Ireland Trip

Friday 4th July 2008

The Ireland Trip took place from 5th to 8th of June and we got off to a very early start. The sleepy heads of pupils and staff gathered at Childwall School in the very early hours of Thursday morning to set off on our adventure. And an adventure it was as we only got as far as the Wirral before our school bus died on us!!! Oh yes fun and games as we all piled off the bus to the side of the road and called the RAC. They came to our rescue and informed us that our reliable bus driver Mr.Woodpark had filled the tank with petrol instead of diesel!!! EASILY DONE HE CLAIMS!! “Not to worry” we said and headed to McDonalds for a big breakfast before getting on the road in the new and improved school bus. We think it was a conspiracy by Mr.Woodpark to make us spend some time in Wales as we now had time to kill before going on the ferry. We ended up in the longest town in Wales which ends in gogogoch where we played in the sports centre and Paris showed us how it’s done in basketball. Finally on the boat we had some dinner and played a few card games.

It was all systems go when we reached Irish soil getting to Drogheda, checking in and getting ourselves glammed up for the cinema. It was a great night and we all managed to stay awake after our long day of travel.

Friday was a beautiful sunny day where we all gained some bumps and bruises on the ice at the Ice Dome in Dundalk. The people in Subway were kept busy making our lunch as we ate and then shopped for the BBQ supplies. Mummy Colgan put on a great spread again this year as we all piled into Miss Colgan’s house in Drogheda for a delicious BBQ. The boys played football with the dog while Miss Kular kept everyone in line dishing out the grub. The sun stayed out for the evening and we all headed back to the hostel full and chilled out. It was early to bed for everyone ready for a full day of activities on Saturday.

“Morning Lovelies” was heard along the hostel corridors at 7am on Saturday morning as Mr. Woodpark got everyone up for the day ahead. Miss Colgan did not get any sleep so just headed to the kitchen in the early hours to make the brekkie!!! The adventure centre was found in the picturesque village of Carlingford in County Louth where we all got busy doing zip wires, climbing, archery, low ropes and challenge course in the morning. Quick pit stop for lunch and then we headed to the edge of the Lough for the water activities. Everyone got dressed in their Baywatch style wetsuits and the two teams battled it out to build and race their rafts around the pier. Miss Colgan’s group did not even make it round the pier as their raft fell apart but everyone scrambled onto surf boards to make it to the finish line. Rena and her crew managed to finish with their raft in one piece to win the race. No hard feelings as everyone lined up on the wall to dive off the pier. That was the best bit of the day as Tom Rogers, the little daredevil, led the way. We refuelled ourselves with a trip to KFC and then got all glamorous again for our bowling and amusements. Saturday was great and we all got into our PJ’s and sat together in the hostel chillin’ out to music and chatting. Sunday brought mixed emotions as we were all tired yet we did not want the trip to end. A bit of souvenir shopping in Drogheda where we all got ice creams and then it was the final leg of our journey on the boat and back through Wales. Plenty of singing on the bus all the way home as DJ Kular blasted out the tunes. Parents eagerly waited outside the school gates and we turned into Childwall. A great time was had by everyone and the trip will stay in our memories forever. The pupils were an absolute credit to their parents and the school as they were all responsible and mature individuals while we were away.

Thanks again to Mr. Woodpark, Mr.Langley, Mr.Kular and Mr.Parry for all of their help and support.