Essays

ESSAYS SECTION

Essay 1 - Jan 20th 2014

THE CHRISTMAS PRESENT THIEF

By Harry Gavin 

I wake up on Christmas morning exhausted because last night I was so excited I could hardly even stay still. But I’m not letting tiredness keep me down, after all it is Christmas! I run across the hall to my Mum and Dad’s bedroom shouting “It’s Christmas! It’s Christmas! It’s Christmas!”I get everyone out of bed even though it’s six o’clock in the morning. Dad gets the camera and we all go downstairs and find a chocolate coin trail. We all know they lead to the presents. We all stop before the sitting room door and look through the glass, just in case Santa is there. When we go in I am amazed by how many presents there are. I run over to see my football boots, soccer gear and lots more. I am so excited I don’t know which present to open first.

When we are finished playing with our presents we have cereal, get dressed and go to mass. As always, it drags on to what feels like hours. After mass we go to see the Crib. Isabel and mum always start babbling about how beautiful it is.

Finally we leave, get in the car and drive home. Me, Luke and Isabel are waiting giddily at the door while dad gets the keys out of his pocket. Dad opens the door and we all run to the sitting room in an instant! But there are no presents! We’re all devastated. But there’s no time to waste, we have to find the culprit.First we call the guards, and then we ask the neighbours. The guards said they would do their best but didn’t hold out much hope.

While the guards were looking for finger prints, I decided to be the detective, so I go outside and check for footprints. I found footprints on the grass and there were traces of snow on them even though it didn’t snow this Christmas.I followed the snowy tracks down the road about fifty meters and find a snow covered mound. I dig down into the snow, and suddenly find myself sliding down an icy tunnel and fall down into a cave filled with toys. In the corner is Jack Frost practicing his ho ho ho,I run over to him to ask him why did he steal all the toys and just when he is about to answer, I find myself being shook by my Mum shouting “Harry Harry, are you going to get up? It’s Christmas!” It had all just been a bad dream.

ESSAY 2

MY TRIP TO NEW YORK  by Oran Groarke  

DAY 1

Our first day was quite exciting but also boring because I felt sick and the journey was 7 hours and 10 minutes. But at least we had TV screens on the back of all the seats on the plane. All of my family came with me, my two sisters Caoilinn, Liadh and my Mum and Dad. When we got off the plane straight away we went on the underground subway we came into our hotel which was called the Marriot . And it was right beside the world trade center. I was stunned by how large the memorial building was.

DAY 2

On the second day we went uptown to see Time Square. All the Christmas lights in Time Square were so amazing. That day was really good because we went to the Rockafeller center, where we went ice-skating and had a look at a lot of the shops. I was really embarrassed by the way I was falling when we were ice-skating. My back was really sore after we went ice-skating.

DAY 3

When I woke up on the third day it was half five in the morning. Anyway we got the subway to Columbus Circle and went to a big Apple store. It seemed quite strange because there was this big glass cube where you had to go down stairs to get to the store. One of the i-pad’s costs $499! After we came out of that store we came to a big toy store called F.A.O. Schwartz. A doll was worth $289. Soon after my sister stopped wanting one of those dolls and we went up to macey’s one of the biggest shopping centres in the world. When my Mum had finally stopped shopping, we went to the Empire State building at night. There was a ride there which had a screen what showed you all of New York lights.

DAY 4

On the fourth day there was a snow storm. So we all thought that it would be nice to take a stroll in central park. All of the water in central park froze into ice and there were icicles under a bridge over the lake. It was too cold for us to bear so we went to my Mum’s cousin’s bar. After my Mum spoke to her cousin we went to a marquee, where my mum got caught up in her shopping and got lost. Eventually we found her.

DAY 5

On our last day in the morning we went to see ground zero A.K.A World Trade Center memorial. There was a big hole in where the Twin Towers were with the names of all the people who died. Then we went for a walk in Battery park, where we would be going on a boat ride to the Statue of Liberty. We were not allowed to go on the island because it was closed. When you got up close to it though you could really see how mighty America’s independence is. Soon after that we went on a bus ride which took us around Manhattan. We went through Chinatown en route to Central Park. We got to see the hotel where the president of America stays when he is in New York. It is called the Waldorf Astoria. We went on the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridge as well. They were so amazing. The tour guide on the bus said there was a bridge named after Teddy Roosevelt a great president of America. We took a taxi to the airport. Our flight was at 5.30pm US time. When we got home to Ireland it was 5 o’clock in the morning and we were in Dublin! 

ESSAY 3

Devlin Gormally's essay "The Elf That Saves Christmas" is presented below and then we have added an image to show the Christmas decorations as he intended it - enjoy!

The Elf that Saves Christmas

by Devlin Gormally

It was Christmas Eve and everyone was in bed.  One elf was helping Santa, well that’s what everyone thought he was doing.  His name was Punch, he was a mean, selfish and a bit of a know it all.  He was actually unscrewing the bolts on the sleigh and cutting the wires to its lights.  after Santa left the room Bouncy walked over to Punch and shouted at him for messing with the sleigh.

“Are you trying to ruin Christmas” shouted Bouncy

“Yes and you’re not going to stop me” laughed Punch as he picked up a spanner and hit Bob over the head knocking him out.  He then hid Bob in the boot of the sleigh.

Santa walked into the room and said “HO, HO, HO, lets GO, GO, GO,”  Santa got the reindeer ready he then got into his Sleigh and when he was just about to leave he heard a bang from the back of the sleigh.  Curious he went to the back of the sleigh and opened the boot.  Bouncy had just woke up after the bang on his head, he told Santa what Punch had done.

Santa sent Punch to the Candy Cane Jail in the South Pole where Clank was the boss.

Santa let Bouncy ride in the sleigh with him and everyone got their presents just in time.

ESSAY 4

Gold by Darragh Fahey.

It was a cold, rainy and windy morning and I was very upset because just the day before my uncle had died. Suddenly, I heard a knock on the door. I opened the door, and there was a postman. ”Letter for a Mister Patrick O`Donaghue”. “Yeah, that’s me”. I answered. I took the letter and closed the door. ”I wonder what it says”, I thought. I opened the letter. It read:

Dear cousin Patrick

I would like to invite you on an expedition across California to hunt for some gold. Please reply.  P.S. All expenses paid for.

Woo hoo !!!!!!!!! I replied and left the following morning. The journey was rough and I got seasick a few times. But eventually, I made it. When I arrived, I met my cousin. We chatted for a while and left for the mine. It was to dark to the mine, so I slept. Goodnight.

When I woke the following morning, it was warm and sunny, but I had no time to look around. I had to have breakfast and leave. I ordered two rashers, two sausages, one hashbrown, bread, scrambled eggs, tomato, beans and coffee.

After I had breakfast I left for the mine and met my cousin. His name is Steve. He’s a miner. He’s very rich. He mines for gold, diamond and iron. Steve always wears a blue t-shirt and jeans.

When I got to the mine, we went straight into mining. For a few hours, we just found rock and the odd piece of coal. But, after a few more hours I hit something hard. IT WAS GOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I couldn’t believe it!

I found gold! “Hey guys, I found gold!” I shouted. No reply. “Guys?” I whispered loudly again.

The gold I mined out must have triggered a chain reaction that made the rock fall! What was I going to do? I was on my own, in a mineshaft with only some gold, two porkchops, a chocolate bar, two sticks and a telephone. A TELEPHONE! I could play games! Oh, and ring Steve and co!

My pickaxe was nearly broken so I had to use my sticks and gold to make a pickaxe. I was so sad. I used my gold on a measly pickaxe! After I mined my way out my gold pickaxe broke. Steve and co. were waiting for me trying to mine from the outside. I found gold but I used it to make my pickaxe. Then I fainted from exhaustion. I woke up the following morning in hospital and there were lots of medicines beside me. “Where am I”, I said daizily. A nurse came and said, “You’re in hospital and you're rich”. I was so happy but puzzled. “This is Dublin hospital”. “Yes, it is”, said the nurse. I was home.

I got back the following morning and life resumed as normal, well almost....after all I was rich!

That’s my story of how I found gold.

ESSAY 5

Gold by Donovan McHale

It was a cold day in Ireland when a letter from California came and it looked strange. I quickly realised that it was from Jim, my old friend from school, looking for me to mine with him. I was excited and nervous all in one. I decided to take the plunge and around a week later I found a ship willing to transport people to the land of opportunity so I took a horse and carriage to Cork so then about a week later I was reunited with Jim in California.

So after a nice night of sleep we went to his claim to check out what land we would mine. We dug a hole and Jim got a pan and took a shovel of muck and brought it to a river on the claim and then he was silent and then he shouted booya!!!!! “What type of shriek was that” I cried.  “A happy one”.

We had found about one whole ounce of gold that is worth about $1000. What luck! yes I was so happy I  cried with happiness and Jim was on the ground bailing  in happiness so we both agreed that we would go to sleep and get it weighed tomorrow in the assay office so that morning we went to get the gold weighed and we were both in shock when we found out that it was worth $1000. So we decided that we would go back to Ireland in two weeks. So when we arrived in Cork on the 4/9/1884 we could not wait to tell the news to are family and friends when we arrived in Mayo.

Gold by Declan Mortimer

It was 1848, my cousin sent me a letter from America. He said that there was gold in California. Of course I would believe a family member. I went Cork and got on board a huge ship. It’s August 15^th 1849 and everyone is prepared to go to America. The gruelling journey took two weeks and we finally arrived. Then I saved up for tickets to go on a steam train to California, another difficult trip!

 Luckily, my cousin sent me a ticket for the steam train. I was thankful to him for the  ticket. Then a week later I boarded the train. I was very excited to go mining with other prospectors. After arriving I settled in. The following day I went down to a hardware store and got a pickaxe and spade. Now I can start mining with prospectors. After a long struggle fighting against the rocks and gravel, I found iron. I was very excited, But I thought that I was not looking for iron I was looking gold. It was horrible because I was losing oxygen. But then I saw something that looked like gold. It was gold I made a lucky strike I was amazed that I found it I couldn’t believe it I was jumping, shouting we found it. I climbed out of mine because I was losing oxygen. Then I saw light it was day light. I was out of the mine. I went down to the assay office. I said I have gold how much is it worth. He said it was 5 million. I was screaming in joy.

The first thing I bought with five million was house. I donated 1 million to charity. Then I thought self I thought to my self my family is poor back in Ireland so I’ll give the rest to them. They need it the most so when I went back to Ireland I’ll give it to them. when I got back I said to them this is for you. They went absolutely mad they were so happy. I’m rich there rich.

ESSAY 6

Gold by Oisin Quinn.

It was 1848.I was living in Ireland. One day on Saturday 14^th of April I received a letter from my cousins in America telling me there was gold in California. Since I was a prospector the following day I caught a carriage to Dublin and bought some tickets to a big ship. I boarded the ship along with hundreds of other people who were sailing to California. A month later we arrived at California and I caught another carriage to my cousins. The next day I will start looking for gold.

The next day I got my tools. headed down to the claims office and bought some land. I then started digging up some land and panning it. A few hours later I was just about to stop and I spotted a stone with something glowing inside it. I burned the rock and found the smallest piece of gold but still that gave me hope that there was more gold. In my area. So I started to pan faster and faster I felt as if I was about to faint but finally I made a lucky strike! I started jumping up and down and singing with joy.

I went down to the assay office and asked how much it was worth I could not believe my ears I had found 5 million dollars out of both the small and big pieces of gold. I went back to Ireland and I gave my relatives some money and I kept some for myself. my relatives had money but they weren’t as rich as me!

ESSAY 7

Gold by David Grealis

Hi, my name is David Grealis. The year is 1848. I am a gold hunter. There is gold reported 
in California. So I think about it. Finally, after an amazing 5 minutes, I decided that I would go to the USA. So I went to my mum and dad and i was going to the USA. They said that it was up to me. After all, I am 30 years old (I am in the story).So I packed my stuff and went to Knock airport. I couldn't believe it,I was going to the USA.

When I got there, I could not believe how many people were on the street. I went to a 5 star hotel. I was in California! The next day I went to the gold mine. With me were some tools and matches (in case I did find gold I could burn the gold from the rock).So when I arrived there I could not believe how many gold hunters were there were there. I'd say about 100 were there. I found a good spot and started mining. I mined and mined and mined and still no sign of gold.


Two days passed and there was still no sign of gold. Another gold hunter found some gold. I kept on mining and mining and still no sign of gold. I was really frustrated and I was thinking of giving up. Lots of other gold hunters had given up already. Then I kept saying in my head "Don't give up!"

ESSAY 8

Gold by Darragh Reilly.

It was a cold wet day in Ireland. I got a letter from my cousin in California. I was very excited because I never get mail from them. When I opened the letter I got a huge surprise. It said that we were going to mine for GOLD! I was so shocked that I fainted. In the morning the weather was a bit better. I went to the dock to get on a boat. There was just one which was big enough so…I sneaked onto it. The journey was very rough. A few people fell off. I met this really nice guy. I told him I was going to mine gold in California. He said he was going on holidays. I had a good talk with him. A few days later we finally docked. I was really hungry so I went to a little store to buy some food. Then I went and got a room in a B&B I went up to the room. I cooked my food and then I went to sleep.

In the morning I got out of my bed I left the B&B and I went to my cousins house.

He was having breakfast. He invited me for some I said OK. After breakfast we went to the hardware store and got some tools then we left the house and went to his mineshaft.

After having mining explained to me again I hit the rock with my pickaxe and prayed that we would make our fortune. We were in the mineshaft for a few hours now. Still no luck. We were getting tired but we had brought some sleeping bags. We put them down and slept.

In the morning we took out the frying pan and had some eggs and home made orange juice. We packed our things and kept looking for gold. It was a few hours and I finally found some sparkle in the dark. I put a torch down to get a better look. O.M.G. I found gold and, lo and behold, behind it there was more and more. We collected up the scraps of gold in a bag and then we ran out of the mine. We split the gold in half and hurried to the assay office to determine just how much money our gold was worth. They said it was worth about 5000$. We were so happy. Then we went back to my cousin’s house. We said our goodbyes and then I went to the door. I went to the dock got on a ship and sailed back home to Ireland. I became a local celebrity tons of people came to hear the story of how I got my gold. And I wrote a book about my adventure and I believe that’s what you just finished reading.

ESSAY 9

GOLD by Eoin Canning.

One day a man named Vincent Lammond was in his house. His mother shouted “VINCENT! There is a letter for you”. He came downstairs and read the letter. It was from his Uncle Greg. It was something about finding gold in America. He was very excited, so he travelled to Dublin and boarded a ship to America. Vincent felt a bit tired so he stayed in his auntie’s house near by. Vincent was very excited about hopefully finding a lucky strike the next day.

When Vincent woke up he got all his equipment and was ready to go to the mines. He walked up to a group of men to ask where could claim a spot. He started to dig and dig and dig. But he said to himself that he would have no chance of getting any gold. When he was packing up his stuff he saw a bright shine in the rocks, so he dug a bit more and there it was! He found it. His Uncle was actually right. All these hours were worth it! When he went to the adviser, he said that the golden nugget was worth a value of  $32,000000 dollars. I WAS RICH!!!!!!! He was so excited for what he could do for his family. And he could pay for college. He very excited for his new future,

And that was the story of a man named Vincent Lammond. THE END!!!

ESSAY 10

Lucky strike by Kasjan Derewianyk.

It was a lovely morning in Ireland. When I woke up, I heard the doorbell ringing. It was a postman holding a letter from my cousin in America. It said “Come here to me to America! As you know I make my servants mine a lot. A week ago I found a mine – there’s lots of gold in it! You have been good to me in the past. I really want you to have the chance to get rich! Come to the coast of Achill Is. 1 o’clock 17^th May. There will be a boat there heading to America. Take it. See ya in America,” said the letter.”Oh my, that’s tomorrow!” I shouted. So the next day I head to Achill Is. It was a long journey with loads of storms.

At last I get there. My cousin says, “I need to go to the claims office quickly, you just go and mine. I finally get to the mine and start mining. “What is that shiny thing,” I say and walk up to it.”Eh, useless,” I say. My cousin’s servant says “That is gold, sir.”Suddenly my cousin comes and says “That is my bit, your bit is over there.”After a week of mining and not finding anything I go to the claims office. I go with a new pickaxe searching in a new place and start digging. “No, no, no, no, it can’t be! It’s gold!”After a good week of mining I have more gold than my cousin who started about 10 days before me. “Becoming seasick 3 times and paying about $100 to reserve a little bit of the mine was worth it. It is worth it because now I am rich. I will sell the gold and before I know I will have$10, 000”

I will definitely stay here for at least 1 year. I still can’t get over it that I found so much gold.

ESSAY 11

GOLD by Stephen Lammond.

This is my story of my journey to find GOLD.

It was a dark cold rainy day when I heard a bang on my door. It was a man wearing a black coat. He said “Mr. Lammond” in a deep voice “This is a letter from your uncle, Mr. Harry”. The man gave me a small note, but when I looked up he was gone, so I closed the door. When I sat down on my stool I opened the letter. It was written very poshly. It said “There is a gold rush in California, get here quickly”.

The next day was bright and sunny. I thought I better get to the mine, so I got my boat and sailed to the mine. It wasn’t very long it only took five minutes. I paid for my tools and area but there was a problem, I didn’t know how to mine! There was a man who looked strong and already had four pieces of gold! I asked him for advice and he said “BUZZ OFF!”. After a while I got the hang of it after a while. I found a shiny piece of rock.  WAS IT GOLD! I quickly put it in my pocket and ran away, a man spotted me and got his gun out. I thought I was doomed until my uncle hit him with a pickaxe! We quickly got onto our boat and sailed back to my house and I took out The piece of rock, IT WAS GOLD!

ESSAY 12

Gold by Thomas Nyland

Hello, I’m Jim. One day, we received mail. It was from America! It read: ‘Dear Mr and Mrs Mcgreggar, I am delighted to tell you that you and your family are Going to California!’ Oh, and I forgot to tell you that I have sixteen siblings, and that my father is a gold miner. Anyway, a day later we were ready to go. On the ship we went, and we almost lost each other there was so many people! About a day on the ship, and almost all of us were seasick! Although, it was a very exciting journey!

When we got dressed, we went to the claims office, and some time later we came out as proud land owners. We got out our tools and set to work. We got our dad to help us as we didn’t know a THING about mining. “Phew, this is hard work,” my twin said. After loads and loads and loads of mining

my dad sighed. “Ah, It’s no use”. “but we have to keep trying!!” my mum said. After even MORE mining, I found something. “Mum! Dad!” I shouted.

“What is it love, what is it?” They came over. “Keep mining, keep mining!!”

I mined  as hard as I could. I pulled and pulled, until I got it. “Yay, YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!” I shouted, but it end up to be just a boot painted gold. At least I have some thing to remember the journey!