Bernie Goldbach in Cashel | Mia in Lough Key.
WE PLAN TO send Christmas cards to our American cousins with little descriptions of The Gathering enclosed. And we're following up with audio and video chats using Skype, Facetime and Google Hangouts.
Our big challenge is Mia (in photo) cannot write yet. The schools project announced by the Gathering Ireland 2013 uses letters and emails as its focus. A new schools project encourages school children nationwide to invite friends, family, and loved ones from overseas to come to Ireland for the Gathering Ireland 2013. We're taking our part of the campaign to personal postcards, audio conversations, Instagram photos and video clips.
Our junior infant knows how to do these things and she knows how to ask adults to fill in the text where required.
In a formal announcement made by two Irish government ministers, "children across Ireland are being encouraged to become involved in the Gathering Ireland Primary Schools Letter Writing Initiative. Children will be asked to outline the special activities taking place in their community for the Gathering Ireland and invite friends and family abroad by letter or email to join the celebrations".
There's already an Audioboo account for after-school kids in Clonmel's Primary Presentation School. I'm hoping some of those young voices can make shout-outs by primary school students to their friends and family members abroad. Those three minute snippets could mention what's great about Clonmel, the River Suir, the sunny southeast in general and places kids enjoy going on weekends. I plan to spotlight some of the original work created by these young students in the months ahead.
Bernie Goldbach is a blow-in who collects things about Ireland.
Joint Press Release -- "New Schools Programme for The Gathering", October 18, 2012
