Skibb pupils unleash their creativity

HOBBIT houses were just some of the imaginative things created by the six senior boys who are attending the autism spectrum disorder classes at St Patrick’s Boys National School.

Their teacher, Brian Granaghan, said the students enjoyed ‘a series of fantastic workshops’ at Cre Pottery Studio at Market Street in Skibbereen.

Over four sessions with pottery tutors Suzanne and Sophie they learned new skills in how to work with clay.

‘They created some beautiful hobbit houses, which were fired in a kiln and then painted and glazed,’ said Brian.

‘They also learned how to use the potter’s wheel, which was a wonderful sensory experience and they thoroughly enjoyed decorating their clay creations with lots of bright colours.’

Brian, together with SNAs Catriona O’Neill and Annette Keohane, reported that the six ASD students found working with clay to be a rather unique experience – because it was both calm and soothing, yet also offered sensory stimulation.

‘They also discovered their creative talents,’ said Brian, ‘as they turned lumps of clay into a mini-masterpieces.’

It also helped develop their self-esteem and their confidence, he pointed out.

They even had an exhibition of their artwork back in the school hall of St Patrick’s afterwards.