THE CHILDREN'S THOUGHTS ON THE FUTURE
OF THE ABBEY AND THE CASTLE
Charlie, 11
I do not think the appearance of the abbey should be changed. I think it should be looked after so it doesn’t fall into ruin. Somebody should be in charge of supervising visitors so no damage will be done. Guided tours of the abbey should be organised & the money from it could go towards its upkeep. I think there should be a steel bar door so that people could look in when there are no supervisors there.
Keith Moran, 11
I think the abbey should have a slated roof to blend in and also be a tourist attraction meaning it to be opened to the public for guided tour and the history of the abbey. The paintings and the history could be explained to the tourist. It could also be used for mass at special times. I also think that the castle should have stairs or ladder to get up to the rooms that have no stairs. I think as well that the castle should be cleaned because it stinks inside and there is rubbish and broken bottles in corners.
Louise O' Leary, 11
I wouldn’t like them to put a roof on the abbey and windows and doors on the abbey because it would look too modern. I wouldn’t mind them to put a door from the nave into the room with the paintings on the wall because with a door the paintings wouldn’t get destroyed. And I wouldn’t mind them putting the wall walk on again because I would like to walk around it.
Sarah Mc Cabe, 12
The future of the abbey should be carefully decided. I think they should conserve the abbey but not change it too much. I also think a glass roof would be suitable because it wouldn’t change the appearance too much. A thatched roof would be totally different & a slated roof would kind of change it. The abbey should be opened to the public so the beautiful paintings can be seen. There should be a rope barrier around the paintings to protect them. A tourist information office would be a bad idea because the tourist would have to walk all the way to the abbey to find out information. At times like Christmas, Easter & other special occasions mass should be said in the abbey.
Mary Burns, 10
I think it would be a good idea to put a roof on the abbey. I would like a glass roof. The advantages of having a glass roof would be that the paintings would last longer because of the heat coming from the sun would keep the abbey warm. I think it would be a good idea if they have mass at special times like Easter and Christmas. I think it would be nice if there was a person handing pages about Clare Island .I would like if there were a glass door and windows in the abbey so the rain won’t go into the abbey. That’s my idea about the abbey.
I think they should fix the stairs and make a bit of light when you are going upstairs. I think they should fix any cracks in the wall. I think they should put a tourism office in the castle and a coffee shop. I think they should clean around the castle and the stones because everyone leaves all their rubbish there. I think there should be a glass roof on it so the rain won’t come in. That is my idea about the castle.
Michelle Burns, 11
I would like there to be a roof put on the Abbey again.I think it would be a good idea if it was glass. The advantages of that would be the paintings would last longer. It would be warmer and if it was flat you would not see from a distance. Mass at special occasions would be nice because it’s a change. It would mean you would put an effort into Christmas and Easter. Tourism should be taken seriously. They should be allowed to go and see the paintings. Maybe there should be some information leaflets about the Abbey and paintings there.
I think it would be a good idea if someone was there at a table, letting people in and to show them around the Abbey. They could pay so much to get in and you would raise more money. The door would be a good idea if it were wooden. The main door should be glass or wooden with windows. They should make sure to keep it clean. That’s what I think about the future of the Abbey.
I think a low roof should be put on the castle to keep it dry. A tourism office would be a good idea, and maybe some teas and coffees and scones. Stairs should be built on so people can walk around and get a lot of information about the island. Well that’s all I have to say.
Marian O’ Malley, 11
I think that we should put a glass roof on & renovate the Abbey. It would make good sense because glass lets in warm air so that it would be warm. Most importantly it would dry the paintings & to allow us to have mass on special occasions. I might be thinking a little too big here but it’s just an idea.
It would be great if they put a slate roof on the castle, and in the first floor a museum. On the second floor a coffee shop and on the third floor telescopes to look out.