By Peg Prendeville

I received the following from Parents Association of Ballyhahill school:

“Scoil Naomh Mhuire, Ballyhahill national school is a small 2 teacher school. We receive very little financial support from the Department of Education due to the size of the school, but our students still have numerous and varied needs and require resources that we are not in a position to provide at the minute. As a small school we only have a part time caretaker who only has enough time for essential day to day maintenance. Our principal is a teaching principal with limited time and resources to tackle all the problems associated with an old school. We, in the Parents Association, are trying to make up the shortfall. We are willing to give our time but we need funds in order to achieve everything. We are an active committee and we are thankful to the local community for always supporting us so generously. We are looking to raise funds to provide a sensory room to support the emotional regulation of the pupils in the school, making a happy school life available to all.

We would also like to be able to maintain the look of the school with a fresh coat of paint. The school is 63 years old and a building of this size and age requires a lot of maintenance. The building and garden has always been a source of pride to the local community and we would like to keep it this way, but as you can imagine it will be a big and costly job! To this end we are asking for you to dig deep for us and donate as much as you can. Small country schools deserve the same resources and support as larger ones. So please share the love and keep our country schools alive. Thank you.” They  have set up a gofundme page on facebook under the Ballyhahill NS Parents Association. But I’m sure they wont refuse a brown envelope with a few bob either from those who do not do facebook. Every little bit helps.

I have been looking out for the past two nights to get a glimpse of the Northern Lights which have been putting on a great display in various parts of Ireland especially towards the north. But I was out of luck. The northern sky looked a bit brighter but that’s all. I am  reminded of my father who stood with us at the front door each night gazing at the stars and searching for the lights! A lovely memory.