The morning will include guest speakers from both charities, the PCS chamber choir, trad group, singing, instrumental recitals, dancing, guest artists Mairin and Gerard Fahy, Mike Denver and John Luke Reynolds! A craft fair with locally sourced goods will also be there to ensure you can purchase last - minute Christmas presents!

A huge thanks to the Parents' Association for organising a raffle on the morning of the event.

We hope to see you all there for this festive event which will raise funds for such worthy causes!

We should acknowledge those who are homeless and those who are experiencing financial struggles.

We must remember that Christmas isn't just about presents and new things, it's about spreading love and kindness for the good of others.

We had a great year that had a community focus, filled with bonding due to our many school events and sporting activities. We hope for another year of great experiences and learning as we head towards the mock examinations in February and the State exams in June.

We hope to work even harder in 2024, not just in our studies but in our wider community. We must work on our relationships in order to make the world a better place.

We hope for peace in the wider world, particularly for those affected in Gaza.

We hope to make our school community more inclusive, we welcome all our new students and will continue to celebrate everyone's unique personalities.

We hope that you have a restful and peaceful Christmas and a prosperous new year!

'New Holland tractor' - Mr. Hanney

'Audi Q7 S-Line' - Ms. E. Byrne

'State Examinations Papers 2024' - Ms. N. Byrne

'1974 Landrover Safari LWB 2.5 Diesel in pillarbox red or a 1999 Yamaha Virago 125cc' - Mr. Plews

Students (wished to remain anonymous):

A ticket to visit my home country

New Connaught jersey

Claddagh Ring

White Fox tracksuit

Hair care products

Make up

Perfume

Tan

Skincare

iPhone

Skincare

Bodyshop Set

Make up brushes

Rings

Earrings

Tracksuit

New shoes

Pandora Ring

Multi - coloured propellor hat

Comedically large swirly lollipop

Selection boxes - and more of them!

Fortnite Currency

Mr. Hanney - to bulk up

Ms. E. Byrne - to put myself first more

Mr. Plews - play more music and see friends more often

Ms. N. Byrne - to be more patient

Students (again, who wished to remain anonymous!)

To have a new year's resolution

Start the gym

Be more committed to camogie

Save all my money from my job - to curb my spending!

To take my theory test

To learn sign language

To turn up to class on time

To not leave my homework until 11.05pm on Sunday night

To figure out exactly what algebra is

To start studying for the exams in June

To make more time for sports and friends

In the second session of DIY, we made frames using 2x4's. We had to screw them together. We then measured the plaster board and cut it to the correct measurements to fit around the frame and then we screwed the plaster board onto the frame.

Jason - My favourite part about DIY was learning to cut plaster board.

Aaron - My favourite part about DIY was using the drill to drill holes for screws.

When we woke up the next morning, we had our breakfast and then went to complete our activities. We participated in canoeing, rafting, a bog run, abseiling, ziplining and also completed a wipe-out course!

All our groups did different activities and then we did an evening hike before dinner.

We woke up to sausages and beans for breakfast and then completed our last activity of the trip. After we packed our bags, we said goodbye to Delphi and headed home. It was a brilliant trip and we hope that we get the opportunity to go again!

We finally returned to Portumna. It was an extremely enjoyable experience!

One side of the potato-pits was white with frost -
How wonderful that was, how wonderful!
And when we put our ears to the paling-post
The music that came out was magical.

The light between the ricks of hay and straw
Was a hole in Heaven's gable. An apple tree
With its December-glinting fruit we saw -
O you, Eve, were the world that tempted me.

To eat the knowledge that grew in clay
And death the germ within it! Now and then
I can remember something of the gay
Garden that was childhood's. Again.

The tracks of cattle to a drinking-place,
A green stone lying sideways in a ditch,
Or any common sight, the transfigured face
Of a beauty that the world did not touch.

My father played the melodion
Outside at our gate;
There were stars in the morning east
And they danced to his music.

Across the wild bogs his melodion called
To Lennons and Callans.
As I pulled on my trousers in a hurry
I knew some strange thing had happened.

Outside in the cow-house my mother
Made the music of milking;
The light of her stable-lamp was a star
And the frost of Bethlehem made it twinkle.

A water-hen screeched in the bog,
Mass-going feet
Crunched the wafer-ice on the pot-holes,
Somebody wistfully twisted the bellows wheel.

My child poet picked out the letters
On the grey stone,
In silver the wonder of a Christmas townland,
The winking glitter of a frosty dawn.

Cassiopeia was over
Cassidy's hanging hill,
I looked and three whin bushes rode across
The horizon — the Three Wise Kings.

And old man passing said:
‘Can't he make it talk -
The melodion.' I hid in the doorway
And tightened the belt of my box-pleated coat.

I nicked six nicks on the door-post
With my penknife's big blade -
there was a little one for cutting tobacco.
And I was six Christmases of age.

My father played the melodion,
My mother milked the cows,
And I had a prayer like a white rose pinned
On the Virgin Mary's blouse.

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!

On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!

Ms. Skelly's Class:

Naomi Fahy

Carrie Pierce Forde

Thomas Silke

Ms. Fahy's Class:

Thomas Deegan

Harlow Slattery Madden

Daniel Keane

Mr. Plews' Class:

Jamie Hogan

Darragh Egan

Rachel Devane

Ms. Hough's Class:

Jack Sullivan

Laura Donohoe

Kelly Higgins

Well done to all the 2nd year students who completed this task - your efforts were full of creativity, humour and there was a clear improvement in literacy skills! Well done!

Lies a tale of Yuletide, a festive, joyous song.

Amidst the Shannon's whispers, where waters gently flow,

Christmas paints its magic, casting a radiant glow.

In Portumna's quaint streets adorned with lights aglow,

The spirit of the season finds its wondrous, merry flow.

Along the shops and markets, cheerful bustle thrives,

As laughter intertwines with carols that revive.

The castle stands adorned, a historic sight to see,

Wrapped in holly, wreaths, a symbol of jubilee.

Its walls echo with stories from Christmases of yore,

Resonating warmth and mirth, a treasure to adore.

The shores of Lough Derg, serene beneath the sky,

Reflect the starry heavens as the snowflakes fly.

Families gather 'round, their hearts brimmed with cheer,

Sharing tales and blessings, drawing loved ones near.

In Portumna's embrace, where Galway's spirit gleams,

Kindness and goodwill dance through the festive dreams.

With every twinkling light and each familiar face,

Christmas in Portumna finds its cherished place.

May this season's magic, in Galway's merry way,

Bring joy to every heart, brightening each day.

In Portumna's warm embrace, under the starry night,

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a joyful delight!

'I enjoy seeing everyone's reactions to their presents, their eyes normally glisten with joy making everyone happy as they are grateful for their gifts.'

'Another thing that made me believe in Santa was seeing the mince pies and glasses of milk gone overnight. Every morning I would say 'Gosh, it looked like Santa enjoyed that!'.'

'Most traditions at Christmas time symbolise Jesus' birth. For example, at mass coming up to Christmas time, the priest will light a different coloured candle every Sunday leading up to Christmas day.'

'Christmas is a wonderful time of the year for most people, but it could be a very tough time for others. Many people struggle at Christmas, some may worry about money and some may worry about being alone in the cold and dark. To make Christmas extra special I think we should all do something to help make others happy.'

'You certainly cannot forget all Christians who may have a very strong and connected Christmas with God but also with Jesus.'

'This Christmas however, I'm starting to enlighten myself by realising that it's not just Santa that brought the magic, it's my friends and family that bring it too. It's the season of giving for crying out loud! That's always been the point of it.'

'Unfortunately in some countries, they are too poor to have a Christmas day. This is very sad as they would not get to experience the joy and excitement of Christmas day. This makes it even more important to enjoy Christmas day as we are very privileged to have one.'

'I was able to give her a hug. That Christmas will forever be my favourite.'

'I really believe in Christmas miracles. I do because one year, my uncle was coming home from Australia back to Ireland to celebrate with us. The flight went well, but when he got off in London airport for his final flight disaster struck!'

'I think that Christmas is meaningful because it's not just about giving, it's about spending it with people that you love. Younger kids might think it's just about them and what they want, but they don't know the whole backstory.'

'If Christmas was organised by children, I think it would be messy. If they tried wrapping the handle bar of the stairs in lights, one of them would get tangled in it. You would probably end up getting food poisoning or coal as food. The presents would probably be opened as soon as possible.'

Hi, I am Javier and this was my experience of Ireland.

First of all, there are many different things such as the weather, food and landscape which makes this country interesting and challenging. It is not just about discovering a new world, but also about discovering a new culture, finding out how Irish people live, what they do and to just be one of them. For me, these four months have made a big change in my life, it made me more independent which is good for the future. After my experience here I feel better in general.

The second thing that made this a great experience are the people around me, they are really nice and kind. They will try to help you as much as they can. They are also really funny and athletic, they will treat you like you have always been here.

As always, the first days of school are the most difficult and more difficult in another country. But in my case, even the first day was fun, I started to talk with some people I would never think I would talk to. Throughout the days, weeks and months I have seen enough things to say that the people around Portumna are the best and they really look after you. Unfortunately, I will be returning home soon, I will miss all of them and hope to see them again.

Another good point to highlight is the amount of English I have learned. It’s amazing how at the beginning it was difficult to follow lessons or to understand people, but now it’s just like one more language. Something I learned is that sometimes the problem is not to understand them but it is for others to understand you.

I also discovered new sports - hurling and gaelic football. In my opinion I would choose hurling, it’s such a difficult sport which requires skill and speed but it is so entertaining to play and watch it. I also continued playing rugby and the people here take it very seriously, which gives you motivation and creates a very good team spirit.

Finally, from my point of view Ireland is an unique country either their own culture (take Guinness for example!) full of sports, lovely places and for me the best would be the people in general. Sometimes you don’t need big cities or tourist areas – I am completely sure that this has been one of the best experiences ever. Fortunately, I can bring back lots of good memories, friends I have made and to my host family I would love to say: “Thank you for giving me this opportunity and treating me as an Irish boy.”

Thanks and see you soon,

Javier