St Patricks Picnic group A DAY AT THE TRIP THE RETURN TO ST PATRICKS

The final leg. Sunburnt and tired the the children return to Shotts. One last procession left to take place. The train is emptied and everyone thanks the staff of Scotrail for a safe journey to and from our destination before waving goodbye to the train. From the platform we can see all the people who have gathered to welcome us home and the adrenalin rush kicks in once again. A man with a megaphone asks if we can all make it back to to the school and are we ready to go. Yes is the unanimous reply. Once again the band strikes up we are on the move. This time though the pace is noticeably slower than those before as no one wants this day to end. As we reach the school gates it all starts to become a bit hectic as stewards try to keep everyone out to let the children in first. For the final time that day as the procession reaches the yard in front of the church the band separate into 2 lines and all the children walk through between them. The music is deafening by this time and everyone is singing along at the top of their voices the trip anthem - TERRY, TERRY, DO NOT WEEP NOR SIGH, JUST LAY YOUR HEAD UPON MY BREAST, MY BLUE EYED IRISH BOY! - There is no better feeling than this in the world. As a school, a parish and a community we then say thanks to God for the wonderful day that we have just been given and for protecting and looking after us. We thank the organisers, volunteers, sponsors, providers and a very special thanks to St Patrick's Brass Band Shotts for accompanying us on our trip before receiving the final blessing from our Parish Priest. Back in 1926 this was an idea which became a reality and today it is a tradition. God willing and pleasing it will be continuing for a long long time to come. God bless the men women and children of St Patrick's Shotts