As The Teddy Bears’ Picnic song goes: “If you go down in the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise. If you go down in the woods today, you’d better go in disguise.”
Were you to chance upon Newcastle Wood in Co Longford recently, you may just have been left open-mouthed as a full nativity play scene unfolded in the frosty forest trees.
Everyone is here. A saintly angel, a reverent Mary and Joseph looking to the sky, the shepherds minding their sheep, and the three crown-adorned kings with all their bling. The main cast are assisted by a whole host of characters, from the cow to the sheep to the narrator and more – from Forgney National School – to help bring the Christmas story to life.
Fresh from their latest rehearsal in the classroom, the festive excitement spills out in the cool air and into the trees for the school’s shot at stardom.
It is a Christmas card scene worthy of Hallmark as the entire school gathers together for a snap worthy of the history books. A cute little fawn, Bambi-esque, is spotted, standing watching in the distance on the walk from the school to the forest.
Forgney National School is located in temporary buildings on the grounds of St Munis GAA club, a stone’s throw from the Center Parcs holiday resort near Ballymahon in Co Longford.
Share their culture
Principal Claire Tyther says that there is a “lovely sense of community” in the small rural school, which has 18 pupils from seven different countries, with Ireland, England, Hungary, Poland, Brazil, Ukraine, and India all represented. Seventeen were present on the day of our visit.
“It’s brilliant because the children share their culture and experiences; they learn from one another, and they get on so well together,” says Claire, one of the two full-time teachers in Forgney, who is ably assisted by two part-time teachers.
“All of the students are very respectful of each other’s backgrounds and traditions,” she adds. “The multicultural nature of the school over the last 10 years has enhanced it hugely.”
Based in the junior room with the younger children, Claire says they were talking recently about Christmas dinner, and there are many different menus, traditions, and important dates for the pupils over the Christmas holidays.
“Christmas Eve is very important for the Polish and Hungarian communities. In Ireland, I suppose we focus more on Christmas Day,” explains the principal, who hails from Lusmagh in Offaly and lives in Mullingar in Co Westmeath. “It’s really nice to hear about the other ways people celebrate Christmas around the world.”
The beauty of a “small school with a big heart” is that everyone is involved. Here, all the pupils have a part in the nativity, Claire explains, with plenty of singing, drama, sketches, and maybe even some harp music on the night. The school boasts Longford’s only whole school harp ensemble since Music Generation began classes for pupils, and there are already some budding harpists showing lots of promise.
Rehearsals
Speaking to Irish Country Living prior to their performance, an excited Claire says it is “bigger and better” this year because the show is scheduled for Bog Lane Theatre, Ballymahon.
“Rehearsals are in full swing at the minute. They are a little rough and ready right now, but we’ll get there,” she says with an air of determination amid some laughter.
“It gives them [all 18 pupils] a great opportunity to get on stage and perform, to be part of the occasion and celebration,” she adds.
Claire, who has been principal since September, points out that all of the children learn so much and gain confidence and skills from taking part.
It doesn’t all just happen on the day however; a lot of work is completed beforehand, and she and deputy principal Niamh Cassidy are “blessed” with the staff who coordinate the production to ensure it is a lovely night for everyone.
A smiling Isti Torma (7), who plays Joseph in the school nativity play, greets us in his native tongue – Hungarian – wishing readers a happy Christmas or Boldog Karácsonyt! He is looking forward to eating fish on Christmas Day with his family in Ballymahon.
“I’d like a toy truck,” he replies when asked what he hopes Santa will leave him.
Rehearsals are in full swing at the minute. They are a little rough and ready right now, but we’ll get there
Meanwhile, Kaja Golebiewska (8), who plays Mary, tells Irish Country Living that her family is Polish. Their tradition is that on 6 December, Mrs Claus comes to their homes with small presents. “She puts them in our shoes in the hall [which have been cleaned beforehand].”
Kaja says they have a special soup, which is red and pink, and 12 different dishes.
As for her Santa list, she says: “The dream I always wanted is Aeroplane Barbie. That is top of my list.”
Meanwhile, Tillie Kavanagh (5) shows off her tinsel halo, saying she wants to be known as an ‘angel of the forest’.
“I’m looking forward to getting presents and going to my cousin Ada’s house,” she says when asked if she is excited about Christmas and Santa. “I’d love some dolls even though I have lots already,” she smiles.
Little Danylo Kadet (6) hails from war-torn Ukraine and lives in nearby Newcastle House with his mother, father, and sister. There would be snow in Ukraine at Christmas time, he says shyly.
In Brazil, where the family of Hadrian Alves, Luiz Da Silva Vieira, and David do Nascimento live, it is much warmer, and there are parties, BBQs, and family reunions at midnight on Christmas Eve. With a large Brazilian community locally, some will get together to celebrate and eat what David describes as a type of barmbrack filled with chocolate on Christmas Eve.
One of the kings in the nativity is third class student Levi Stone (9). He and his sister Summer (10), who is in fourth class, are both big fans of farming and are looking forward to Christmas.
Levi enjoys taking care of the animals and helping their cousin with his sheep, feeding lambs, or going to move cattle. “John Deere or Massey Ferguson” is the prompt answer when asked about his favourite tractor.
Summer, who plays the angel Gabriel in the nativity, prefers the horses, explaining that they have a black and white horse at home called Bonnie. Asked why, she replies wisely, “They seem a lot gentler and understand you more.” Bonnie sometimes gets molasses as a treat for Christmas with hay and nuts, she tells Irish Country Living.
Another budding farmer is Cormac Halse (12), who enjoys helping his neighbour take care of his cattle on a farm near Keenagh. Levi jumps into the conversation to confirm he’d love to be a farmer when he is older and work with Cormac and Summer, who have similar ambitions to farm cattle and sheep.
As excitement ramps up ahead of Christmas, principal Claire is enjoying the anticipation but also looking further ahead to the future. Her big wish for 2025 is for a “permanent home” instead of their current three prefabs to allow the rural school to expand and grow.