloading. I found this PowerPoint on TES.co.uk at this link: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/the-story-of-valentine-powerpoint-6034779

5. Lovely video about St. Valentine from youtube:

6. A very good video for fifth and sixth class about Saint Valentine:

7. Printable story on St. Valentine with a comprehension questions from https://theweeklyplan.com/

link here: Valentine’s Day

8. Another Reading Comprehension worksheet about St. Valentine with great comprehension questions and writing prompts from www.abcteach.com

link to download PDF here: rc_valentine_legend

rc_valentine_legend work1 work2 work3 work5

9. Fill in the blanks worksheet

Capture

Link to this worksheet here: worksheet

Geography: How People Around the World Celebrate Valentine’s Day

How to say I love you around the world

how-to-say-i-love-you-around-the-world_54d9f89ed170c_w1500 (1).jpg

Lesson on Saint Valentines for the Junior Classes to Second Class (if adapted). Please edit to your needs.

PowerPoint for the Junior Classes found and edited to make suitable for my class:

Link to download PowerPoint here: Valentine’s Day younger 2 edited

Video

Song for Infants

Saint Valentine Word search for First or Second Class:

Saint Valentine’s Word Search

St. Valentine Colouring Sheet

http://catholicplayground.com/valentine-one/saint-valentine-coloring-one.html

pic for

St. Brigid

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Teacher

Hi, here is some fearas I have sourced off the web. I hope it saves you some time. Please scroll down to find your class level:

PowerPoint for the younger classes

Junior Infants to First Class

Here is a link to St. Brigid’s Cloak story being read aloud, here it can be found as gaeilge too.

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/learning-zone/primary-students/infants/english/st.-brigids-cloak/

Link to the PowerPoint here: st_brigid_02

Here is what is included in the PowerPoint on the link above:

SONG – WE SONG A SONG TO BRIGID

words to the song and music notes.

This is a good website for this information: http://www.godsongs.net/2012/11/we-sing-song-to-brigid-bridget.html

Lyrics

We sing a song to Brigid,
Brigid brings the spring
Awakens all the fields and the flowers
And calls the birds to sing.

All were welcome at her door,
no one was turned away.
She loved the poor, the sick and the sore,
She helped them on their way.

She laid her cloak out on the ground
And watched it grow and grow,
In wells and streams and fields of green
St. Brigid’s blessings flow.

Senior Infants – 3rd Class

Here is a more detailed version:

Link to the PowerPoint here: st_brigid_2

3rd to 6th Class or altered slightly for younger levels

Here is a PDF which is much more detailed from file:///G:/1.%20Senior%20infanrs%202015/5.%20January/StBridget.pdf

Click for the PDF here: StBridget

Here is what is in the PDF

St. Brigid’s Crosses

Good website here that shows step to step how to make the crosses for the younger classes too! http://www.catholicicing.com/how-to-make-a-st-brigids-cross-with-kids/

Start with 1 straight pipe cleaner. Place a folded pipe cleaner over it. Rotate it once to the left, and add another pipe cleaner. Rotate it once to the left, and add another pipe cleaner. Rotate it once to the left, and …. well, I think you’re starting to understand. It’s actually very easy once you get going! Ever time you add a pipe cleaner, you put it over all of the pieces sticking up. Then rotate and repeat. When the cross has gotten to your desired size, cut some small sections of pipe cleaner, and twist the ends together. We made this one using the colors of the Irish flag!

cros2 cross

Information about St. Brigid Traditions:

Found on the below website:

There are a number of traditions associated with St. Brigid. The St. Brigids Cross The most characteristic and most widespread Irish custom connected with St. Brigid’s Eve was the making of the “cros Bríde”or “Bogha Bríde” (St. Brigid’s Cross) to invoke protection. The most usual type was very simple in design but of course these were variations – one of these in fact, was adopted as its symbol by Radio Telefís Eireann, the Irish broadcasting service. The making of the crosses was attended with some ceremony. In the southern half of the country the cross was sprinkled with holy waters, hung up above or close to the entrance door with an appropriate prayer but in the northern of the country the ritual was much more elaborate, especially in Sligo, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, most parts of Ulster and also in the Dundalk area of Co. Louth: One of the family, a girl, representing the Saint leaves the house and when outside knocks three times to gain admittance. She carries rushes in her hands. Each time on knocking she says: “Teighidh sibh ar bhus nglúna, déaraidh sibh umhlaíocht, agus ligigidh Bríd Bheannachtach isteach”. (Which means “Go down on your knees, do homage and let Blessed Brigid enter the house”). When this has been said for the third time, those inside respond ” O tar isteach, tá céad fáilte romhat”. (O, Come in, you are a hundred times welcome). Then she enters and places the rushes on the table. The supper has already been laid out on the table and the following grace is recited by the father and mother: “Beannaigh sinn, a Dhia, beannaigh ár mbiadh agus ár ndeach, is tú a cheannaigh sinn go daor, soar sinn ar gach olc!” (Bless us, O God, bless our food and our drink; it is Thou who has redeemed us at great price, deliver us form all evil!). When the supper was eaten the parents recite a long thanksgiving prayer. In explanation of why the crosses were made and put up tradition without hesitation answers ‘protection’. Protection against fire, storm and lightening is the most usual reason given but also illness and disease. We have made St. Brigid’s Crosses and examples of these are shown on the ‘Decorations’ page. The Candlelight Procession On the eve of St. Brigid’s Day, there is a candlelight procession from Faughart graveyard, the location of St. Brigid’s Well, past St. Brigid’s Shrine up to Kilcurry Church, approximately 3 miles away. Then prayers are said, including the Rosary. St. Brigid’s Well The graveyard in Faughart, just outside Dundalk, Co. Louth, is the location of an old well, normally associated with St. Brigid. It is said that the water in the Well rises on her feast day, February 1st. The graveyard is actually at one of the highest points in the area, and therefore so too is the Well. This makes the myth all the more interesting, as a well normally has located at a low point, landwise to get water. We visited this Well, and the photos are shown. St. Brigid’s Well, Faughart St. Brigid’s Well, Faughart St. Brigid’s Well, Faughart The Brídeóg In many places of Ireland one of the main features of St. Brigid’s Eve was that groups of people went from house to house carrying a symbol of the saint. They were welcomed always by the householders since they announced that they were bringing St. Brigid’s blessing to the household. Sometimes they carried numerous Brigid’s crosses and they gave one to the head of each house, however usually it was accepted that the girl who carried the symbol was the most beautiful and modest of them all. In many cases of Co. Louth and Co. Armagh, there were traditions associated with “Brigid’s Shield” (Sciath Bhrighid) and Brigid’s Crown (Coróin Bhrigid) where the most beautiful girl of a particular area wearing a crown of rushes, a shield on her left arm and a cross in her right hand, was escorted by a group of young girls from house to house on Brigid’s Eve – or Brigid’s Morning, and that special prayers and ceremonies were observed! St. Brigid’s Ribbon There was also customs associated with ‘ribín Bríghid’ (St. Brigid’s ribbon) whereby a silk ribbon was placed on the windowsill during the night in honour of the Saint. The general belief was that the Saint going about the country on the Eve of her feast, would touch the ribín and endow it with healing powers. Some believed that the healing powers only improved with age and that its healing power was greatest after it had been kept for seven years. As well as relieving illness, it could cure barrenness, help women in childbirth and ward off evil influences. There is also a tradition, which believes that hoarfrost, gathered from the grass on the morning of St. Brigid’s day, is an infallible cure for headache. Many people also brought water from a well dedicated to the Saint and sprinkled it on the house and its occupants, farm builders, livestock and fields, invoking the blessing of the Saint. Source of some of the above: The Year in Ireland – Kevin Donagher ^TOP http://www.iol.ie/~marist/halo/halobridgid/bridgidtrads.html There are many different theories about St. Brigid’s life. We did extensive research in the local library. We had a guided tour of the graveyard where St. Brigid’s Well in Faughart is located. We also visited St. Brigid’s Shrine, where we heard the different myths about St. Brigid, which are explained below. These tours were given by local historian and guide, Mr Hugh Smyth. One Possibility….. Brigid’s story begins in 453 AD. She was born the illegitimate daughter of Brocessa, a slave girl, and Dubthach, a pagan chieftan of Faughart, which is situated just 2 miles from Dundalk. Both Brigid and her mother were banished from Faughart after she was born, but she returned as a young woman to be reclaimed by her father as was customary in those times, but Brigid was never accepted by her stepmother who tried to sell her to the King of Leinster. The King of Leinster, himself a Christian, persuaded her father to grant her freedom, which he did and on gaining her freedom Brigid went in search of her mother Brocessa. On finding her ill, Brigid insisted on taking over her mother’s role as a slave of the household. Her master, a druid, was amazed at this and granted her mother her freedom, so Brigid, having arranged to have her mother looked after, returned to Faughart. St. Brigid’s Shrine Stone with imprint of St. Brigid’s eye Brigid was extremely beautiful and had many suitors, among them a poet whose rank in Celtic Ireland was next to roytalty. Her father, who was arranging the marriage, would not listen to Brigid’s protests, so she prayed that God would take away her beauty and tradition relates that Brigid’s skin was destroyed by a horrible disease. Legend has it that she cast her eye and fired it against a stone, which left an imprint. It is also said that her long hours kneeling in prayer left the marks of her knees in the rock. Faughart became a place of pilgrimage by people of a Christian faith. The rite of episcopal conservation was read over Brigid by mistake so she became, in a sense, a female bishop. This rite was never revoked, as the bishop who professedher said that it was an act of God. She became abbess of her monastery in Kildare and died on the 1st of February 524 AD at the age of 71. Her remains are now entombed in the same grave as St. Patrick and St. Columcille in Downpatrick. Split in stone wfrom whip meant for St. Brigid Visiting the Shrine The custom of making St. Brigid’s crosses may have been a christianised version of a celtic ceremony connected with food production at the beginning of Spring. The crosses were usually made from straw and rushes, although reeds and wood were occasionally used. When Irish people converted to Christianity they sometimes brought ancient traditions with them. Myths surrounding St. Brigid’s life have similarities to those of Brigid, the celtic godess of fertility. The actual making of the cross came about while Brigid was attending the sick bed of a pagan chieftain. She was trying to convert him to Christianity and used the rushes from which his bed was made, to make a cross. The fact that her well is said to rise on her feast day may also be connected back to Celtic mythology. Source: Hugh Smyth, County Museum, Dundalk One type of St. Brigid’s Cross – from County Derry Another Possibility…. The main significance of the feast of Saint Brigid’s on February 1st would seem to be that it was a christianisation of one of the focal points of the agricultural year in Ireland, the starting point of preparations for the spring sowing. A relaxation of the rigours of winter weather was expected at this time, for, according to tradition, the saint had promised. “Gach ré lá go maith ó’m lá – sa arnach agus leath mo lae féinigh.” Every second day fine From my day onward And half of my own day St. Brigid was one of the great trio of saints – along with Patrick and Columba – who laid the foundations of the Celtic Church. She was born about 453 near Umeras, in Co. Kildare and died about 523. Her father was a pagan prince named Dubthach and her mother was Brocerna, a Christian slave in his household. The cult of St. Brigid is still vigorous in Ireland. She is known as the patron of farmers, of artists and of students. On the eve of her feast day, February 1st crosses made of rushes woven together are placed in Irish homes, blessed and hung up in cow-sheds or byres to invoke her protection for the following year. For those who lived near the sea the spring tide nearest to her festival was known as “Rabhastha na féile bride” and was believed to be the greatest spring tide of the year, and the people were quick to take the opportunity of cutting and gathering seaweed to fertilize the crops and collecting shellfish and other shore produce. In many places certain kinds of work were prohibited on the feast day and instead the inhabitants of parishes dedicated to the saint usually kept the day as a holiday and instead preformed devotions at the local shire of the saint. The housewife made sure that the house clean and tidy for the occasion and no matter how poor the household, always provided a festive supper or at least some tasty dish on St. Brigid’s Eve – apple-cake dumplings and colcannon were favourite foods at this time. There were various ways of indicating that her visit to a house or farmyard was welcome. There are traditions of placing a cake, bread and butter, water or pieces of meat on the willow-sill outside as offering to her. After she had passed by there acquired curative properties and were kept to relieve sickness. The lengthening day too, was welcome to people whose artificial lighting was limited. There was a saying which ran “On St. Brigid’s day, you can put away the candlestick and half the candle.” The most common type of St. Brigid’s Cross

https://www.youtube.com/embed/3SfH0Pg-7hs” target=”_blank”>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SfH0Pg-7hs&feature=youtu.be

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