We had a big weekend here in Drumshanbo, a celebration called An Tostal took place. This is an event first started 58 years to encourage visitors to rural Ireland and our town is the only town in the country that still keeps this tradition. I played a part in organizing the school children in the Sunday parade. Over the years I’ve been involved three times. The last time was in 2003 and when that festival was first I drew pictures of what I’d to see marching through the town. This year I actualized one of my drawing without realizing it.
We had 80 students marching and 100 children in total had a hand painting, colouring or lugging the parade floats to and fro from the empty storefront I used as my studio up to the school and back. They are terrific bunch of children.
I’m amazed at this wee manifestation.
More than this, I was amazed at some of the responses I got from the children and parents when things started to tangle as they sometimes do before and event. Teachers and parents alike were so generous with their patience as I assembled they’re little ones into rows with brightly coloured clothes, fish on stick, bats on poles, and butterflies everywhere. But,here’s one story that happened and I like it the best.
We had a large peacock that we used in the parade. It took a strong child to carry the structure and I gave that responsibility to a young boy named Evan. He’s in the Fourth Class ( grade four for those readers outside Ireland- about 9 or 10 years of age) He practiced carrying it and puffing out his chest like the bird and he was doing a wonderful job. We also had a colourful parachute that the school uses for games. The centre of the parachute had an opening and I thought that it would be perfect to place the peacock in the middle. That way the smaller children could hold the edges and walk in formation down the street. We also rehearsed this in the school yard with Evan in the middle . He did a great job. So on the Sunday, the day of the parade we were gathered outside and getting everyone in place. It was time to put the peacok in the middle but suddenly Evan could not be found. I waited and waited and finally I had to choice another child to be the peacock and get him strapped and safety pinned into place. A younger boy named Casper stood up and said that he thought he could handle the big bird. He tried it on and sure enough he had the strenght to carry it. So I pinned him into place. A few minutes later, Evan appeared. I explained to him that it was nearly time for us to march and how I waited and waited but couldn’t wait any longer for him.
Do you know what he did? He looked at me and said,
” Yeah I know, I’m late, oh well, what can I do to help?”
That boy was so honorable. And I really needed another big child to help the little children with the parachute. I put Evan along the Senior Infants and the they marched gloriously down the the road.
‘What can I do to help?’
Such a good boy
Such fine people.
What can I do help?
Thanks for clicking in
always
eileen
P.S. for more photos of the weekend in Drumshanbo log on to www.facebook.com/antostal