On Wednesday February 7, Mr Walsh’s 4th class set off for Coole Park, just outside Gort. The children were to take part in the educational programme run by the Centre there. We were welcomed by Hilda McLoughlin who introduced us to our “outdoors” guide, Gordon Darcy.

Gordon then took us on a hike through the woods stopping every so often to draw our attention to red deer, bat boxes, Whooper swans, Ice-Age boulders, a Monterey Pine ( enormous ), swallows’ nests, “dusty” catkins, etc. We estimated the age of the Monterey Pine at 240 years by getting the children to join hands around the trunk. Some of the children even reported seeing a pine-marten scampering up a tree. Gordon finished the walk at Coole’s famous autograph tree where the famous ( and some not-so-famous ) have left their mark.

After lunch, Hilda McLoughlin took us on a tour of the exhibits in the Centre. These included a cat mummy, an autographed fan (signed by Mark Twain and Teddy Roosevelt amongst others), children’s toys from a hundred years ago and a collection of stuffed animals and birds. They also played “Hunt the Thimble”.

As we got back on the bus, it started to snow but despite the children’s prayers, it didn’t last.
Thanks to Hilda, Gordon and to Deirdre Larkin who accompanied us on the day