First year students at Ashton proudly accepting their certificates for reading from author Judi Curtin.

Author Judi Curtin who recently spoke with First year students about how inspiring reading can be for everyone. L-R: Mr. Landen, Mrs. Kerins, Judi Curtin, Ms. Burke, Ms. Roberts.

Author Judi Curtin and Ashton School Librarian Charlotte Roberts.

First year students proudly displaying their certificates, presented by author Judi Curtin.

As part of the ongoing development of literacy in Ashton, the English Department, in conjunction with Ashton Librarian Ms. Roberts, and the Literacy Committee strongly promote the encouragement of reading as an integral unit of their excellent work, and this year is no exception.

We were delighted to welcome Judi Curtin to our celebration of reading in Ashton, where we encourage the pleasure of reading among our first years.  Judi is an author of mostly children books including the popular ‘Alice and Megan series’.  She also wrote some adult novels including ‘Almost Perfect’.

Judi is one of five children, born in London but moved to Cork with her family when she was 7 years old. Judi went to UCC to study English and German, and then trained to be a primary school teacher in Dublin. After 20 years of teaching she then decided to live out her childhood dream and become an author. As a child she always preferred books as gifts. She currently lives in Limerick and has three adult children.

During her talk to us she told us about how ‘Heidi’, set in the Swiss Alps, was her favorite book when she was young. When she was in her early forties, she finally visited the Swiss Alps, at that stage in her life she had forgotten about the book Heidi. She stepped out of the cable car on top of the mountain and felt like she had been there before, such was the latent inspiration from years before.

She showed us her party dress from when she was a child. She told us that the reason the dress was so well kept, was because instead of playing party games with her friends using the dolls she had, she used to sneak up to the birthday boy/girls bedroom and read their books! It became the source of much inspiration for her later in life as an accomplished writer.

It was a pleasure meeting Judi, hearing about her childhood life, her reading experiences,  and what inspired her to become a writer.  Ashton students were also inspired to read and read!

Senior Cycle students in 5^th and 6^th year visited the Opera House to see the Seán O’Casey play, ‘The Plough and the Stars’,as part of their Leaving Certificate curriculum, literary and literacy development.  What an amazing theatrical performance it was!.  With a ‘full house’, one could hear a ‘pin drop’ throughout the performance by the Abbey Theatre.  Language was honored, as were costumes, props, sound,  lighting and set.  The bleakness of tenement Dublin was aptly captured, with outstanding performances by each actor and actress.  The political situation at the time was well portrayed through many humorous scenes.  A theatrical performance that will not be forgotten.

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