Two Local Studies
Projects
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Developing Research Skills
using local features
Making best use of Library Services
A dolman, a clump of trees disguising a cairn or an old fort, a ruined mill, an gnarled oak tree, a piece of decorated moulding over a window, a collection of odd chimneys on a roofscape ... the list is endless. These and many other features are a familiar part of the built and natural landscape. There are many ways of exploring these features and the photos, maps and other documents held by the "Time Machine Room" will help with the detective work. However, the one thing that links all these features is that they generate stories. Every hill, every street and every field has its story to tell if you know where to look, and above all, if you just ask.
As part of the "My Place 09" project, we spent a long time focussed on individual townlands. Under the heading, "The View From my Window", the students went away to explore their own townland stories including fieldnames, old stories, annecdotes. This was valuable material in terms of Local Studies and the students and their families became very enthusiastic about gathering together their stories. The project lead to good quality poetry and artwork as well (see the My Place 09 project link)
This is an old oak from John Casey's book. John , a local historian who helped us with the "Open The Door" project, talked about the importance of trees in the Fermoyle area.
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The work on "The View Through My Window" lead to the students designing some beautiful Townland crests.
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Sometimes you have to assess evidence carefully. This pillar may look old but the letters BC don't necessarily mean that it is more than 2000 years old. Other evidence shows that the letters refer to the name of the bank.
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