Welcome to St. Rynagh's N.S. Banagher, Co. Offaly

St. Patrick's Day Parade 2011

The title for our School's entry in the Banagher St. Patrick's Day Parade - St. Brendan and the Whale - was inspired by the legend of St. Brendan of Clonfert (St. Brendan the Navigator) and his fabulous voyage across the Atlantic Ocean where he may indeed have discovered the North east Coast of America. According to the story Brendan and his crew encountered icebergs and volcanoes, demons and ferocious creatrues - even the unhappy Judas. The particular event recreated by this float is the moment when the crew clamber ashore a smooth dark island and light a fire. However, this is no island but rather the back of the whale called Jasconius. As the fire grows the island/whale begins to move, rising and falling in the water, eventually lunging and plunging away through the waves. Brendan calms his horrified crew and tells them God has sent Jasconius to help them and indeed the whale does return to guide them through fields of ice and mountainous waves.

The artwork for the float was created by pupils from 5th and 6th class under the inspired eye of Adrienne Ryan. The structure of the boat was fabricated by Damien Keenaghan. Costumes were by Mary Dunne of Cushcallow. The generosity and practical help of David Grant secured a wonderful vehicle for the float.

Pupils involved included:- Paul Maloney, Michaela Keenaghan, Brad Lyons, Ethan Lyons, Carla Jenkins, Andrea Tesarova, Shane Hogan, Paul Donohoe, Kaleum Meaney, Logan McDermott, Mark Finnegan, Luke Hein Walsh, Daniel Curtis and Patrick Lyons.

Well done to all teachers and pupils who supported and enabled the project to come to a successful fruition.