On the 17th of June, 2011, classes 2nd to 6th took a short trip down to Carrowniskey Beach, where they had been surfing two weeks before, to discover more about the exciting marine life which can be found there.

Before we left, John Paul, our local Marine Ecology Heritage Expert from The Heritage Council, who was going to be leading the expedition, asked us some questions and showed us some videos about safety at the beach. We all learned never to turn our back on the tide and always look out for waves and slippy seaweed when we are at the shore.

When we got to the beach, we all held the slimy seaweed in our hands and learned the names of all the different types of seaweeds as Gaeilge and had great fun popping the bholginí (air bladders). We thought it was really cool how the big long pieces of seaweed grow in huge underwater forests out in the deep sea. John even ate some Feamainn Dearg (red seaweed)!

When we went down to the rockpools, we found cool little animals like the Bairneach and the Fhaocha. We learned that the Bairneach is really clever and holds on tight to the rock when it hears us coming. We also learned that it does nothing but graze and sleep, just like a cow! Some of us had eaten the Fhaocha (periwinkle) before. We learned that the Fhaocha Capaill (dog whelk) is really vicious and loves to drill holes into the poor Diuliciní shells (mussels). John’s favourite animal was the Chíoch-Charraige (Sea-Anemone), which looks really beautiful and colourful when the tide comes in. We collected loads of animals and seaweed and brought them back to the classroom. Someone even found a live Realt na Mara (starfish)!

Back in the classroom, we watched on the whiteboard how the periwinkle eats with its giant tongue and saw what the barnacles do when the tide comes in. We saw how the starfish is not so friendly and has a disgusting way of eating the poor Diuliciní (mussels) again. We saw some animals which we didn’t find on the beach like the Mermaid’s Purse and we even heard the sound of the waves breaking inside a big seashell. 

Bhí lá iontach suimiúil againn ag an trá agus tá an-chur amach againn anois faoin saol muirí ar na cladaigh áitiúil. Táimid ag tnúth go mor le dul ar ais go dtí an trá!