UH/0713

Mayo school crosses bridge of hope
BY: JACQUELINE COURTNEY

A SMALL village school in Co Mayo had crossed the bridge of hope to bring comfort to the people of Omagh - through a link forged with one of the town's primary schools.
And the thoughtfulness and generosity of the young children in the South, in the light of the tragic event of August 15th, has been welcomed in Omagh County Primary School.
Vice-principal, Margaret Robinson, said that since the Omagh bombing, the school had received many letters, messages, cards, paintings and posters from school as far away as Ballycastle in the North and Waterford in the South.
But she was particularly impressed and touched by the precious delivery from a very small rural primary school in Newport, Co Mayo. The school has 32 pupils and two teachers and their package contained Peace Posters, a video featuring their school and a number of local landmarks, together with a donation of £200 for the Omagh Fund.
At the moment, the children in Year 5 at the County Primary - are corresponding by letter with all the pupils at the Newport school - as friendship blossoms across the Irish border.
The link was forged when Omagh County Primary received a letter from a parent of one of the children attending Cloondaff National School in Newport. The mother, Margaret McNeela penned it to the teachers, parents and children of Omagh and told of the "great sadness that we all saw" when the events of August 15th unfolded. "It is something we will never forget" said Margaret.
She explained that every Christmas they had a school concert and this year, during their Nativity Play, included a special peace ceremony in remembrance of Omagh.
The days before the concert they talked about peace in the school and put their thoughts on posters which have now arrived at the Omagh School.
And she wrote " We are sending a video of the concert and a few of the local land marks in our community - the school, the community hall, the church, the post office and Loch Bellra. This will give you a small idea of the beauty of our area".
And her letter also encourages local people to contact the school on the internet -E mail address -Cliuan. ias @ - tner - ie or by letter to the school address -Cloondaff NS, Cloondaff, Newport, Co Mayo.
The letter concludes "I wish you all the best for 1999 and hope you will be able to put the 15th of August behind you.
"I am a parent myself and can only imagine what the parents of Omagh had to go through. I hope you enjoy the video and I look forward to hearing from you" said Margaret as she signed off.