2A CSPE class tour of the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Yesterday afternoon, 2A enjoyed a guided tour of Dáil Éireann and the Seanad Chambers. The students watched the Taoiseach and TDs in the Dáil Chamber during Leaders questions before moving on to see Portraits of previous Taoisigh and paying a visit to the Seanad Chambers. The tour also included a history of the buildings and the intriguing story of the Duchess of Leinster, Emily Fitzgerald. 2A viewed the impressive collage of all the female members of the Seanad centring on Tras Honan, the first and only woman to serve as Seanad Cathaoirleach. The tour wound up with a viewing of an original copy of the 1916 Proclamation and the portraits of the founders of the Dáil.

Before commencing their visit to the Dáil, 2A had a whistle stop tour of the adjacent National Museum of Ireland where they saw a Bronze Age Dugout canoe, cist graves and the Clonycavan bog body. The class also viewed iconic national treasures such as the Ardagh Chalice, Tara Brooch, Cross of Cong and The Bell of Saint Patrick and its shrine.

Special thanks to Ms Daly, Ms NiGhoill and Ms Burke for accompanying the class, especially after school.