“It was a really cool and fun day and we took lots of photos”
Bunaíodh Páirc Fionnachtain Loch Buarach timpeall 1994. Tagann daoine ó gach cúinne den tír chun féachaint ar na deilbh go léir atá sa pháirc. Tá páistí ó Liath Bheag, an baile fearainn ina bhfuil Loch Buarach, ag freastal ar Scoil Náisiúnta Lomchluana. Bhaineamar an-taitneamh as an gceardlann grianghrafadóireachta. Chonaiceamar créatúir beaga san uisce agus thógamar alán griangrafanna freisin. Seo é ár scéal.
We were invited to take part in a photography workshop in Lough Boora Discovery Park on September 8th this year. When we arrived we were put into four large groups. One group was looking into a large plastic box full of water and minibeasts from the pond. A few people got to hold some of the minibeasts. The names of some were water boatmen, dragonflies and snails. The other group got to do pond dipping with one of the men that worked there. We found some minibeasts in the pond. We used nets to catch them. We found a fish, water spider, snails and other things. When we caught the minibeasts we put them back in the pond. We learned water boatmen move faster on water than on land and water spiders can walk on water.
After investigating the pond wildlife, we went for a walk through Lough Boora Discovery Park to take photos for Eyes On Boora. First, we went to the trains and we got inside the Sky Train. Then we met a dog and the owner let us take photos of the dog. We also went to the triangles and we took some pictures. We also took photos of people climbing the pyramid. We found a little fort and we took a couple of photos of the four province symbols. Some people opened the fairy doors. After that we saw another dog and we took more pictures of that dog. Then we went back to get our lunch. We also took pictures of the swans and ducks. We took some pictures of the river when is started to rain and pictures of the paper boats as well.
During our walk through the park we picked up leaves and flowers from the ground. Aisling explained that we would use these to develop photographs the old fashioned way. We put the flowers and leaves onto a chemical page. After, we put cling film on the chemical page to keep the two together. When we took off the cling film we dipped the page into cool water and left it out to dry. It made a flower and leaf mark on the page. A while after we used an Instax camera. The photo that came out of the camera was completely white but after a while you could see the photo appear as it developed. We had to put the photos in an envelope to protect them. It was a really cool and fun day and we took lots of photos.
Before we went to Lough Boora Discovery Park we were very excited but we were very nervous. It was very warm most of the time and we were very hot. The swans were beautiful. The shine off the water was gorgeous. We were walking for about one hour taking photos and our legs were tired. It was a very interesting day and we learned lots about the minibeasts in the water and about taking photographs. We had to select our favourites from all the photographs we took. These will be on display in the visitor centre and we are looking forward to seeing them there.
A big thank you to Aisling who organised the day and was so helpful along, with all the others who explained all about Lough Boora Parklands to us.
Lumcloon National School