Ms Aoife Forde (History teacher) and Ms Eileen Forde (Art teacher) accompanied a group of students to the Portumna workhouse on Monday 17th October. As part of a creative engagement heritage project, students are researching the workhouse similar to that on which their own school stands. Students are writing essays for their leaving cert history based on this time in history. Art students will also complete calligraphy work and batiks of old documents in the school archives and of scenes from the workhouse.
This is a hugely successful heritage project which encourages students to recognise the great historical significance attached to the buildings they spend a significant time learning in. They gained great insight from talks on the day provided by Mr David Cunniffe a local historian who plans to visit the school shortly to witness himself the newly renovated workhouses and the old parts and artefacts that still remain. He will also talk to more history students and members of the heritage committee.
