Teachers on the Move - Strasburg

I had the privilege to visit the European Parliament in Strasbourg in September. Strasbourg is situated on the border between France and Germany, a city that symbolizes the reconciliation of Europe after two World Wars. Europe’s citizens elect the Members of Parliament. All of us, whatever our situation – young or not so young, students, workers or pensioners - are affected by European laws, sometimes without realising it. In many areas such as healthier food on our plates, freedom of movement and freedom to work anywhere in the EU and protection of the environment – Europe’s elected representatives play a crucial role. European laws are, above all, about making people’s lives easier within the European Union and promoting equal opportunities, rights and obligations.

Perhaps we don’t often appreciate the benefits of EU policy on our lives – we find it too bureaucrat too much ‘red tape’. In conversation with Brian Crowley, Pat “The Cope” Gallagher we discovered that ways and means to lessen the burden of ‘red tape’ is being examined. Extensive New EU supervisory powers over banks and financial institutions have been accepted by an overwhelming majority of members of the E U Parliament. A new systemic risk board has also been agreed which will warn against the build up of economic risk but we must also have to have in Ireland a national supervision board too. I personally think that Banks should pay for Banks. Taxpayers should not have to carry the burden. We don’t want another financial nightmare like Anglo Irish.

National politics are set aside by our MEP’s in the Parliament. Our elected MEP’s cooperate with the three Northern MEP’s on matters pertaining to Ireland as a whole. Máire Geoghegan Quinn is highly regarded in her new role, as Commmissioner, by all member states. We had a question and answer session with our MEP’s - it proved interesting and informative. Our MEPs treated us to lunch and we met Brain Crowley who has agreed to let his name go forward for the Presidency. He is a fine young man with great vision and enthusiasm.

We visited the magnificent Strasbourg Cathedral. Inside the Cathedral through great stained glass windows the light is generously distributed and magnified. The windows depict the various scenes from the gospels, telling us that God gives light to those who trust him. We must all be bearers of light for others in our journey through life. The astronomical clock - an invention put together by various artists, mathematicians and technicians is a favourite tourist attraction.

We enjoyed a leisurely cruise I after lunch up the river which brought us through many locks. The historical sites of Strasburg can be viewed from the boat.

On our way we stopped at the War memorial at Verdun. The memorial is in the shape of a bullet signifying ‘War’ and the shape of a cross representing ‘Peace’. 300,000 French, 400,000 Germans, 300,000 of other nationalities lost their lives in the dirty, rat invested trenches at Verdun. The bones of their unidentified bodies were laid to rest in a crypt under the monument. Thousands of bones and skulls can be viewed through glass windows. The graves of the Christian soldiers are marked with crosses and the Muslin graves are faced towards Mecca. The horrific sight brings home to us the futility of war. Thousands of names are inscribed on the walls of the memorial inside the building. An eerie silence prevails. Historically, the slaughter of young men at Verdun poses many questions.

This First World War was supposed to be the war that would end all wars but the Treaty signed at Versailles which was weighted against the Germans gave Hitler the excuse he needed to rally support which gave rise the Second World War.

We journeyed to the historic town of Colmar, the capital of Alsace. It is situated in the rolling countryside of vineyards, orchards of apples, peaches and plums, maize fields, pumpkin and vegetable plots with newly laid strawberry beds. Terraced farming dominates this rich agricultural land. Colmar is the hometown of Frédéric Bartholdi who designed the Statue of Liberty.

We had the pleasure of attending Mass with a number of blind pilgrims on Mount St Odile, the spiritual shrine loved by Alsatian People. St. Odile is the patron saint of blind people. Mount St Odile towers over the forestry canopy with extraordinary and exceptional views. It is a haven for walkers. I walked here with the Corrib Ramblers led by our beloved Roland some years ago

It was a delightful experience to visit the picturesque Lake Mummelsee, 3,400 feet above sea level and then to visit the Spa town of Baden Baden. People have enjoyed the spa treatments since Roman times here in the town synonymous with fine wines and German cuisine.

We were fortunate to have enjoyed the trip to Paris and Strasbourg in the company of a great fun loving, multi talented group of friends and new acquaintances led by our good - humoured guide Ciaran.

Mary Kyne 2010

Teachers on the move in Paris

I flew into Paris with six friends on a European Awareness Trip on a beautiful autumnal day. Paris has to be one of the most romantic cities in the world. It has so many splendid palaces, monuments, fountains gardens, fashionable shops and restaurants. One never tires of seeing Paris in all its splendour. On this trip we saw the famous Eiffel Tower erected on the occasion of the World Fair of 1889. In the distance you can see a replica of the Statue of Liberty presented to the U.S.A. by the French.

The Louvre Art Gallery, that houses the famous Mona Lisa and numerous works of art, fades into the background behind the spectacular glass pyramid - you either love this structure or you loathe it. We passed by the famous Notre Dame cathedral, the Bastille, the Luxemburg Gardens where Parisians and tourists picnic, jog and relax on the manicured lawns and admire the multi coloured flowered beds. We visited the church of Madeleine with its 52 impressive Corinthian columns 65 feet high running around the out side. A wedding was in progress with a string quartet playing classical music, which filled the architectural splendid interior. The bride was a mere 45 minutes late. Paris traffic was the excuse offered for her lateness.

We passed the famous Rolex, Tiffany and Charavet shop but we didn’t have time to purchase any shirts!! The colours didn’t suit!!

The impressive Arch Carrousel built to celebrate Napoleon Bonaparte ‘s victories in 1805 and the Arc de Triomphe, a memorial to the Great Army are striking monuments. Under the Arc the tomb of the Unknown Soldier with its eternal flame still attracts crowds of visitors. The Champs – Élysées with its luxurious shops, theatres, and famous restaurants is one of the most cosmopolitan avenues in the world.

The building of the famous avenue is attributed to Napoleon who reigned in this medieval city of narrow streets, wooden houses, no sewers – they literally dumped all their waste both human and commercial out on the the rat invested street. Napoleon ordered that most of the streets and buildings be demolished. He rebuilt the city with wide boulevards, installed piped water and constructed new sewers.

I visited Dome Des Invalides – a church, erected as a shrine in memory of Napoleon, his family and famous French generals. Napoleon was buried in the Island of St. Helena. When Queen Victoria came to power a bargain was made to exchange Napoleon’s body for that of Richard the Lion Hearted who was buried in France. Legend has it that the French cheated and didn’t return the body. The English also cheated and returned the body of Napoleon’s friend - so inside the massive tomb we do not have the body of Napoleon to day. Who knows who lies in the sarcophagus of red granite with its six coffins of tin, mahogany, two coffins of lead, ebony and oak?

We attended Mass at the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal at the Rue du Bac. The medal’s design was given to Catherine Laboure. On the death of her mother Madeleine in 1815 Catherine choose the Blessed Virgin to be her mother. She entered the convent in 1830 and was entrusted with a message - “ Have a medal struck, and those who wear it with confidence will receive great graces”. During the Great Plague thousands of medals were distributed and many people were cured and it was given the name “ Miraculous Medal’.

When Catherine’s body was exhumed it was in perfect condition. It lies in state under the side altar to day. The place exudes peace and tranquility.

We spent an afternoon in Montmartre one of the most picturesque quarters of Paris. The white domes of the famous Sacre Coeur Church, a mixture of Romanesque and Byzantine architecture, tower over the “Mount of Martyrs”. Close by is the Place du Tertre the artist’s quarters with its narrow streets. People stand or sit on stools while artists paint their portraits. There are no monuments here. The monuments are the people themselves, musicians, artists, puppeteers who live and work here and who fill its narrow streets, its old shops and tiny cafes with their colourful but tranquil lives. The stalls are a great attraction for all keen shoppers. We enjoyed bargaining for caps, hats, scarves even some of our ladies bought aprons!! How crazy!

We visited the last resting place of Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) in Anvers-sur- Oise, a small ancient village. He is laid to rest in a simple tomb beside his beloved brother. Van Gogh had a tragic vision of life so he filled both men and objects in his canvases with violence and desperation distorting and transforming everything.

Paris is an enchanting city. My friends and I enjoyed French cuisine, fine wines the carefree atmosphere of the open-air cafés drinking kir or sipping hot chocolate and indulging in their delicious pastries. We will be back le cúnamh Dé.

Mary Kyne September 2010

THe Delightful Waterways of Galway City

27 members spent a delightful two hours in the company of Michael Quinn, development officer of Galway Civic Trust who introduced us to the delightful watercourses of the River Corrib. They are indeed ‘Hidden Treasures in the Heart of Galway’. This area was the industrial heart of the city in times past. Our walk took us from the Cathedral down Eglinton Canal, past Gaol River, St Clare’s river, past one of the canal lock gates, near Cloherty’s and Semple’s Saw Mill, down to Wolfe Tone Bridge with its imposing Fisheries Tower.

Bruach na Corribe

We then followed the course of the river and made our way up ‘Bruach na Corribe’ (at Jury’s Inn). We passed Middle river. Modern apartments at this point were once home to Burke’s Distillery, a flour and saw mill. Across from this vantage point

is The Bridge Mills. On the opposite side of the river, (when you cross O Brien’s Bridge), are the ruins of the famous Persse Distillery, which had an output of 400,000 gallons of whiskey annually. Situated on Middle River was the Galway Electric Light Company, (which supplied Galways electricity needs in the early part of the 20^th century), founded by the Perry Family.

Alice Perry (1885-1969) qualified as the first female engineer in 1906 and on the death of her father, served in Galway as the country’s only female county surveyor.

The secluded backwaters of this myriad of waterways was a perfect retreat on September 1st free from the hum not only of modern city traffic but for us retired teachers from the noise of the 1^st day back in the classroom.

Bhí lá iontach againn i dteannta a chéile.

We wish our teaching
colleagues the very best for the new school year.

Persse

Distillery