Stories

Shirley Dalton (Director, Fair City)

My Inspirational Teacher was Mairead Byrne, she taught me Art in Sancta Maria College, Ballyfermot when I was sixteen. She was a brilliant teacher, always very positive, she was like a friend and she could relate the Art subject to the real world, she was inspirational. You could tell that she really cared about you and she was excited with you when you did something well. One day she saw me drawing on the back of one of my school books, she called my parents into the school and said I had an amazing talent and should do Art for the Leaving Cert. She inspired me to be a graphic designer. I think about her all the time and wish I could help her now as much as she helped me.
 

Orla Mordaunt, Co. Wexford. (Age 13)

My teacher in fifth class was my favourite teacher of all time. Why? She not only thought us the usual like Maths, English, Geography, History, Irish etc. She changed our lives by not only making us become smarter but to become a better people by: encouraging us to have a hobby, to get involved in sports, to be a good person, encouraging our work and most of all to enjoy ourselves. She also did fun activities by showing us: how to knit, how to cook, which were really good skills that I have learned from her and will remember how to knit and cook for life! We also done some fascinating experiments and even once she thought us a little French.

These basics gave me a fair idea of what changes I could expect in First year. She also thought us how to enjoy ourselves and have fun.
I remember on a really hot day she brought us on a lovely nature walk. On our nature walk we had to collect nature objects like flowers, leaves etc. for the nature table and during the nature walk she got us all ice-creams from the local shop.

This nature walk showed me how fun it is to learn about nature on a simple walk. We also had done some lovely projects on our favourite animals, different species of birds, about our village, (which she invited speaker from village) and about our local club. If she wouldn’t have thought me in fifth class I wouldn’t have my favourite hobby right now which is camogie. I wouldn’t have enjoyed this hobby which I have enjoyed for many years and still do! This teacher encouraged us all to play sports which I greatly appreciate her for doing so. Most of us still play with our club.

This is the main reason why my friends and I still all see each other now, since we don’t go to the same schools. We even won the Camogie final last year and she was there to support us. She was the teacher who prepared us for confirmation so as a special treat that year she brought us up to the community centre to do some cooking. It was great fun! On Friday’s sometimes she brought us in her homemade scones or brown bread, which were delicious.

On the last few days of school before the summer holidays she played a big hurling match with us, the best thing is that she joined in which was really enjoyable. At breaks she organised us hurling/camogie, football and soccer matches which was really great fun! She also made learning fun and understandable by going over the work until we understood.

She also had great praise for everyone in my class and made us feel proud of our work. I think everyone needs a teacher like her I didn’t realise how lucky I was. She isn’t only a great teacher but a person who I admire and will never forget.