Retreat

I know its a bit late to be writing about something that happened towards the start of the year but I felt it was something that i should write about and not let it be forgotten.  So for our TY retreat we started off in the Celbridge Manor hotel.  I had to walk there because my family left at 8:15 and I didn't want to be 45 minutes early.  At 8:50 a.m i embarked on my journey to the hotel across the road from my house, the hardest part was walking up the long avenue up to the hotel itself.  Once I got into the hotel I realized i should have left earlier because everyone was already sitting in a big circle and Mr.Kerrigan was calling the role.  

I walked in after two other girls Emma and Aoife and sat down beside my buddy Orla.  Just as i sat down 4 or 5 other girls came in which made me feel better for being just a tad late.  So to start the retreat a tall man with a beard walked into the room with candles and what looked to be a bible and set it up on a desk.  Everyone was in shock because we thought this year our retreat wouldn't be religious (I'm not against religion).  He started to say a prayer and list off the things we were going to be doing, he said we were going to be in silence for a long amount of time and fast all day, that's when i started to get angry because i need my food!!  After the man finished his prayer he went on to tell us it was a joke and we all broke out in laughter it was such a relief.  

we started off being introduced to the people running it then we began some ice-breakers, they were doing a story telling ice breaker and one like fruit bowl and another one where we had to sit on each other (sounds weird believe me I know).  After these ice-breakers we had a little bit of time to each our break and just chat.  So we sat outside since it was a lovely day and we ate our lovely lunches.  When we went back inside we were told to get into groups of 6 or 7, they asked us to try not to go with our friends but they didn't want us to feel uncomfortable so we could go with our friends if we wanted.

I went with Aoife, Aoife, Orla, Niamh, Eilis and myself I think thats all.  Once we were in groups we were given a piece of paper which had a philosophical question on it, our question was "if you could change one thing about your parents would you and if so what would you change?"  our answer was simple, We would make them more understanding but also keep them the same because if they weren't the same they wouldn't be our parents. *Q the waterworks*.   We decided on our answer quite quickly and so we decided to have a sing song in our little group of old pop songs like the ones from disney channel.

Everyone got a chance to read out their questions and answers then everyone could comment and say their own opinion.  One of the questions i found interesting was "If your long-time partner cheated on you would you want them to tell you?" there were loads of other questions but that one struck up quite the debate within the group.  After all the questions, one of the leaders set up a display in the middle of the floor and we did a game sort of thing where we turned over cards with words which described us, I got enlightened.

After this we had lunch and we were allowed to order food from the bar so loads of people did and ordered chips, this was also the day that snapchat updated filters onto the snapchat cameras so everyone was having fun with them.  We got called in after lunch to do meditation.  The mediation was very emotional and I ended up crying. The day ended at 3:20pm and I went home.  It was a very good day and I had lots of fun.

Kilkenny Art Trip

On the 24th of September our whole year went on a trip to Kilkenny on an art trip, the two teachers who came with us were Mrs.Brogan and Mrs.Carpenter.  We went on one large coach and another small coach.  We were split into groups for our buses and there wasn't many on my bus so the bus was nice and quiet for the long trip down to kilkenny.  we left the school at 9:05 we didn't even go into school we just got our itineraries and got on our bus.  When we got there we were already late and so we were in a very big hurry to the cinema, we got to the cinema and we were allowed to buy popcorn and sweets before we went in.  The cinema was really warm but it was kind of nice compared to the cold outside.  The movie we got a special screening of was called 'The Song Of The Sea'.  It was such a good movie and it had an amazing story line, I love all the characters Irish accents and the drawings and animations were so cute and very well drawn.  My favorite character was either Cú the dog or Saoirse the innocent little sister who also ends up being a Selkie.

straight after our cinema trip we walked back up to the castle, almost getting run over by a few cars here and there,  In the castle there was a a workshop/showroom thing where we got to learn all about how it was made and all the components that are used to make up the movie.  we got to see things such as first sketches and final drafts.  We were also told all about how people got the ideas for the characters and how much work was put into each second of the movie.  It takes 12 drawings to make one second of the movie.  The final room we went to had a real life set up of one of the characters from the movie it was so cool and interesting to see and the character was very funny so I found it funny too. 

After our groups little tour around the castle we got to have lunch some of us went to the little cafe and got tea and a snack, we were allowed to roam around the castle so we went down to the market and Eilis bought a chocolate cake pop. We took lots of pictures and talked to lots and lots of tourists who loved our 'catholic school' uniform.  We got loads of funny photos and group pictures in front of the castle.  There was so many pretty things to take pictures of such as the beautiful gardens.

carlingford

Our night away this year was to Carlingford adventure centre in county Louth.  We left on the 17th of September at 9:05.  Everyone was very excited as we were told it was one of the best parts of Ty, so on we went on our long long bus journey.  Everyone was singing and laughing and having fun all ecstatic for what was to come.  When we arrived at the centre we were led to a big common room with lots of couches lining the walls, we all sat down some sat on the floor because there wasn't enough room with everyone's big bags, bags as big as Mt.Everest.  We were then split into our two groups, group A and group B, I was in group A.  the groups were mainly just our classes with a few people switched around but everyone got to stay with their friends.  we were told what our itinerary was for the day and then we got ready and put our bags in a store room.  Group B went to do water activities and my group went on what seemed to be the longest walk ever to challenge island. Challenge island was all mainly just bonding activities and it was so much fun.

When we came back after challenge island we went for lunch and then we went to get ready for water activities, while we were sitting having food we were put into our rooms. I was in a room with 11 other girls: Aoife, Susan, Claire, Eilis, Erin, Caoimhe, Aoife, Lucy, Laura, Tara Laura.  We had enough sweets to feed the population of Africa but we that didn't stop us from eating until our stomachs hurt. After water activities we had free time then we went on our night hike, group B went first and did the blind hike while our group played a few games.  Once it was our turn we walked up to the forest and began to blindfold ourselves, we had no idea what we were in for.  we all had to make a train holding the person in front of us' shoulders while we couldn't see at all.  It all worked out well no one was lost and we were told we were the best group they'd ever had to do it, that made us all proud.

when we got back to the centre we were allowed to have showers or to go to the Chinese or just chill around in the common area.  The Chinese was full of people all getting their 3 in 1's or spice bags which were super super spicy. then i just chilled and played some games in the downstairs common area and we all just talked and had fun.  Once the clock struck 11 we were all sent up to our rooms but we didn't really mind because our room 32 was so much fun anyway.  We played games like never have I ever (besides the alcohol) and truth or dare or even just asked each other questions and got to know one another, there was sad questions with tears and happy questions with laughs and it was a night filled with emotion.  I was knocked out on my bed at around 3 which i thought was pretty late but obviously wasn't because others were still up while i was sleeping.

the next morning we went and had breakfast and then went on another activity this time we went to zip it, it was fun but kind of boring because I've done it so many times before.  We had a very mean instructor called john who was funny at times but other times he was just mean, it was his last day anyway so we tried to make him happy and have fun.  after that w went back to the centre and just chilled around and went to the shop and saw a few nice boys;) jk.  Then we were all sad leaving on another long bus journey home, even tho most people were asleep it was still a fun ride home.  W got back at 3:20 just in time for school to finish and all went home probably to sleep and shower.  The past Ty's were right it was one of the best parts of Ty so far.