Now in her 2nd year in TCPID, Lia has her own laptop thanks to a generous donation from the Rory McDonagh Trust for all TCPID students. ‘We couldn’t manage without it - we need it for homework and to watch tutorials’ – which is what led her to advocate on behalf of those that can’t afford one. Her language skills are the result of working hard in the Leaving Cert and then doing a course in Montpellier. As well as French, her favourite modules in TCPID are film studies and poetry. The great benefit of the course, she says, is that it has given her ‘friends, confidence and independence’. With restrictions lifting, she now comes into TCPID headquarters in College Green three days a week from her home in Glasthule, and follows online the other two days. This term, she has also been rehearsing two evenings a week with the college Musical Society. The only one of her peer group in TCPID to join the Musical Society, she appeared in their annual production, Guys and Dolls , in February: ‘I didn’t have a singing part, but I have moments of blocking and dancing, including in my favourite song, Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat . Rehearsals were a lot of work, but I loved it all. Everyone in the society is extraordinary and talented – amazing voices!’ She is interested in doing more acting after graduation, and maybe a poetry course to deepen her practice. Yeats and Seamus Heaney are her favourite poets, especially Down By the Sally Gardens and The Wild Swans at Coole - and the spirit of Yeats’ swans seems to glide over her own lovely poem, By the Water’s Edge . When I stand still, Closing my eyes, I can hear the sea, Rushing into me. By the Water’s Edge – by Lia Gogarty Then I can picture, A seal popping his head, Sunbathing on the waters Surface. I can see the waves, Crashing in the shore, With dirty soapy foam, Coming in and out, Of the ramp of the pier, Watching the waves, Leaping over rocks. All is peaceful, With seagulls, Gliding through, The air, In the sunshine. A Sunflower has Been Born – by Lia Gogarty In the dark days of January, I sat beside the window, Watching the rain bucketing down, Outside in the gloomy, Miserable wet, Dark with, Heavy wild wind, Blowing everywhere, In the garden that night. I sat there, Sipping my hot, Steamy warm beverage, Beside the roaring, Fire wearing my, Cosy fuzzy pyjama’s, Hoping my sunflower, I planted would, Survive the storm. That very morning, The storm had died down, Summer arrived in, Early July, I walked outside, Into the warm, A cool breeze, In my face. I walked over, To the flower bed, Hoping my, Sunflower would grow. I looked around, The flower bed, Then I came along, A big flower with, Yellow petals, Moving with, The sun. A Sunflower has been born, I was hoping this moment to happen, A Sunflower has been born.
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