Flight of the Earls 2007 is a major international flagship centenary commemoration to mark the 400th anniversary of one of the most significant events and periods in Irish history.
In September 1607 a group of Ireland’s noble elite, including Rory O’Donnell, Earl of Tír Chonnaill and Hugh O’Neill, Earl of Tyrone and their extended familes left for the continent from Rathmullan, County Donegal. Their departure marked the end of the Gaelic Order in Ireland and made way for the Plantation of Ulster.
Over the past twelve months a series of events to mark this anniversary have taken place in Donegal, Derry, Tyrone and throughout the country. This has included, exhibitions, competitions, drama, schools projects, the unveiling of public art and, of course, a wonderful commemorative week last September in Rathmullan and throughout county Donegal.
The Flight of the Earls Primary Schools Resource Pack is a joint project between the Donegal Education Centre and Cultural Services, Donegal County Council and is part of the 400th anniversary commemorations of the Flight of the Earls.
The Teachers Focus Group and staff members from the County Archive Service have compiled this resource pack for use by primary school pupils.
The Teachers Focus Group is a group of primary school teachers with an interest in heritage and local history. The group and Cultural Services, DCC have been collaborating for a number of years, looking at ways in which Cultural Service and teachers can work together in developing heritage and cultural projects for school children.
The pack contains a selection of text, images and worksheets for primary school pupils as well as a guide to the period for teachers. Topics covered in the pack are taken from aspects of life in 16th century Ireland. Information is arranged into themes, including people, castles, dress and banqueting as well as the flight from Ireland of the Ulster Earls, Hugh O'Neill and Rory O’Donnell in 1607.
The aim of this project is to encourage the development of investigative skills in students with the use of child friendly sources. It will hopefully foster an interest in the period and the events that took place in a whole generation of young students.
The pack has been funded by the International Fund for Ireland and will be distributed to Primary Schools by the Donegal Education Centre.