Killary

On 19th February, as we came back to school with refreshed minds after finishing the musical and the midterm, the TYs were ready to start a new journey to Killary Outdoor Adventure Centre.

We always get told that TY is the year that brings us all together the most but it hadn't really felt that much different up until we approached the end of the musical. In my opinion, Killary is the place where it all changed and we really united. Since we had various activities each day in our assigned groups, we would always interact and put energy towards a common goal and each evening tell each other about our days adventures. When we were completing the Killary Challenge, it took quite a bit of brainstorming and teamwork to succeed in the task. At the end of the day, we all did our best to collaborate and become a team. One of the outcomes of this is that we had different groups winning various games such as raft building, archery and so many more activities giving us all confidence and exciting things to talk about each evening.  We all supported and helped each other throughout the week. This really came out in the treasure quest during the evening time where, as a group, we  earned the resources for  each other so  people would be able to solve the mystery. This shows how well the students bonded in such a short period of time. It’s wonderful how even without realising it, you start getting closer with people you barely knew before this, even if you did the musical with them or you were in the same form. I hope this connection can be kept for the rest of the school years.

In general, Killary was all to do with leaving your comfort zone and trying out new things without the feeling of being judged by others since everyone is going through the exact same thing as you. This challenge was most evident during the « Turf Challenge » which most of the students surprisingly enjoyed. We all had a great time, whether it was overcoming some of our fears like heights, while completing “High Ropes” or the “Turf Challenge” socialising and sharing our experiences with each other.

I can't help but feel a sense of gratitude to Ms Roy (who organised the adventure) Ms Ní Mhairtín, Mr Boland, Mr Wall, Ms Ní Fhéinneadha and Billy for the incredible adventure we all had. From exploring new places to sharing laughter and creating lasting memories, this trip has truly been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It's amazing how being disconnected from our phones brought us closer together and allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in the moment. I will forever cherish the friendships forged and the lessons learned during this unforgettable journey.