Aims of the workshop

• To re-establish prior relationships between participants from the previous workshop.
• To create a safe, non threatening environment in order to look at the theme of Saint Patrick.
• To address the Community Relations themes surrounding Saint Patrick through a series of operative and thought provoking educational activities.
• To explore different attitudes to Patrick within the Northern Ireland context and how these attitudes can be constructive and destructive.
• To let participants learn the most factual account of the life of Patrick together so they can make their own judgements on what it’s all about.
• To apply the example of Patrick’s life to the two main traditions in Northern Ireland society and how it could be used in conflict resolution.

Learning outcomes of the workshop

   By the end of the workshop participants should ;

• Be able to recall an acceptable amount of information about their partner school.
• Be able to recall in their own words important aspects from the life of Saint Patrick.
• Be able to give examples of how Saint Patrick might deal with some modern day situations.
• Demonstrate a knowledge of how Christianity came to Ireland and how St Patrick’s message was for all the people on the island.
• Have had a great day and want to come back again!

Methodology of the workshop

• Co operative activities to begin the day with using the whole group.
• ‘Changing places’ exercise to mix the group into a suitable format to split into two smaller groups.
• Break off into two smaller groups to take part in co-operative workshop activities.
• Re-convene as large group for ‘In the Footsteps of Saint Patrick’ presentation and evaluate the outcomes from the activities and gauge participants feelings about the workshop.

Possible evaluation questions –

• Who was Saint Patrick?
• Where did Patrick come from?
• What sort of people did Patrick preach to when he travelled Ireland?
• What sort of message did Patrick bring to Ireland that we can still learn from?
• What was your favourite and least favourite part of the workshop?
• Can you remember some information about a friend from your partner school that you learnt today?
• Did you enjoy yourself?

Rationale of the workshop

This is a workshop which for the first time utilises the facilities within the Saint Patrick Centre to their maximum. The theme if Saint Patrick is introduced to the participants of this workshop and they are to explore it while also re-establishing relationships with their counterparts in a partner school. The activities chosen to start the workshop are designed to ease all the participants into relaxing in each others company and building a rapport with the Education Officer. The activities are humorous, energetic and ensure that an all inclusive, non-threatening learning space is created in order to explore the theme of conflict effectively.
The ‘changing places’ exercise will mix the group up time and time again until everybody will have had the chance to change places a few times. Examples of questions used in this activity will vary from simple things like;

        “Change places if you brushed your teeth this morning”

to more specific questions such as;

        “Change places if you play gaelic football / soccer”

Eventually the group will be mixed up to the extent where it can be split into 2 equally mixed smaller groups for the next part of the workshop. The two smaller groupings will move through three short workshops now.

• Saint Patrick’s legacy through Drama. A 45 minute workshop where different aspects of the life of Patrick are analysed and demonstrated through drama using all the participants in one way or another. The Centre is resourced with many costumes and traditional dress from the early 5th Century and these always act as a great form of amusement for everybody involved. An atmosphere is created so all the pupils feel comfortable with the roles they are given and nobody is pushed to a limit where they are asked to do too much. Each selected scene from Patrick’s life is frozen and an opportunity is given for the group to talk about the Community Relations issues arising from each scene.
  
  
• The Interactive Exhibition Trail. Working in pairs, pupils navigate their way through the underground exhibition on the life of Saint Patrick, completing an exhibition trail as they go (see attached sheet) on a journey from the Roman world and all its baggage to pagan Ireland and the dangers facing Patrick the young slave. By the end of the trail the pupils have worked their way into early Christian Ireland and modern day Ireland and the modern debates surrounding the life of Patrick.
  
• Saint Patrick’s Grave at Down Cathedral. A short workshop takes place (weather permitting!) at the traditional burial place of Patrick. This is a chance for the participants and staff to discuss Patrick’s unique place of burial between a Protestant Cathedral and a Catholic Chapel. It is a chance to bring the world ‘inclusion’ into the community relations vocabulary of the participants and examine how Patrick’s impact on Ireland would have been much less had he have not been inclusive in his philosophy.

The large group forms up once again for lunch and then everybody gathers in the Centre Auditorium to watch the virtual helicopter presentation. This presentation takes participants back through the content of the day in the form of a simulator ride to all the places of significance in Ireland. It also features a broad set of opinions from across Northern Ireland about St Patrick and how certain elements of the community feel excluded from celebrating St Patrick’s day, even though it is celebrated all over the world by Christians and non-Christians alike!
This presentation brings the Community Relations issues of the day to the participants and staff in glorious technicolour and is completely unique and exhilarating for everyone to watch. Everyone remains in the Auditorium for an evaluation exercise to bring closure to the day.

        Possible evaluation questions

• Where did St Patrick come from
• How did Patrick deal with Conflict?
• What sort of people did Patrick talk to when he came to Ireland?
• How would Patrick deal with some modern day conflict situations in Northern Ireland?
• Can you remember some information about your partner school?