Twigs, wigs, cardboard axes and glittery wings … props are flying round the classroom as pupils at St Patrick’s Primary in Celbridge rehearse for Once upon a Folktale. It’s two weeks until the storytelling competition organised by IBBY Ireland www.ibbyireland.com with the school, and yarns are spinning all over the place.
Children will be telling traditional tales from their countries of origin to celebrate the school’s wonderful diversity on its tenth anniversary. There are 16 nationalities in sixth class alone.
Judges from IBBY Ireland, Celbridge Library and the local community will meet the Woman in the Moon from Native America, the Dancing Stick from Kenya, Lithuania’s Queen of Serpents, Eternal Youths from Ireland, and many others. Can’t wait.