The Netherlands also known as the Lowlands or Holland is situated in central Europe. It is about the size of Munster. Surprisingly, the population is approximately 16 ½ Million people. The Netherlands is 50% under water and consequently it is criss-crossed with dykes to control the water level.

In Holland they have more bicycles than cars and the Dutch are famous for cycling as a sport. Their favourite food is cheese which they have been making since 400 A.D. The Dutch people have a fondness for Heineken and 70% of the worlds’ bacon comes from the Netherlands. The Dutch flag is a tri-colour of Red, White and Blue. Red represents courage and strength. White represents peace and honesty and finally blue for loyalty and trust.

The Netherlands is famous for its gardens and especially for tulips which are exported all over the world and are a valuable export for the Netherlands.

Some of the rivers in the Netherlands are the Lek and the waal. The highest mountain is raisarberg. There are 12 provinces in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is bounded by the North sea and also the Waden sea. Over half of the land mass of the Netherlands has been reclaimed from the sea. Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands. Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands and has one of the largest ports in the world.

The Netherlands is governed by a Monarchy system which means they have a King and Queen. Protestant is the most common religion in the Netherlands. Two of Hollands’ most famous people are Vincent Van Gogh who was a famous artist and who also chopped off his own ear. Anne Frank is also a very famous dutch person as she wrote a book based on a diary of the second world war. 80% of Dutch people also speak English.

In my opinion, it would be a nice place to see and I might be there in the future.

By  J.J. Cronin, 6^th Class.

Newmarket is a picturesque town situated in North Cork in the barony of Duhallow.

It has an approximate population of 900. The Irish name for Newmarket is Áth Trasna. Newmarket has lots of history. It has an island wood with a river called the Dalua. Daniel O’ Connell’s older sister grew up in the Woodview house in Drominarrigle where my Grandad lived. The house is still standing with the orchard along side it. My address is Woodview and I live in front of the oldhouse in a newhouse. The new house is about sixty years old. In 1615, the Aldworth family came to Newmarket and in the year 1620, Richard Aldworth granted permission for a new market and two fairs. John Philpot Curran was a barrister. He was born in the C.Y.M.S Hall in 1750. 27 years later, he married Creagh. A year on, he built Priory House. The Lord Doneraile case was the one that really made John Philpot Curran a household name. The case happened in 1780. He had a daughter called Sarah in 1782 and she became famous aswell. She met a person called Robert Emmet through her brother at TrinityCollege in Dublin. Her Father did not approve of Robert. She was not allowed to see him but she was secretly ingaged to him. John Philpot Curran had to defend her in court. Her Father disowned her.  Robert was put in jail. He knew one of the jail guards so he gave a letter to him for Sarah. His friend betrayed him and gave it to the Government. When the court case was held Robert was condemmed to be hanged. Robert was hanged publically in Dublin. She missed him dearly. She then married Robert Sturgeon in 1805. Three years later, she died and was buried in the Protestant graveyard in Newmarket. Even though her Father disowned her, he missed her dearly. John Philpot Curran died in 1817. The battle of Scarteen happened in 1822 and twelve white boys died. Captain Kippock was the leader of the white boys. In 1834, the landlord Richard Aldworth let St. Mary’s church be built on land. Michael Davitt addressed a meeting on the land league at West End in 1880. The girls school also opened in 1925. In the year 1927 Newmarket Manor changes to the Convent.

In my opinion, I think Newmarket is a spectacular town and I wouldn’t rather to live in any town

by Ben Daly,6th