Jonathan Sweeney: "For my work experience I did a week with the Garda Síochána. I was based in Blanchardstown Garda station which is known as the K district. It is the largest area and the largest garda station in Ireland. Each day we had a schedule of things that we where going to do. Over the course of the week we went to visit Templemore Garda Training College, the Garda Dog unit, the Horse unit, the Criminal Assets Bureau, the Drug unit and Garda Headquarters.
We got a presentation of firearms when we were in the Garda Headquarters and were also shown the type of firearms that Garda detectives have on their person.
Overall I enjoyed the experience and found it very interesting and would recommend it to other students if they have an interest in this sort of career."
Adina Kilroy: "For my work experience I went to St. James' Hospital Central Pathology laboratory. I started at 10am every day. On Tuesday I began at 9.30am as I was shown around all the different departments of the laboratory.
I began observing in the Microbiology department first. I was preparing agar dishes and slides of blood samples to be viewed under the microscope. I was shown all the storage rooms and I was in the rooms where agar dishes were made. After lunch I observed in the Histology lab. I examined various organs such as a section of a bowel and I was shown around the fridge where the various organs were kept. After, we looked at a post-mortem of a liver, where I looked under the microscope of samples I had taken from the liver for any signs of abnormalities.
On Wednesday I observed Haematology and blood-transfusions. I carried out and observed blood tests to find people's blood categories and studying blood cells for abnormalities.
On Thursday, it was my last day. I went to the Immunology laboratory and biochemistry laboratory. I observed the machinery techniques and I went around Intensive Care and other emergency departments refilling solutions in the machines.
I found my work experience really interesting and I loved being in the labs."
Chuamar (an Idirbhliain) agus an chéad agus an dara bliain chuig Páirc an Chrócaigh ar an De Céadaoin an 14 Márta. Bhí an am againn. Bhí an aimsir go hálainn. B’é sin an chéad uair a bhí mé ann agus bhí sé an spéisiúil. Fuaireamar amach ón treoraí go bhfuil teas faoin talamh ann agus dá bharr sin ní chuireann an sioc isteach air, mar a tharla I bPáras, ar ocáid an gcluiche rugbaí idir Éire agus an Fhrainc.
Bhí an musaem an suimiúil freisin. D’fhéachamar ar fiseán faoin gcluichí peile agus iománaíochta freisin agus ag deireadh an fhiseáin thosaigh gach duine ag bualadh bos. Bhí an lá againn agus ba mhaith liom dul ar ais go luath.
Bhí Cath na mBannaí ar siúl sa scoil ar an gceithre lá déag de Mhárta agus bhí se ar fheabhas. Bhí a lán bannaí ag seinm ach an banna ab fhearr liom ná Segrassa, mar nuair a bhí siad ag seinm bhí mo chroí I mo bhéal.
Bhí an halla dubh le daoine agus bhí a lán rí –rá agus ruaille buaille ann. Bhí an t-atmaisféar leitreach. Bhí daoine ag canadh in ard a gcinn is a nguth. Fuair mé radharc maith ar an ardán agus bhí mé in aice le mo chairde.
Ag leath am bhí gach duine ag ithe milseán ón Siopa Tuc. Fuair mé paicéad criospaí agus buidéal cóic. Bhí an oíche go hiontach agus chuaigh mé abhaile go déanach. Bhí mé tuirseach traochta agus caite amach. Chodail mé go sámh an oíche sin. (Bruigh ar thumbnail chun an grianghraf a mhéadú.)
Ms. Finnegan has organised a new schedule of after-school sports activities for the Spring term. (Click on thumbnail to open an enlarged version of image.)
On Tuesday, 28th February, the TY class, accompanied by Ms. Kenny and Ms. Finnegan, went on a day trip to London. The day got off to a gruelling start with a 4.00am wake up call (to be at the airport for 5.20am) but we knew it could only get better! Pumped up with caffeine and hot chocolate from Butlers in the airport, we swanned through to the Imperial War Museum, via Gatwick airport, almost missing the fact that Michael O'Leary himself checked our boarding passes!
The Holocaust Exhibition was fantastic- filled with artefacts and real life accounts. It was both harrowing and fascinating and it really tied together the module we'd just completed in CSPE class. We had a little time in the other exhibits- notably in the lifelike trench replica which showed us the ghastly reality of life in a pit, knee deep in water.
After lunch, we took a whistlestop tour of London, seeing the main sights - Buckingham Palace, Westminister Abbey, Big Ben and the Tower of London. I think the highlight was finding out that we'd unknowingly spent the morning in the old Bethlehem mental aka Bedlam!
We arrived home around 11pm and I think I speak for everyone when I say that we all slept soundly, having had a wonderful day.
Click on thumbnail to open an enlarged version of image. Look at more London photos in the 2011-2012 Gallery.
Jonathan Sweeney: "For my work experience I did a week with the Garda Síochána. I was based in Blanchardstown Garda station which is known as the K district. It is the largest area and the largest garda station in Ireland. Each day we had a schedule of things that we where going to do. Over the course of the week we went to visit Templemore Garda Training College, the Garda Dog unit, the Horse unit, the Criminal Assets Bureau, the Drug unit and Garda Headquarters.
Adina Kilroy: "For my work experience I went to St. James' Hospital Central Pathology laboratory. I started at 10am every day. On Tuesday I began at 9.30am as I was shown around all the different departments of the laboratory.
Chuamar (an Idirbhliain) agus an chéad agus an dara bliain chuig Páirc an Chrócaigh ar an De Céadaoin an 14 Márta. Bhí an am againn. Bhí an aimsir go hálainn. B’é sin an chéad uair a bhí mé ann agus bhí sé an spéisiúil. Fuaireamar amach ón treoraí go bhfuil teas faoin talamh ann agus dá bharr sin ní chuireann an sioc isteach air, mar a tharla I bPáras, ar ocáid an gcluiche rugbaí idir Éire agus an Fhrainc.
