Our project, entitled "From Tears of Sorrow to Tears of Joy", starts with the greatest time of sorrow and tears in Ireland - The Great Famine. Ireland's population fell from 12 million people to 5 million and many died from illness, starvation and on coffin ships like the 'Jeannie Johnston', which some of us visited this summer, in Foynes, Co. Limerick, Ireland.

Today, Ireland is growing again, the population has for the first time since the Great Famine, reached three million inhabitants. We're a strong country in Europe, and in the World. Our 'Celtic Tiger' is bringing many jobs to Ireland. People are coming home to stay.

Since we joined the European Union in 1973, we have become a powerful economy. Other new countries joining the E.U. can look to Ireland and see how they can also grow in strength and live better lives. Our Irish language is strong again and these other countries must believe that, like Ireland, their tears of the past - war, death, persecution, invasion, will make them strong also. Countries all over the World can also gain hope from our story of success… our tears of Joy!

Dialogue through cultures and Tears of Sorrow to Tears of Joy, in collaboration with Cable and Wirelerss, Childnet Academy, allows our project at Gaelscoil Ó Doghair, to share Ireland's success and give hope to the 10 new nations who joined the European Union this year, 2004. Many African Nation and other Nations who suffer from famine around the World, may also see the hope for the future but together, we must work to make this future possible.

Our website will allow us all to share ideas and tell stories, to become one united European and World Family.

You can view the project in a powerpoint presentation by clicking here. DialoguethroughCulturesChildnet.ppt

Please look at our Powerpoint presentation and send us your views and comments at gscoilod.ias@eircom.net. We promise to respond to every email and we intend to setup a comments page with your views as soon as you send them to us.
The future tears of joy lie in our hands as we all have a part to play in making a better future for the World!