just before we left for the airport, the lads gave a powerful rendition of "Irelands Call" for the Christian Brothers. well done to everyone on making the trip a success.

B.Kehoe

we also visited the palace of the King who built the Taj Mahal.

It was a wonderful experience to visit the Taj Mahal. one of the many highlights from our trip.

working on a chain gang!

the real work began today almost by accident!visited a leper colony who are 100% self-sufficient. we all mucked in(literally), loading the bricks into the rickshaw and unloading them onto the roof. hot and dusty work, but the boys got great satisfaction from the manual work.

visited a refuge for abandoned women or fleeing from domestic violence

the soccer team photo with Brother Mel who is 85 years of age and in India since 1945!!we drew the match 0-0...but played brilliantly against St.John's first 11.

The boys visited an orphanage for girls who were abandoned or whose parents are lepers. the little girls skipped and coloured outside, while the boys rocked the big girls boats inside!!!

the offical team photograph of Oatlands College, St. John's and the school for the blind at the recent one day cricket test match in Chandigarh. School for the blind played brilliantly. this picture also made it into the local paper the Hindustan Times!!

the offical team photograph of Oatlands College, St. John's and the school for the blind at the recent one day cricket test match in Chandigarh. School for the blind played brilliantly.

a selection of the vast amounts of pottery available at the Kumar Colony.

Children from the Kumar colony, making excellent pottery with the most basic equipment.

the choir at the blind school. the man at the side is playing an instrument similar to a box/accordian. the choir was powerful.

babies from the slums, again being kept in a tiny room. (note the bars instead of a wall)

28 children go to school in this tiny classroom, a room no bigger than a deans office in Oatlands. Ms. Tobin was teaching her cupla focal...

Sam teaching children from the slum school with some pupils from St.John's in Chandigarh.

we visited a government school which draws its pupils from a nearby slum area. the talent. dedication and ability of theses kids is amazing. yoga is done for 30 min's every day by all pupils.as you see here, they can spell YOGA witht heir bodies!!Mr.Beirne will have to try this in Oatlands!!!

lunchtime at the slum school.big vats of cooked rice being delivered.

A selection of children from the slum, a very smelly and dusty place, but happy, smiley kids!

Shane showing his football skills with the children from the slums!!

hello to all,
thanks for all your posts for the lads, its very much appreciated. things have been really busy here in the last 2 days. we have spent a lot of time in the slum schools, teaching and playing with the children. this has been a great experience for all of us. the generosity of the families we are staying with has been overwhelming, there is no end to their kindness. we are certainly seeing both sides of life here in India.
B.Kehoe

The boys are getting extremely well looked after in Chandigarh..even getting their packed lunches!!

Visited the school for the blind today, very interesting but ran short of time.

Fr. Sebastian was kind enough to bring Mr. McGlade, Ms. Tobin and myself to a Hindu wedding. An unbelievable occasion.We even managed to make it into the wedding album!!
B.Kehoe

it was sad to leave but we left a happy group behind us.

David was very popular!!

Happy children in the Orphanage. They loved the ballons more than anything else!

Our Arrival into St. john's school in Chandigarh.

hello to all.
arrived in Chandigarh safe and well. the boys are being spoiled by their host families.mixing with Ministers no less! went to an orphanage yesterday, was a great experience, the boys really enjoyed playing with the childern. Visited the old folks yesterday, entertained them with the Fields of Athenry!
Pictures to follow later in the day.

looking good!!!

Gandi's Grave .

the lads showing their soccer skills!!!

B.Kehoe

greetings to all,
all well here in india.we arrived safely and on time, although the taxi journey from the airport to the school will be an experience that will live long in the memories of everybody!!!
we had a look around the city today, saw some great sights. Gandi's grave and a wonderful church, even though most of the guys were more interested in the elephants on the road!!!

heading off to Chandigarh early in the morning, getting the train at 7.15.we're going to the homeless shelter now, should be another different experience.
Talk soon,
Brian and the Oatlands crew.

greetings to all,
all well here in india.we arrived safely and on time, although the taxi journey from the airport to the school will be an experience that will live long in the memories of everybody!!!
we had a look around the city today, saw some great sights. Gandi's grave and a wonderful church, even though most of the guys were more interested in the elephants on the road!!!

heading off to Chandigarh early in the morning, getting the train at 7.15.we're going to the homeless shelter now, should be another different experience.
Talk soon,
Brian and the Oatlands crew.

All ready for india!!!
B.Kehoe