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Half Term Break
Half term hols and time to spend a week at home with the family. We did a spot of ten pin bowling had a dip in the local swimming pool and paid a visit to the cinema. It was also time to get to know the latest addition to our family; 'Tabitha' a wee brown tabby kitten. So all in all it was a fairly busy week. Then Sunday came around and I was off again heading for Stranraer to catch the ferry to Belfast for another tour of 'Recycle Magic'. This time I was visiting County Monaghan at the request of Moira Kelly, the environment officer for the County Council.
Thanks Moira for all your help and support in making it a successful visit.
Boarding the Stranraer Ferry to Belfast
Above & Left - Having fun at Rockcorry National School.
Scoil Mhiore, Rockcorry
Above- Left. Recycling glass
Left - Fanning the Pan Man.
St Michael's N.S Corcaghan.
Left - The Land Fill Experiment.
Right - A student
helps bring
a puppet to life.
I Go, You Go, We Go To Sligo
It was great being back in Sligo Town, I was last here in November 08 at the Institute of Technology. During my two day visit, I visited 5 schools and close to 1000 students watched my 'Recycle Magic' show. I'd like to thank Michelle Coyle in the Environment department of Sligo Borough Council for organising everything.
Above - Students of
'Our Lady of Mercy' school meet 'Mark'
Below - A strange character appears
on stage; that's the
puppet not me!
Above - Students enjoying
the show at 'Scoil Ursula'.
Below - Checking out the
mic before the show.
Above - More cheek from
'Billy' at St Johns's N.S
Below - A quick coffee
before the show
Above & Right
A great crowd having fun at
Carbury National School.
St Edward's N.S
Left - Doing the talk.
Right - A rubbish puppet demo.
From Antrim Down to Cookstown
East to Antrim
Leaving Sligo I head 3 hours east to Antrim. It's was a one day stay to perform three 'Recycle Magic' at Antrim Primary school as part of their 'Science Week' . I received a marvelous reception from all the children, and the staff were welcoming and courteous. The overall audience total for the day was around 600. It was a great day and look forward to returning one day.
Preparing for the show.
An electric atmosphere during the multyplying ball routine.
Puppets, puppets everywhere.
Billy, talking to everyone.
A day in the Cookstown area performing in three schools to over 600 students. A big thanks to David Richardson, Environment Officer for Cookstown Council, for organising my visit. It the was the perfect way to end the week, performing to
three enthusiastic audiences
Above - Setting up for the first show at Orritor Primary.
Below - The show in progress. Nice spotlights!
Above - Doing some show bizzy stuff at
Holy Trinity Primary.
Below - Man with strange
hat, begging
St Mary's Primary Stewardstown.
Above Left - Long & Short debate.
Above Right - An audience with 'Billy'
Drumcorrin National School, Drum.
Top Left - A roll call. (Toilet roll call)
Top Right - The one and only 'Billy the Bird'
Gael Eos Eanach Cille NS,
( An Irish speaking school )
Above left - Posing for a photo with the whole school.
Above Right - 'Billy' talking rubbish again.
St Enda's NS. Scothouse
Above Left - Puppet manipulation.
Above Right - Recycling big style.
Scoil Padraig, Garran, Tyholland.
Above Left - Is that a UFO dissolving me in light?
No just late morning sun bursting through the windows.
Above Right - The whole school bursting with excitement.
St Michael's Annayalla
Above - Doing the 'Recycle Rap'
Below - A 'Billy' moment.
Scoil Eanna, Killanny
Left top - Recycling bottles.
Left Bottom - It's that puppet again.
Scoil Padraig, Corduff
Above - Bottles, bottles everywhere!
Right - Landfill experiment.
Dun Laoghaire
The ferry steers me back to Dun Laoghaire for a two day visit. Kate Hynes from the environment department in Dun Laoighaire and Rathdown Council organised my trip to five schools in the area. Thanks Kate, I had a great time.
Scoil Cholncille
Having fun helping the environment. What a lovely colourful wall.
St Oliver Plunkett School.
Above - Setting up before
the show.
Below - Where did that
banana come from?
Mount Anville Girls School
Top Left - A wave goodbye.
Top Right - Introducing 'Mark'
Our Lady's Boys N.S. Ballinteer
Above - Producing a ball from a boy's ear.
Left - Working away with 'Billy'
St Attracta's Junior School
Above - Spreading the word.
Right - Rapping in full swing.
A day in South Dublin
My final day in Ireland was in South Dublin county. This second visit to the area was only made possible by Claire Hinch, Recycling Officer for South Dublin County Council; thanks Claire for all your help.
St Andrew's National School - Lucan
Above - Striking a dramatic pose.
Right - An interesting debate.
Educate Together N.S. Adamstown.
Above - What's he up
to now?
Left - What's the teacher pointing at?
Not Far to Redcar
Back to Durham and a trip to Redcar by the sea in Teeside. I was recycling away to 200 children at Grangetown Primary. A teacher at the school saw 'Recycle Magic' in Middlesborough last year when it featured in an environmental awards ceremony at the ECO centre. Thanks Shazia for inviting me along to your school, I had a great time.
The show gets underway at Grangetown Primary.
'Billy', behaving badly.
A puppet comes to life!
It's Festival Tyne
A visit to Tyneside and the Jesmond Festival. Sue Harrison the chief librarian at Jesmond Library asked me to perform my 'Fun Magic Show' at two events as part of this year's Festival; one in the library and the other at St Catherine's Primary School. I'd like to thank Sue and the rest of the library staff for their warm welcome. Also a big thank you to Chris Clark who was part of the festival committee and Michael the principal of St Catherine's.
Jesmond Library
Night - Tyne Flows between
Newcastle and Gatehead
Liz & Chris helping out at St Catherine's Primary
Angel of the North looks out over Tyneside
Some children join in the fun
'Billy' enjoying the
Festival
Off To Offaly
A week long tour in Ireland, kicks off in County Offaly. I'd like to thank Caroline Clancy from the Environment Department of Offaly County Council for organising my visit.
Above & Below
Recycling all the way
at Scoil Bhride school in Clara.
Above - Recycle Rap at
St Brogan's NS. Bracknagh.
Below - A Billy moment.
Above & Right - Fantastic Magic at Crinkle National School
Above - Sorting silks before the show at Scoil Gort Na Mona and eggs air borne during the show.
Above - Magic moments at St Kierans
Alls Well in Clonmel
A day in Clonmel went very well at the Presentation Primary School, thanks to: Marie Grant the Environment Officer for South Tipperary County Council, the teachers and staff at the school who gave me a warm welcome and of course the children who joined in the fun. I look forward to visiting again.
A big surprise!
Making a Puppet Nobody into a Somebody.
The day gets underway with the little ones.
From South to North Tip
An 90 minute drive north to Neena Town in North Tipperary. This time I'm the guest of Áine McCarthy in North Tipperary County Council. Áine arranged my trip to visit five schools in the area; thanks Áine.
Above - A student at Birdhill N.S wears super dooper glasses. Below - an audience with the
rest of the school.
Left - Small talk at Burgess N.S about recycling glass.
Right - Taking a bow after the show, (not really, I dropped my juggling balls!
Right - 'Mark' magic
at CBS Primary.
Left - Billy being....well.. Billy!
Scoil Lua Naofa, Lorrha.
Above - 'Mark' causes a stir.
Left - Bottles, recycled bottles everywhere!
Left & Right - St Colmcilles, Templemore, proudly display their Green Flag
More Fun in Newcastle
Another trip to Newcastle upon Tyne to perform my 'Fun Magic' show at High Heaton Library. There was a great turn out, thanks to Sue Harrison, (who organised the event), Edna and the rest of the library staff.
The Tyne Bridge and across the river the Baltic Centre for Contempory Art in Gateshead.
High Heaton Library, Newcastle.
A couple of wee ones all decked out and ready to help during the show.
March - April 09
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