Ole’ Man Seifert

Last year one of my favourite things that happened in my classes was the advent and writing of the school paper; Second Beach Stag Party. Our boardroom sessions hold a place in my heart and I hope to continue with something similar when I get back, but in the meantime Ole’ Man Seifert has evolved.

In two weeks time I will be accompanying a class on a study trip to Dublin, and as we approach the trip our focus in class has shifted to all things Dublin and Irish. As I was doing my own reading I came across a column in the Irish Times written by a fictional character (http://www.irishtimes.com/ross-o-carroll-kelly-7.1837434), and I was reminded of Ole’ Man Seifert (who was a fictionalized version of myself, a little older, a little grumpier).

So now my students have created fictional Dubliners who are writing columns reflecting what we have been learning about Ireland and the whole process is a lot of fun. Our invented characters make us consider what an Irish character might be like, and through these characters I will be able to read what they have learned. A little fiction, a little creativity, but we still have writing reflecting thoughts on the materials studied.

Today’s class will start with a sharing of what their fictional character did on the weekend; Breen O’Sullivan (my character) works at Guinness with his father. He started Friday after work with a couple of pints with his da, and he stayed on after his da went home to have a few with his mates. He managed to pick up some food at the chippie and stumbled home knowing that if he went back to join his mates he wouldn’t make it home. When he got there he started watching his old tape of the Ireland vs. England match from Italia 90 when they tied 1-1 and Ireland went on to appear in the quarter finals where they lost to Italy 1-0. He sang himself to sleep (mostly The Fields of Athenry) well before half time. Saturday was a write off cause he felt like shite all day and Sunday he spent with the family celebrating the baptism of his sisters fifth child, finally a daughter. (My own character and his actions owe a lot to the recent influence of Roddy Doyle who writes Irish English so you can hear it)