Page 4                                                                                                                                                                                                 Labhairt Amach

Chateau de la Ligne in it’s full glory!!

Christopher McManus working harder than he ever has before.                         He is still smiling though!
Text Box: Text Box: Text Box: On a bright sunny Sunday morning (23rd September), eleven Year 13 vocational students left Bearnageeha House accompanied by Mr McCoy & Mr McAllister to embark on a weeks work experience. This was no ordinary work experience! A past pupil of the College, Mr Terry Cross (owner of Delta Print) had phoned Mr O’Grady just a few days earlier to propose that a group of Year 13 pupils could spend a week at his vineyard in Bordeaux to help with the wine harvest. A frantic effort was made by staff and friends of the College to ensure that this opportunity was not wasted. Ashfield Boys High School who have a special relationship with St Patrick’s College, were also invited along. Ten Year 13 pupils from Ashfield and two teachers, Mr Rainey and Miss Porter were picked up from their school and we all departed for Dublin for our flight to Text Box: Bordeaux. We arrived at Chateau de la Ligne that evening and the boys were in awe of their 11th century surroundings – little did they realise what work lay ahead of them! A typical French breakfast was served from 8am and we all departed for the vineyard at 8.45am. After a quick demonstration by Sebastian, twenty one year 13 pupils, ten Text Box: French workers and one or two teachers began cutting grapes! The typical day involved working from 9am with a small break at 11.15, lunch from 1-2pm, more grape cutting with a further break at 3.15pm, finishing cutting at approximately 5.30pm. A football match was played on the first day where pupils began to feel the aches and pains of actually carrying out a days work! It was tough work. The odd rain shower provided a Text Box: Bordeaux accueille les vendangeurs Irlandais (Bordeaux welcomes the Irish Grape-Pickers!)