Geography is most easily incorporated into a broader Irish pathway, especially in the earliest years, thanks to a wide range of resources from the Geographical Association’s Barnaby Bear Goes to Dublin to The Pupil’s Workbook of Ireland published by Folens.
For the most part, geography teaching relies on textbooks published in Ireland and concentrates on the location and main features of Ireland - mountains, provinces and counties - and its links with Britain, including transport and tourism.
Children’s enjoyment of Martin Waddell’s The Smugglers of Mourne is often extended beyond the Literacy Hour, enabling them to locate the Mountains of Mourne and other geographical features.
However, in Years 5 and 6, Co. Kerry provides an ‘alternative EU location’ for more in-depth study. Dublin receives special attention in Years 1 and 2, thanks to the very versatile Barnaby Bear Goes to Dublin. Some schools use it as a non-fiction text in the Literacy Hour, others use it as a Geography text.
Resources ~ Please contact IiS for the resources thus marked.
Mapwork & industry for Junior Certificate Geography New Complete Geography Workbook by Charles Hayes, Gill & Macmillan, 0-71712-720-6, p 153 North 
Plan of Waterford (scale 1:1000) Click here for larger plan New Complete Geography by Charles Hayes, Gill & Macmillan, 0-71712-719-2, p 134 | | Study the plan of Waterford on page 134 of your textbook | a. At the junction of Jenkin’s Lane and Little Patrick Street there is a warehouse. Imagine that it was proposed to convert this warehouse into a small sawmill, which would convert logs from local woodlands into planks. These logs and planks would be stored in the large yard immediately north of the warehouse and east of the Catholic Church. The proposed warehouse would employ 30 local people. Work would be in two shifts, from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday. Work would include the use of large electric saws.
State whether each of the (imaginary) people listed below are more likely to support or oppose this proposal. Explain why in each case.
| | Person | Support or oppose | Why | Owner of cinema immediately
to the east of the warehouse | | | Owner of cafe/bar in Broad
Street | | | Unemployed married man
from O'Brien's Terrace
(near Patrick Street) | | | Garda superintendent in
Waterford | | | Owner of jewellery shop in
Broad Street | | | Female school-leaver from
Carrigeen Park | | |
| b. With reference to the plan of Waterford, describe any two factors which would encourage the development of industry in the city. (i) (ii) |
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