The pupils of St Mary’s National School, Belmont Avenue, Donnybrook kindly gave us some poetry and prose. Unfortunately, we could not include them all. Below is a selection of their writings.

The Swimmers
The swimmers dived from their blocks
Into the deep fifty metre pool as lightly as a feather.
They come up to the surface and inhale the clear air.
Then they go back down and kick like propellers
They swing their arms in and out of the water,
In seconds the reach the other side.
An Olympic hero wins the gold
Hugo Mays


F1 Grand Prix 2004
The rumble of the engine
The noise of the circuit
The Ferrari and the Renault
Always pushing hard
Shumacker powering his way up the track
Barichello close behind
Still Shumacher is simply the best
No one can catch him!
In his red Ferrari so fast!
Another championship won
Another 60 million roars into his bank.
Andrew Coffey

My favourite sport
My favourite sport would have to be Swimming, Diving would be next. I loved watching the Olympics, Ian Thorpe was amazing but Michael Phelps was better.

I like swimming because I can take part in it as well. I love water sports, Polo would be my favourite theme. I go swimming in Marian College. I also love swimming in the sea. The Olympic water sports were fantastic but I was disappointed to see no Irish taking part. When I am older I hope to take part in water-sports for Ireland!
Jessica Reynolds

A terrible tragedy
The terrible tragedy in Russia, makes me feel that the world is over and there is nothing left except war and terrorist attacks. I feel we will never have peace. I think the terrorists did it because they were sick or because they thought it was cool or maybe they did it for their country but whatever the reason it was nothing but evil so the prayer I say is

O my God please bring peace to everyone
In the world and bring happiness to the world
And end this terrible time of war.
Michael Moore

We had a prayer service for the children in Russia and it makes me feel aware of how privileged we are to be without terrorists in our country. This was an inhumane act of violence. I mean what kind of people are they?

Dear Lord,
Please stop this madness can you protect all my friends and the people of the world.
Patrick Orr

Horse Show Jumping
The rider has to control the horse around the course and over the jumps. While the rider is doing this they are timed and if they knock down the jumps, points are taken from them. Show jumping is my favourite event because I love horses and I enjoy watching the different riders control their horses. I also love riding horses and I have won many rosettes. My favourite hero is Cian O’Connor. As an Olympic athlete you have to train really hard and be able to control the horse. You also need a well trained horse like Cian O’Connors, who was called Waterford Crystal. Maybe some day I’ll jump for Ireland in the Olympics!
Barbara Cashman

Swimming is the best
There are so many sports
But swimming is the best of all
The whistle sounds
I dive off the block
100 metres to cover in one minute
I’m on the last lap.
I touch the line first!
I jump for joy.
I’ve won the gold!
Daniel Kohn
Donnybrook Jogger
Standing in the lashings of rain
Waiting for a gunshot to go so we can race
Bang!
They’re off.
Starting at the red and white stripes
Jogging around the bend
Up the 100 metre straight
Sprint around the bend again
Running by the stand
Shivering in the lashings of rain
Donnybrook! Donnybrook!
Sandyford!
Come on Donnybrook!
Come on!
Passed the finish line
But, oh no!
He finds he didn’t get through
Jason McCarthy

Swim for Silver
The Paralympics was brought to our attention when Irish man David Malone brought pride to our hearts by taking an Olympic medal for the third time in a row. In 1996 he brought the first silver medal home from Atlanta for the 800m back crawl swim. In 2000 he won a gold in Sydney in the same race. Now in 2004 in Athens he won a silver medal in the 800m back crawl swim. After only receiving one medal at the Olympics, it seems that things have taken a turn for the best as two Irish athletes have brought home an Olympic medal each. David Malone visited our school four years ago after the Sydney Olympics. He visited our school as our former drama teacher’s husband took him swimming when he was young. This amazing athlete will be remembered in our hearts for an age.
Ciara Cosgrave

The Sort of Sport I like Is
The sort of sport I like is Soccer. I like watching Chelsea and Man U. I like going to the matches and once I had the honour to be a mascot for the Irish team. My brother was a mascot when Roy Keane was playing for Ireland. I wish I was there too, because I think he’s really grand. I love going out on that pitch and hearing the people shout from the east and west upper stand. I love watching them waving flags about. Just thinking about it now, maybe I’ll be able to play for the women’s football team.
Kate O’Sullivan

Table Tennis
Table Tennis was my favourite event in Athens 2004. I liked this event because China won lots of gold medals. I like this game because China are very good at this event. Some of the women’s table tennis games were very exciting. Many Chinese women won medals in the Olympic games. I know that Ireland won only one gold medal in show jumping, but they did their best as well. I hope in the future that Ireland can win a lot more medals. Maybe in Beijing in 2008, Ireland will be better.
I’m from China and I’m looking forward to seeing the games in Beijing in 2008.
Alan Tian

Autumn
Autumn is near
No, wait!
It’s here.
Summer is far
And locked in a jar.
The sun is setting in a way
That no poet can explain.
The swaying trees
And the divine breeze
Autumn is not far
Not coming
Not near
It is here!
Eamon Weitz

Hurling and Camogie
Hurling and camogie are both Irish sports. Hurling is a fast, skilful game which is made up of two teams of fifteen players. Camogie has fifteen players also but it used to have thirteen players and it used to be played on a smaller pitch. The hurley stick is what hurling is played with. It is made of ash. The ball is called a sliotar and it is made of plastic and leather. Hurling is called the ‘clash of the ash’ because the hurleys are made of ash. Camogie started in 1904 and is still played.
Mark Costello