St. Cronan's Boys' National School, Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

Seachtain na Gaeilge 2010

19ú Márta 2010

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Is mór an ómós atá againn i Scoil Chrónáin Naofa do Phádraig Naofa. Tá seachtain iomlán caite againn ag céiliúradh a shaol, ár gcultúr agus a bhéaloideas. Tá scéal a shaoil chomh tabhachtach anois is a bhí riamh.

St. Patrick's mission is as relevant today as it was in the fifth century. He was after all an outsider, and yet he managed to transform the early Irish Celtic society, if the folklore is to believed. Transformation can be healthy. In the Ireland of today we too also have people from outside our borders. They too are helping us transform who we are as a culture. Their importance was highlighted eloquently by President Mary McAleese some years ago; 'The more people ... are on the margins the weaker is the centre ... we all have a stake in building a future which respects and celebrates diversity - a generous sharing Ireland that encompasses many traditions and cultures and creates space for all its people'.

We must congratulate the recent intercultural initiative of Bray Lions Club, the Chamber of Commerce and Bray Town Council for inviting the Ambassadors of several countries to visit our local schools. It was wonderful for our school to have the honour of meeting His Excellency Mr. Ariel Abadilla, the first Philippine Ambassador to Ireland. It meant so much to all our pupils, but in a special way to the parents and pupils who come from the Philippines.

Any visitor to our town might be forgiven if they thought that there was an International Expo Fair here as shop owners transformed their window displays to coincide with the Ambassadorial visits. We also must acknowledge the generosity of Mr Paddy Kelly of Photocraft on Quinsboro' Road, who hosted our Philippine display.

The display was a veritable feast for your eyes as the many aspects of Philippine life were beautifully presented. This was very much a team effort as pupils from Mr Barry's class were joined by Florita Yanez, Wendelleah Carcallas, Vallezar Lugatiman, Lourdes 'Lot' Cernan, Isdro Pundugar and Cheryl Sabadoquia in preparing the material.

Ní neart go cur le chéile.

Vaughan Dodd