Mariststudents visitWW1sites

STUDENTS from St. Mary’s College travelled to France recently to take part in a meeting of the Union to promote culture and professional advancement in Europe (UCAPE) in Compiègne, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end World War 1. They met with students from across Europe in this initiative which aims at building better understanding between nations.

On their arrival in Paris, the 5th and 6th year students were greeted by the principal of Lycée Saint Vincent, who brought them to the school to meet their host families. The Dundalk students enjoyed the chance to experience French culture and the next day they visited the town of Senlis and roamed the market-filled streets. They then went to Lycée Jean Paul II in Compiègne and that evening the UCAPE ceremony began with presentations from each student delegation from countries across Europe. The Marist group gave a presentation about the torpedoing of the SS Dundalk and RMS Leinster.

Their trip also took in visits to the French countryside to various cemeteries for the St Mary’s students who visited World War One sites in France.

soldiers who tragically lost their lives fighting in the war. They also visited trenches in Peronne where they learned about the conditions in trenches and how hard life was for the soldiers.

A visit to a war memorial museum resulted in sixth year student Mark Phair discovering the name of one of his ancestors, William Phair, who took part in World War I alongside the British army.

On the Sunday morning they attended a service at Eglise Saint Jacques in the Compiègne parish, celebrating the lives of the fallen, exactly 100 years since World

War I ended. Later that day they travelled to the Glade of the Armistice in Compiègne Forest, where a museum houses a replica train, the ‘Compiègne Wagon’, where the Germans surrendered at the end of World War I. Sixth year student Joe Sweeney was honoured to read a passage at the site of the clearing in honour of the lost heroes. At the end of the meeting, they devised a charter outlining their vision for a better Europe.

The students were accompanied by teachers Ms Hughes and Mr Murphy and Board of Management chairperson Mr Diarmuid O Mhurchu.