Page 75 - The Gonzaga Record 1987
P. 75
was buried where he died in Normandy but his heart was put in a heart-
shaped casket and brought back to Dublin and put in a cage on the wall
of St. Laud's Chapel.
The last adjoining chapel is the chapel of Sancta Maria Alba which
was rebuilt by St John's Ambulance and that is why there is a Maltese
Cross on the altar there. Also this is where the Augustinian Monks used
to say their weekday masses.
As I was walking down the nave which was built in 1230 I noticed the
two pews. The Lord Mayor's pew was built on the right if you are facing
down from the altar. The design on the pew is the arms of Dublin, the
three castles which represent St. Audeon's Arch, the lower castle yard at
Dublin Castle and a watchtower. The Lord Lieutenant's pew has the Lion
and the Unicorn on it.
Ronan McCullough (Prep. 3)
BURREN FIELDTRIP -
AN ODYSSEY TO THE UNKNOWN
The Burren Fieldtrip, first conceived of in the distant days of 3rd Year,
finally bore fruition in March 1987. The trip was to be "an essential part
of the Leaving Cert. course, involving geographical analysis of such
topics as karst topography and Coastal/Fluvial Geomorphology" to
quote Ms MacConville (Geography teacher). It was her fifth trip to the
area and her intimate acquaintance with the Burren was apparent from
the outset. We also had the company of that amiable Corkman, Mr
McCarthy.
On arrival by train to Limerick our high expectations of a luxurious
coach were shattered when we boarded a cramped mini bus with Spartan
interior. In the preceding weeks there had been intense speculation
among 5th Year group as to the accommodation situation; our
Lisdoonvarna Hotel was still, it seemed, under construction! Our first
geographical task that afternoon was to analyse the socio-economic
structure of the town. After dinner Ms MacConville was visibly anxious
about the non-arrival of our guide for the week-end, Mr Vincent Butler
M.A. of the National History Museum. Soon thereafter Vinny appeared,
just in time for pub closure.
The Burren is an area of rare natural beauty; an expanse of exposed
limestone in Co. Clare. Absence of soil cover has enabled rainwater to
create spectacular surface and subterranean features, such as ephemeral
lakes (turloughs) and complex cave systems (Aillwee caves). The Burren
is also remarkable for unique floral types; exotic Mediterranean and
spectacular Arctic species of plant life flourishing side by side in unique
harmony, far from their homelands - a true botanical metropolis.
73
shaped casket and brought back to Dublin and put in a cage on the wall
of St. Laud's Chapel.
The last adjoining chapel is the chapel of Sancta Maria Alba which
was rebuilt by St John's Ambulance and that is why there is a Maltese
Cross on the altar there. Also this is where the Augustinian Monks used
to say their weekday masses.
As I was walking down the nave which was built in 1230 I noticed the
two pews. The Lord Mayor's pew was built on the right if you are facing
down from the altar. The design on the pew is the arms of Dublin, the
three castles which represent St. Audeon's Arch, the lower castle yard at
Dublin Castle and a watchtower. The Lord Lieutenant's pew has the Lion
and the Unicorn on it.
Ronan McCullough (Prep. 3)
BURREN FIELDTRIP -
AN ODYSSEY TO THE UNKNOWN
The Burren Fieldtrip, first conceived of in the distant days of 3rd Year,
finally bore fruition in March 1987. The trip was to be "an essential part
of the Leaving Cert. course, involving geographical analysis of such
topics as karst topography and Coastal/Fluvial Geomorphology" to
quote Ms MacConville (Geography teacher). It was her fifth trip to the
area and her intimate acquaintance with the Burren was apparent from
the outset. We also had the company of that amiable Corkman, Mr
McCarthy.
On arrival by train to Limerick our high expectations of a luxurious
coach were shattered when we boarded a cramped mini bus with Spartan
interior. In the preceding weeks there had been intense speculation
among 5th Year group as to the accommodation situation; our
Lisdoonvarna Hotel was still, it seemed, under construction! Our first
geographical task that afternoon was to analyse the socio-economic
structure of the town. After dinner Ms MacConville was visibly anxious
about the non-arrival of our guide for the week-end, Mr Vincent Butler
M.A. of the National History Museum. Soon thereafter Vinny appeared,
just in time for pub closure.
The Burren is an area of rare natural beauty; an expanse of exposed
limestone in Co. Clare. Absence of soil cover has enabled rainwater to
create spectacular surface and subterranean features, such as ephemeral
lakes (turloughs) and complex cave systems (Aillwee caves). The Burren
is also remarkable for unique floral types; exotic Mediterranean and
spectacular Arctic species of plant life flourishing side by side in unique
harmony, far from their homelands - a true botanical metropolis.
73
