Gilnahirk Primary and the NDNSP together in Baronscourt

On the 7th March '02 we had a brilliant day. All of us and went to Baronscourt which is just outside Omagh. It was a very long bus journey. We left school at 7.00 a.m. and we arrived in Baronscourt at 11.15 a.m. We were a bit late. Our friends in Gilnahirk Primary had to wait for us but they said they didn't mind too much. We had two stops on the way. One of the stops was at a 'Deli' outside Monaghan and we were able to buy breakfast food. Remember we left home soon after 6.00 a.m!

It was brilliant to meet everyone from Gilnahirk Primary. We recognised some of them from videoconferencing and we were asking them about things they told us on NINE web crossing and during videoconferences. We all made friends. First we had a snack and then we had activities. Some people went on an environmental walk, other people did drama, others did creative writing (in a log cabin) and some people did art. We all did two workshops. We were in groups of eight and there were four from each school in the group. Here are some of the comments from people in our class and from Gilnahirk Primary too and some photos we took in Baronscourt.

I think Baronscourt was very enjoyable and educational and the fact that we met our Dublin friends was a great idea. (Katherine - Gilnahirk Primary)

I liked the nature walk best because I learned all about nature and flowers. I made some new friends that day. (Chris - Gilnahirk Primary)

It was a very long bus journey but it was worth it because the children in the group I was in were really nice. (Maria)

I really enjoyed Baronscourt. It helped a lot to stretch your imagination. The place was brilliant and I got to met new people. Excellent. Thanks to Holly for being so friendly. (Deborah - Gilnahirk Primary)

I liked the way they put us in groups and I liked the scenery of Baronscourt. (Jack)

It was a totally exquisite experience and an enjoyable day. (Jonathan - Gilnahirk Primary)

The day was magic! The nature walk made me see that life is all around us and how amazing plants really are. The drama was fantastic. We all got to open up and when we did, our thoughts came flowing out. I'd give anything to go again. It was a day I'll never forget! (Cathryn - Gilnahirk Primary)

I liked Baronscourt because it was educational and fun. (Paul - Gilnahirk Primary)

I enjoyed going on the nature walk and making new friends. (Peter - Gilnahirk Primary)

Baronscourt was enjoyable because we interacted with another school and learned about nature. (Ronan)

The grounds that it was all on were very nice. The whole thing was very well organised and very enjoyable. (Caoimhe)

I enjoyed Baronscourt loads. The walk was really nice and I learned loads about nature and saw a really cool tree which was like sponge. The way we did writing was a load of fun. I got to know a few people and they are really nice. (Caroline)

I thought it was OK and I thought Gilnahirk were nice. (Hannah)

Baronscourt was excellent - the best school tour this year! It taught me how important nature is. The art was very good fun and the teachers were really nice. I'd definitely give Baronscourt 10 out of 10. Gilnahirk Primary were really nice. I even met some new friends. p.s. Baronscourt is a lovely place. (Megan)

I really enjoyed the nature walk. Our guide was very helpful and told us about all the different plants. The drama was loads of fun and we had a lot of laughs! (Jennifer - Gilnahirk Primary)

I couldn't believe the size of the estate. It was class! (Lee - Gilnahirk Primary)

I enjoyed Baronscourt a lot because of the nature walk and when we went to the log cabin. (Jack - Gilnahirk Primary)

I thoroughly enjoyed Baronscourt and thought the environmental walk was amazing. I would jump at the chance to go back and I hope I do some day. (Lindsay - Gilnahirk Primary)

Our day at Baronscourt was great and the nature walk was fun. (Cathryn- Gilnahirk Primary)

Baronscourt was absolutely fabulous, you got to do so much and the tour was amazing. I was astonished at the labyrinth. (Alastair - Gilnahirk Primary)

Baronscourt was brilliant. I did drama and got to listen to what everyone was feeling. I also got to do the nature trail and there were lots of interesting things. I met two girls from Dublin called Alexandra and Hannah. They were really friendly. Thank you. (Andrea - Gilnahirk Primary)

The day was fantastic. I thought the wooden hut was absolutely amazing. It was my birthday present. It's a pity we couldn't stay longer. Well, I enjoyed the day, did you?

We did writing in the Long Cabin

I loved writing in the log cabin. We could let all our emotions out. I felt very refreshed after it. (Amy)

I thought Baronscourt was great. It really gave me some good ideas for my stories. (Norah)

I liked the log cabin because it was so old and I enjoyed the writing exercises when we were given ideas for our stories and poems. (Conor - Gilnahrik Primary)

I think that Baronscourt was very interesting and the bit I enjoyed most was the log cabin beside the lake. Thank you! (Ross - Gilnahirk Primary)

Baronscourt was a lot of fun. I liked doing the writing in the log cabin with the fire and the candles. On the nature walk we got to learn about plants and beatles.

I liked writing in the log cabin because it was fun. The nature walk was good but I still liked the log cabin more. (Jennifer C.)

At Baronscourt I enjoyed the writing exercise in the log cabin and the nature walk which was very interesting. (Jenny - Gilnahirk Primary)

We went on an Environmental Discovery Trail

I loved the scenery - it was very picturesque and natural. (Kate)

I liked the nature walk because it was fun and I learned about the plants and flowers. (Gemma - Gilnahirk Primary)

Baronscourt is the best! You get a guided tour round the grounds and are shown everything from rabbit droppings to giant rhubarb. Thanks for taking me to County Tyrone for the day. (Chris- Gilnahirk Primary)

Baronscourt has great wildlife. We saw loads of plants and a buzzard. (Fionn)

I enjoyed the nature walk very much because I learned a lot. I also enjoyed seeing the different trees and learning about where they came from. (Katrina - Gilnahirk Primary)

I thought the nature walk was the best because I learned a lot about nature. (Elsa)

Our day trip to Baronscourt was an interesting experience. The Environmental walk was interesting. There are so many kinds of Oak Trees in Baronscourt. (Eoghan)

I enjoyed the nature walk at Baronscourt because I learned new things about plants and animals. (Andrew - Gilnahirk Primary)

I enjoyed Baronscourt very much but I liked the walk best. (Andrew - Gilnahirk Primary)

I really enjoyed the nature walk. We got to see lots of trees and plants. It was very interesting. (Susan)

We did art.

I thought it was very good. I really liked the art. We made borders. (Lukas) I thought the art was brilliant and making the banner was fun. The environmental walk was long but looking at the plants and different trees was very good and I learned a lot of things. (Stephen - Gilnahirk Primary)

The day at Baronscourt was very enjoyable. Some of the plants were amazing and I enjoyed the art. (Ross - Gilnahirk Primary)

We did drama

The environmental work was very educating and the drama was fun. (Sam)

We had fun in Baronscourt. I did drama and a nature walk. In drama we did mimes and in the nature walk we looked at trees and stuff like that. (Stephen Ma.)

Baronscourt was really exciting and we got to do drama and listen to people's thoughts. What I enjoyed most was learning about nature and facts about trees. I also enjoyed acting things out. Thank you. It was a great day. (Emma - Gilnahrik Primary)

I really enjoyed Baronscourt. I liked the drama group and I made friends with people from Gilnahirk.

We even found time to play a soccer match (perhaps better described as a 'kick-around' at lunch time).

I liked playing the match against Gilnahirk. (Luke)

I think the drama was the best because we got to meet each other and interact better. (Matthew - Gilnahirk Primary)

I liked the football match we played against them. (Edwin)

I enjoyed the soccer match very much and I liked painting too. (Robert)

I liked the match that we played agains Gilnahirk. I liked the scenery at Baronscourt. I liked walking around and loking at the plants and at the buildings.

I thought the way we were allowed to play Gilnahirk in a football match in the Baronscourt grounds was great. (Daniel)

We would like to thank the Dissolving Boundaries Project for paying for our bus and for the meal we had on the way home and we would like to thank the Pushkin Awards for all the activities they organised in Baronscourt and for the snacks they provided for us there. It was a great day and a brilliant way for the children to meet. They got to know each other through learning, experiencing new things and having fun together. The scenery was stunning and even the weather was beautiful so we could ask for little more! The link between our two schools grows and grows and we are very grateful to everyone who made it possible to have such an enriching day. (Jennifer)

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