Thousands of Irish primary schoolchildren will soon find themselves sitting beside unlikely classroom companions – their own grandparents.
The National Grandparents’ Day in Schools is being launched today (Friday ) and throughout May and June grannies and granddads will join their grandchildren in schoolrooms all over the country, including in Leitir National School in Islandeady, the home parish of Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny.
Among the items the trans-generational classes will cover during the school visit will include compiling family trees, exhibitions of sean nós dancing, and learning old schoolyard games.
Mayo Education Centre is now expanding Grandparents’ Day nationwide.
“Grandparents have been invited to share their stories and songs, but most of all to share time together in the novel school setting,” explained Art Ó Suilleabhain of Mayo Education Centre.
“We have hundreds of schools taking part, and some are even adopting a local nursing home for a week to help combat loneliness among residents.”
Meanwhile, grandchildren all over the country have been invited to write a special prayer in honour of their grandparents, and it is expected that 10,000 prayers will be penned.
The prayer appeal has been launched by the National Grandparents’ Pilgrimage, which will this year take place in Knock Shrine on Sunday September 13.
“We want grandchildren to put down on paper their feelings for their grandparents. These prayers will transmit a powerful message to grandparents that they are valued and love in this society,” said Catherine Wiley of the National Grandparents’ Pilgrimage.
The prayers will be brought to the altar at the September 13 pilgrimage. Over 10,000 people attended last year’s pilgrimage.
Prayers can be posted to National Grandparents’ Pilgrimage, Horizon House, North Mall, Westport, or e-mailed to [email protected]
