The P5 pupils of St. Mary’s Primary School, Mullymesker, were abuzz with excitement as they prepared for their upcoming school movie night when The Impartial Reporter paid them a visit.
The lively atmosphere was matched by the vibrant creativity on display, with walls adorned with colourful artwork and immaculate handwriting that reflected the children’s curiosity and enthusiasm.
The first to chat were Casper (9) and Sophie (8), who kicked off the conversation in true Fermanagh style – by discussing the weather!
Victoria Johnston: How are you today?
Casper: The weather could be better, I don’t think the weather is good, it rains a lot. If you are planning to go outside it is always raining or windy.
Sophie: It can be alright sometimes, I like rain, sometimes I get in my wellies and go outside in it.
Do you splash in a puddle, Casper?
Casper: If my mum would let me, I would
What is something you have learnt in school?
Casper: Dividing and times tables.
Do you find maths hard?
Casper: I like maths.
Sophie: I like maths sometimes.
Do you do anything fun outside of school?
Casper: I play football for Enniskillen Rangers, I like going in the front.
Do you score goals?
Casper: I scored three last night.
Sophie: I do netball, I am on the school netball team and I play goalkeeper or wing defender.
What do you do when hanging out at home?
Casper: I watch The Floor is Lava, it is a programme, it is like a TV show but it is only on Netflix. I like football cards but I don’t really play with them that much.
Do you trade them, who is the best card?
Casper: Yeah, I got a Messi card which is worth like £100 or something
Who is the best football team?
Casper: Can I pick two? I like Liverpool and Sligo
Do you have pets?
Casper: Barney, he is a St. Bernese, people say he is bigger than me, and sometimes he goes on walks around the pitch.
Sophie: I have lots. Over the years I have had birds and rabbits. We have this water hen that we got because it lost its mother and we stayed one night for three hours looking for it and then we fed it and looked after it. It now lives at my Dad’s friend's house. I have one cat now and one dog.
Are they funny?
Sophie: Yes, she is silly. She is a cocker spaniel, she is an orange one.
Is she crazy?
Sophie: No, she is sensible.
The imagination runs wild in young people and Eve (8) and Aoibheann (8) were no exception as they talked about fairies and their dreams for their future careers.
Do you like school?
Eve: Seeing my friends, we play, we do fairy dens. We just make houses and sticks and leaves and stuff. We decorate them and make trees.
Are they big houses or small houses?
Eve: They are small.
Do you think the fairies will come to visit your house?
Eve: Yes.
Have you seen one yet?
Eve: No.
Aoibheann: I did do a fairy den and then I didn’t do fairyden.
What do you do for fun?
Aoibheann: I usually walk around with my best friend just talking and chatting. We talk about games.
Do you watch TV?
Aoibheann: I watch YouTube, I watch a lot of different YouTubers. It’s funny sometimes I laugh at the videos.
Do you think you would like to be a YouTuber when you grow up?
Aoibheann: No, but I have three suggestions – A nurse, a teacher or a dentist.
Why those jobs?
Aoibheann: I want to be a nurse because my mummy is a nurse, I want to be a teacher since you get to boss around and I want to be a dentist because I went to the dentist and I thought it was cool, all the things you put in your teeth and I said: ‘I want to be a dentist’.
Do teachers boss people around? Does your teacher boss people around?
Both: (Laughter)
Aoibheann: Mrs Maguire lets us draw along, we did one yesterday.
Does she shout?
Aoibheann: (Laugher) Sometimes…
What do you think Eve?
Eve: I think she is really nice.
Aoibheann: I agree.
Eve: I really like that she mostly only shouts at the boys and not us.
And what do you want to be when you grow up, Eve?
Eve: A doctor, because I want to be like a children’s doctor because I am really good with children and I like children and want to help children who are sick.
Sport was a big talking point for Shane (8) and Charlie (8) who both shared a love of team sport as well as sharing a love of maths.
What do you do for fun at home?
Charlie: I go to football with Enniskillen Galaxy, I play up front.
Do you score goals?
Charlie: Yes.
Who are the best football team?
Charlie: Rio Madrid.
Who is the best player?
Charlie: Ronaldo.
Do you like football, Shane?
Shane: A wee bit but I play football for Belnaleck. I usually play forward so I try and get the ball. The defenders run up and give it to you and you try and score.
Will you play for Belnaleck seniors when you are older?
Shane: Yes and I do hurling too.
What is good about hurling?
Shane: It is just sport.
What do you boys think of school?
Both: It is fun!
Did Mrs Maguire bribe you to say that?
Both: (Laughter)
What is fun about school?
Shane: Everything, maths, learning, I just love maths, I am good at it.
Charlie: I like maths. I like playtime too. We play football in school.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Charlie: A footballer, I want to play for Man United.
But you said Rio Madrid was the best time?
Charlie: But I support Man United. I want to play for Man United.
Who is your favourite player?
Charlie: Garnacho.
Why is he good?
Charlie: He scores loads of goals.
Shane: I don’t really know what I want to be yet. A teacher maybe.
You must have really good teachers here if you want to be a teacher.
Shane: Yeah.
Who is the funniest teacher in the school?
Shane: I don’t know. It is between Ms. Maguire and Mrs Ingram. The other day Ms. Maguire forgot to give us maths books for homework. Casper reminded her.
Do you have any pets?
Charlie: I have a dog.
What is its name?
Charlie: Arney.
You have a dog called Arney and live in Arney?
Charlie: Yes, he is a cockapoo and he runs around the house like a headless chicken.
Faolan (8) and Clara (8) talked about why they love nature and their interest in farming as well as both of them having amazing grandas who they enjoy spending time with.
Is the village good to live in?
Faolán: There is loads of nature and I have loads of stuff.
What do you like about nature?
Faolán: I like the way the birds tweet and sing songs and all.
Do you have a favourite bird?
Faolán: I like robins.
What do you like about nature, Clara?
Clara: I like that is it nice and quiet.
How do you like to spend your time?
Faolán: With my Granda, he usually farms and he brings me over to the cows.
Do you like cows?
Faolán: I like being with Granda more, he has a very old red tractor, it is a wee small one.
Clara: My granda has a tractor and a mini farm, he has ducks, he has a cat, he has a dog and that’s about it. My brother loves tractors.
Do you have many?
Clara: I have two, they are crazy. One is a toddler, he is cheeky, they climb over the sofa and take their toys out of the box.
Do you like school?
Clara: I like reading and history.
Faolán: I like maths and times tables, I am learning my six times tables.
What is 6 x 6?
Faolán: 36.
What do you want to be when you are older?
Faolán: A footballer for Man United.
Who is the best player?
Faolán: De Ligt.
Clara: I want to be a singer, I play the tin whistle and the piano.
Who is your favourite singer?
Clara: I like all of them, I have a mix. Sometimes it is Taylor Swift, sometimes it is Sabrina Carpenter.
You seem to know a lot about famous people, what do you think of Donald Trump?
Both: (Laugher)
Clara: He is silly.
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