Remembering Caroline: The Greystones Bear and why it is there!

Occasionally on our blog we write about

past pupils of St. Brigid’s, Greystones.

Earlier in the year we told you about Emily’s Green Fingers 

and her contribution to our community.

 

Before that we wrote about Harry 

who is having great success musically.

We called that post ‘Mighty Oaks from Little Acorns grow’ .

 

Today we want to tell you about a girl

called Caroline Dwyer Hickey.

Caroline and her little brother Denis

came to school here with us in the 1980s

and they are both fondly remembered by the teachers

who were working here then

and by the school friends who were here too.

 

Caroline went on to become a primary school teacher

and she worked in another St. Brigid’s NS., in Glasnevin

where she was greatly loved.

 

Caroline went home to God on 20 March, 2013

after a brave battle against cancer.

 

She was a girl who was greatly loved

and people wanted to remember her.

In St. Brigid’s Glasnevin,

they are making the most marvellous mosaic

to commemorate her.

 

This brings us to the wonderful

and most magnificient Greystones Bear:

 

BeFunky_Underpainting_242.jpg

 

He looks even better in real life 😉

Caroline’s family gave the community of Greystones

the gift of this wonderful bear

in memory of Caroline.

The Beach Bear was created

by the talented sculptor Patrick O’Reilly.

 

The bear is taller than any grown up we know.

He is eight foot tall and two tonnes in weight.

He carries a bucket and spade

and he looks as if he is marching down to the beach to play.

We love him and every time we past we say hello.

There are always people around him, admiring him.

 

Family and friends of Caroline have also established

‘The Caroline Foundation’.

The ‘Caroline Foundation’ will raise funds for cancer research.

 

There is a Guinness World Record Attempt

being held on Sunday, 11th May.

The challenge is to join up the longest chain of ribbons

from Greystones to Bray along the Cliff Walk.

 

You can read about it here.

 

Why not join in!

We know children from this school

who are taking part.

The event is very well organized

and children will not be on the cliff walk,

better locations along the route

are being organized for them.

 

We wish the Caroline Foundation

every success in this exciting challenge

and remember our brave past pupil.

 

4 thoughts on “Remembering Caroline: The Greystones Bear and why it is there!

  1. Thanks very much Alice. I will show your message to the children on Monday. They will be excited and delighted.

  2. What a powerful, powerful post. Really wonderful and at the time quite sad. I loved the fact that the teacher will be remembered by the statue and can be a memory for years and years to come. Wonderful special post and looking forward to your students work being featured again after your break.
    Mr Webb and Room One, Auroa Primary School, Taranaki, New Zealand. mrwebbauroa.blogspot.com

  3. Thanks for your kind words. Lovely to hear from you. The Beach Bear puts a smile on people’s faces. The Caroline Foundation is raising money for research into cancer. The mosaic being created in Glasnevin is very special too.
    The children wanted to say thanks to Caroline’s family for introducing this larger than life size bear into their lives.

    I am looking forward to returning to school next week. You know yourself, a holiday is lovely, but it is great to get back to working with the children.

    We in turn will make a return visit to your blogs and take a look at the work you, your students and the other teachers are doing in Auroa Primary School.

    With every good wish.

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