There was great excitement when we arrived at 6.38am. We all headed to different cars and Mr. O'Neachtain did a quick head check to see that everyone was there. We picked a few boys up at the roundabout and when he was sure everybody was there we headed in to Waterford. Most boys were very quiet on the way in as most of them wee half asleep. When we got to the station we got into our groups and headed for a special carriage, which was reserved for us. Each group had a table each. The train headed out of the station at exactly 7.20 am. We waved goodbye to all the parents and promised we would have a good day. Some boys started to play cards, some were reading, while others just looked out the window at all the things passing by. I sat the window for a while, watching the cows in the fields and the cars and lorries on the road. After a while some of the boys decided to challenge the teacher to a game called “Connect Four. Shane Fleming was the first to play Mr. O'Neachtain. Shane won, so the score was one nil to the pupils. Everybody cheered when Shane won. Stephen Byrne won the second game, but after that Mr. O’Neachtain improved. He was slow to get started but he soon got the hang of the game and at he end the score was ten three to the teacher. We stopped at lots of stations and people got on and others got off. In no time at all we were in Dublin. 

 It took nearly three hours for the journey. We then got a bus into the city centre. We went upstairs in a double decker bus. I sat up in the front so I could see everything. When we reached the city centre we walked to the National History Museum. We saw wonderful things there. We saw axe heads from the Stone Age, bronze hatchets and bones. We saw a wooden bowl, which was found in Waterford. We then saw gold collars called Lunala, which are gold collars. There was a special Egyptian exhibition there as well. After about an hour we went for an early lunch in McDonald's in Grafton Street. We had all upstairs to ourselves. I had a happy meal and a coke. Some of the boys ordered chocolate milkshakes and doughnuts. Aaron Mahoney squirted tomato sauce all over himself. Everybody laughed. Davey Herbert kept loosing his wallet and finding it again. We then headed to the Was Museum. This was brilliant. We met “Crocodile Dundee”, when we went in the door. We then went through a tunnel. This was great fun. Everybody was screaming in the chamber of horrors. We saw a man getting stretched. Mr. O’Neachtain said that he probably forgot his homework. He says funny things sometimes. We also met the Simpson’s, Batman and there was a section for pop stars like Michael Jackson. I had my picture taken with him. They were playing his song “Thriller”. We were dancing all over the place. Batman could not find Robin so now we have Batman and Tuckamore. I don’t think we will get our own TV series. 

We then walked down to the ILAC Shopping Centre to spend our money. We were in our groups and some of us were with Mrs Hayes and the rest went with Mr. O’Neachtain. A security man stopped us on the way in and asked if we were going around with the teacher. He told us he “didn’t want any robbin”. We walked around the different shops. Most of us went into the Pound shop. They stuff there is cheap. Some of the lads bought CD’s and tapes. other lads bought special t-shirts and others just bought stuff to eat. Mr. O’Neachtain bought spray for his car. 

After about an hour we had enough and we set off for the bus back to the station. It was now about 4.45 pm. We walked down O’Connell Street, which is the busiest street in Ireland. The place was packed. We saw loads of Guards. Every few minutes we heard the sound of a police car or an ambulance on their way to an emergency. We piled onto the bus and paid our forty pence fair to the station. In about five minutes we arrived at the station. We were about an hour early as we did not know if the train would run or not as there was talks of a train strike. There were people there from two o’clock waiting. The train was due to leave at 6.20 pm. All the seats were taken so we went into a corner and sat on the ground. We were all tired after our day. Some of us played with our new games, which we bought. John O’Grady, who was sick all day, fell asleep. 

At about 6.05 pm we heard an announcement over the speakers “Would the boys from Edmund Rice School, Tramore, please, report to the ticket office at platform two”. Well, we got up real quickly, got into our lines and headed for the train.  We had a special carriage reserved for us. It said” Reserved for “Edmund Rice School, Tramore”. Adam took the sign off and kept it as a souvenir of the tour. We were much quieter going home, as we were all tired. We shared the carriage with the girls from the Ursuline Convent, Waterford. Some of us played cards again, played connect four or just had a chat. In no time at all we were back in Waterford, where boys Mammy’s and Daddy’s were waiting to bring them home. It is at times like this that I miss my Mum and Dad, but I guess I will see them shortly. They boys went to different cars and headed back to Tramore. In the excitement I was left on the train, as I had fallen asleep. Luckily Mr. O’Neachtain went back to check the carriage. He said “Hey, Tuck, are you coming home at all”. I woke up with a fright and I was glad to be home as I was very, very, tired. We went home with Aaron’s Mum and when I got in the door I went straight to bed. We al had a great time in Dublin. 

It had been a long day. Up at 6.00am and back in Waterford at 9.00pm. Thanks to Mr. O’Neachtain and Mrs Hayes for bringing us. Wait ‘till the folks back home about my day.
I wonder did Tommy go on any tour in Newfoundland??

Tuckamore the Topsail Moose

                                       Back