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All Ireland Humanist Summer School, August 2007
See more photographs taken
at this years summer school.
ORIGINAL
PROGRAMME
World Humanist Day, June 2007
In response to
perceived need and popular demand the HAI organised a day out on the 24th June
to suit families and members who enjoy meeting one another in good surroundings.
Having checked out a number of possible locations it was decided that Newbridge
House and Demesne, close to the village of Donabate, was the most suitable
if our aim was to include children in the day’s activities. Among the
advantages it had to offer were 360 acres of beautiful grounds just off the
M1 and easily accessible by rail and bus, an excellent playground, picnic areas,
a farm and a coffee shop. Although the intention was to celebrate World Humanist
Day (Thursday 21st June), the feedback received was that Sunday 24th was a
more convenient day.
The weather report for the week-end was by no means encouraging
and we were glad we had an alternative venue in case of bad weather close-by.
However after a morning shower, the sun came out for the families and folk
who gathered round the picnic tables for lunch. The main draw for the children
was the playground behind the picnic area, so the adults in the group took
turns to supervise to allow parents a little time to chat.
When everyone was
fed and watered and the children “played” out,
we packed our things and made our way to the 29 acre traditional farm. We began
in a cobbled courtyard surrounded by outhouses including a dairy, carpenter’s
shop and blacksmith’s forge – all displaying tools and implements.
Since acquired by Fingal County Council in 1985 the area has been restored
and opened as a museum of late 18th century rural life in Ireland. One of the
highlights for the children was the hatchery – a room upstairs which
houses eggs laid by the many rare breeds of birds on the farm. They watched
the eggs being hatched and were able to get “up close and personal” with
the chicks, ducklings and young birds in the glass-cased incubators.
While progressing through the paddocks of the working farm they also enjoyed
the interaction with the unusual breeds of farm animals, especially the horses
and recently born kids and piglets.
We finished with a walk through the walled
garden and a visit to the coffee shop for the obligatory “treat”. As the evening drew in and the
younger children grew tired, it was time for some to part company. Although
the weather proved benevolent we didn’t get time to sample the delights
of the demesne’s woodlands and wildflower meadows (preserved as an example
of the work of 18th century Wexford gardener Charles Fritzel) but a number
adjourned to our “bad weather venue” beside the pedestrian entrance,
where the amateur botanists could discuss the rarer breeds of plants in the
adjacent small but exuberantly planted sub-tropical garden!
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