IT WAS a summer of record rainfall but it wasn’t enough to dampen the spirits of junior infants across Limerick city and county as thousands of students started big school for the very first time this week.
As summer drew to a close, school bags were packed, new stationary bought and the brand new uniform folded neatly, ready to be worn.
Children as young as four years-of-age will embark on a new period of learning and growth as they take their seats in their new classroom and make new friends this week.
Bohermore National School was a hive of activity as junior infants finished up small break and returned to their classroom after playing in the yard on their first day in the school.
Piper, aged five, said that “playing with friends and toys” is her favourite thing about school.
Danny, who is also five, added that “playing with all my friends is great, I've loads of friends”.
Maeve, meanwhile, likes “when it's near home time, like now”.
In Doon Convent National School, which is 23km from Bohermore, principal Derek Walsh has been busy as the school prepares to open a brand autistic unit on October 6.
“It's certainly back to school and it has been a terrible summer for the poor children with the bad weather but they are delighted to come back to school today and we saw happy faces coming in.
“Our new junior infants are in with Miss Ryan. We have 17 junior infants and we're opening a new autistic unit this year in which we have three junior infants in it,” he added.
Many of them attended pre-school prior to joining the national school and arrived prepared.
“We actually had nobody that cried,” Mr Walsh explained as the infant classes laughed and smiled.
Riley, who is from Doon, told the Limerick Leader that “going outside” is her favourite thing to do at school.
“My favourite thing is the dolls, I like feeding them,” Olivia explained as she and her classmates played with toys in the classroom.
“Playing with the dolls and the kitchen is fun,” five year-old Alice revealed.
Robbie, from Oola, loves hurling and said that Daragh O'Donovan is his favourite hurler. A local man of course!
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