APH
Source:
The Story of the Presentation Sisters, Scoil Chroi Naofa and Presentation College, Athenry (1908-2008)
Editor and Compiler: Gerald J. Ahern
The Presentation Secondary Top, Athenry
1920 to 1947
Introduction
Following the 1921 Treaty and the subsequent Civil war, the Irish Free State began the process of establishing itself both domestically and internationally. More importantly, it now had to provide all the finance to pay for the running of the country. In those years, the country was very poor, and for a period of four years it even necessitated in the Government reducing the Old Age Pensions.
Jobs were few and very scarce. Over 90 % of the population did not have secondary education and so were excluded from positions in local and national government departments.
Even though Enclosure prevailed for the Presentation Order, the Athenry Presentation Sisters were fully aware of the economic situation outside the convent walls through the poverty of the children attending the Convent national school.
Sister Cecelia Cusack
(Principal 1920 -1930)
Sister Cecelia Cusack, according to her friend Sr. Evelyn Geraghty, was “Different, Unconventional, Gracious, Generous, Musical, Bigness. One word that I feel fits Cecilia is Unconventional. Cecilia was a great musician. An impromptu concert was announced for any excuse. She sat at the piano and accompanied us as we sang all the old tunes. She also taught us new songs. She had a great love of nature. In relation to her Prayer life, she also had her own way of speaking to God. God is everywhere. God is in everything and in everyone. As Patrick Kavanagh wrote “God is in the bits and pieces of everyday life”. She had a solid belief in the afterlife. She firmly believed that Heaven existed; that it was a place where there was total and complete happiness, that all we ever wished for was there for us, that God was madly in love with us, and she often quoted scripture “eye hath not seen nor ear heard the wonderful things God has prepared for us.”
Sr. Cecelia perceived this economic situation and it was decided to establish ‘Secondary Top’. In the beginning there was no cut-off point between primary and secondary schooling. The beginnings of second level education to Intermediate Certificate started in 7th and 8th classes in one room of the school. Some girls from neighbouring parishes also attended.
The Secondary Top Room is on the right
Numbers began to rise and a big room in the Convent national School became the home of the Secondary Top until the formal establishment of the first Presentation Secondary School recognised by the Department of Education in 1947. During those years some pupils studied for the King’s Scholarship and some went on to train as Primary teachers. French and Latin were taught.
An tOllamh Mairéad Ní Éimhigh-Professor Margaret Heavey
by Gerry Ahern
Margaret Heavey, the eldest child in a family of three sisters and two brothers, was born in Old Church Street, Athenry on the 15th of September 1908, the same year the Presentation Sisters came to Athenry.
Her father, Thomas, was a saddler by trade and her mother was Alice Kirwan of the well known Dublin business family, Kirwans Undertakers.
At that time, their house in Old Church Street, beside Glynn’s pub was a thatched two storey building in which Thomas plied his trade of saddle and harness making. Later in 1936, he had a new home built on the site by Pat Kelly of Lisheenkyle.
Baby Margaret with parents, Thomas and Alice (Photos: Vincent Devally)
Maggie Heavey was enrolled (Reg. No. 290) in the Presentation National School on the 24th of March 1911. She left on the 30th of June 1924, aged 16, having completed her primary years and spending five years in the Secondary Top-two years in 7th class and three years in 8th class. From there she entered University College, Galway to study for her degrees.
All of Thomas and Alice’s children were gifted intellectually. Susan won first place in Ireland in Music, and Flora, by the age of 22, qualified as a professor, but died of a burst appendix. John entered the priesthood. Christy, while not progressing to higher education, was highly intelligent and the father of Ann, who later married Vincent Devally from Tiaquin. Christy was a postman and one of the founders of the Athenry branch of the Labour Party. He was the local letter writer for those who found the art of writing difficult. Sadly, all of them, with the exception of Margaret, died between the ages of 19 and 35.
Margaret (left) completed her Masters of Arts by the time she was 20 by doubling up the years and, according to her friend and classmate, Aggie Qualter, was ‘one of the greatest scholars in the British Isles. She mastered many languages: English, Irish, German, French, Italian, Hebrew, Latin and Greek. She was equally brilliant at Mathematics and had complete command of the six books of Euclid at 15 years. She was Professor of classics at University of Galway for many years’. (Athenry by Aggie Qualter, 1989, p.39)
While always helpful and supportive to students who she saw were making strong efforts in their studies, she was strict on those who were indolent. Her regular censure to them went ‘you may waste your time, you may waste your parent’s time but you will not waste mine’.
She was of tall stature, 5’ 8”, and had a striking outdoor presence dressed in her usual attire of Berét, a long flowing overcoat and scarf. Her countenance was austere and, because if it, many people were slow to approach her. But at heart, she was a kind and loving person to her family and those who were close to her. She cared lovingly for her mother until she passed away in 1970.
During her years in NUI, Galway, she commuted there by train. Alighting at Ceannt Station, she mounted her ‘High Nellie’ and cycled to the College. Many students, who made the same daily trip, carried her briefcase and left it under the College Archway for her to collect.
Her handwriting was difficult to read as she wrote quickly.
Her public and academic persona was one of focused determination. ‘She was not an aloof person but very much a ‘down to earth’ one’, says Vincent. Privately, she was a kind, loving and caring individual. In 1970, following her mother’s death, she wrote to her niece, Ann, who was married with two young children, Adrian and Susan, in England to Vincent Devalley.
They were planning to immigrate to Australia at the time. She invited them to return to Athenry and live with her in the family home. Wanting to give Vincent, Ann and family their own privacy, she had the builders in to construct an upstairs private apartment and study for herself, the door of which was always open to the family.
Margaret with her niece, Ann
Their arrival and presence brought her ten years of extra happiness. The children, Adrian, Susan and Baby Karen were the joy of her life. They called her Aunt Maggie and she lavished her love and attention on them as if they were her own children. While babysitting, she read them stories at bedtime and, when very busy with her academic work, recorded many stories on tape and played them on the recorder outside the bedroom door. She enjoyed their birthdays and proudly attended their First Holy Communions and Confirmations.
Margaret with Susan, Karen and Adrian
On Sundays, she gave them their ‘Sunday wage’ to spend on sweets and goodies. On one particular weekend, the children needed extra cash for an event, so Karen was sent upstairs to do the asking. She stood at Aunt Maggie’s study door and was plain and direct with her words, ’We want a pound!’ Minutes later, to the delight of her siblings, she returned with a pound for each of them.
Studying family photographs of her with Ann and Vincent’s children, one notes the look of serene happiness on her face. Undoubtedly, they were the beneficiaries of her strong maternal love.
She was a ‘soft touch’ to callers, especially Travellers. When anyone other then Aunt Maggie opened the door to them, they enquired if the ‘Processor’ was at home. They always left with cash. Even if she was away for a long spell, word of her arrival home went around quickly among the Travellers and knocks would resound on the door shortly thereafter.
She never learned to drive, yet she greatly enjoyed car journeys. Vincent remembers that whenever they travelled together, she dressed in her usual outdoor attire. The car windows were always kept closed, the heater at full blast, even on the warmest days, as they sped along. Her trips abroad included visits to the USA and a year in Germany.
Vincent, Aunt Maggie, Adrian and Susan on Black Head, Co. Clare.
Because she cared for her mother until 1970, she was unable to take up academic promotions. In the following ten years, she was promoted to the second highest position within the university. So important was she to the college that she continued to lecture after her official retirement, right up to three days before her death on the 15th of February 1980, aged 72.
Three days previously, she began to feel unwell and told Vincent that ‘the inside mechanics were breaking down’. She collapsed in the College and was brought home. The following day she was taken by ambulance to the then Regional Hospital. She was suffering from bleeding ulcers and an operation failed to save her life. Her last words to Vincent, sitting by her bedside, were ‘go home and mind the children.’
She’s buried in the centre of the New Cemetery in a grave covered by sparkling green chippings. Ann gave some of her books to Esker Monastery and NUI Galway. The remainder she kept in her home. To Vincent, Adrian, Susan and Karen, she, along with Ann, are saints in Heaven and to whom they direct their prayers for special favours.
Sister Xavier Curran
(Principal 1930-1937)
In 1930, Sister Xavier Curran took charge of the Secondary Top. The first four students to sit the Intermediate certificate Examination were: Ellie Monaghan, Delia Rooney, Delia Hansberry and Angela Connolly. They sat the Exam in Tuam in the following subjects: English, Irish, Mathematics, History and Drawing. The School also provided Commerce through Commercial classes for those girls who hoped to get positions in offices. There was no Leaving Certificate course available in the secondary top and students had to go to boarding school to do this.
Secondary Top Pupils circa 1929/30
Front, l-r: Maggie Farrell, Mary Manning, Delia Haney, Ellie Caulfield, Mary Carr.
Middle, l-r: Delia Caulfield, Sara Farrell, Kitty Lardner, Mary Duddy, Maudie Monaghan, Winnie Holian, Rosie Scully, Jean Fitzsimons
Back, l-r: Mary Touhy, Annie Earls, Bridie Moylan, _______ Monaghan, Gretta Connolly, Maureen Fahy, Lil Cresham, Attracta Howley, Monsie Burke, Ita McHugh, Babs Duffy, Sally Ruane, Sheila Collins.
Photo: Monsie Kennedy
Life in the Secondary Top 1930-1933
Summary of the interview of Molly Clancy and Julia Keane, born in Greethill, by Mary Keary and Gerry Ahern on 27th August 2008 in the Athenry Convent Parlour.
Molly Clancy (left) was born in 1917 and attended Tiaquin N.S. in 1926 and there were 6o pupils on rolls. After completing 6th class, her teachers, Mr Rohan and Mrs Fleming suggested that she sit the entrance exam for the Athenry Presentation Secondary Top.
She and her friend, Maureen Murphy, were given written tests in Irish, English and Maths and were accepted as first year Inter Cert students.
Julia Fahy (nee Keane) (left) was born in 1918 in Greethil and went to Coldwood National School before coming to the Secondary Top in Athenry. She was one in a long line of her family that have attended the Athenry Presentation Schools right up to the present day. Her niece, Mary, was a teacher in the Presentation Secondary College from 1965 to 2001.
The Secondary Top classroom
The secondary Top classroom, which housed all the students, was the large room attached to the back of the Convent National School. First, second and third year students years studied all the subjects together: Irish, English, Mathematics, Book Keeping, Advanced Book Keeping, Business Methods, and there was a commercial course available at which Molly gained a proficiency of 60 words per minute in typing skills.
The School Staff
The school staff : Miss May Kelly from Ardrahan who taught Business Methods, Miss. Masie Waldron who replaced Ms Kelly, Sr. Cecelia and the Principal, Sr. Xavier Curran. (Mother Peter Kelly was the Convent Superior at the time.)
Often drenched to the skin
Molly cycled the 8 miles to and from school each day, through all kinds of weather. Any time she arrived drenched wet in school, she dried her clothes in the laundry room at the back of the convent. The Sisters were kind and provided hot cocoa at lunchtime to the students.
Their classmates were:
Julia Finnerty (Gurteen), Mary Lawless, Rose Scully, Nora Beirne (Athenry), Maureen Finnerty (Attymon), Sadie and Ellie Caulfield (Castlelambert), Lill Crusham (Athenry), Masie Burke (Craughwell), Maureen Fahy (Athenry), Tessie Burke (Attymon), May Monaghan (Esker), Kathleen Keane (Castlelambert), (Sr.) Joan Fitzsimons (Farmyard), (Sr.) Mary Carr, (Sr.) Mary Teresa Duffy and Kitty Lardner (Athenry).
Sr. Xavier-A multi-talented teacher
Along with being very kind, Sr. Xavier was a multi-talented teacher and taught: advanced English, Grammar, poetry, prose and plays by Shakespeare, all of which Molly loved. Students wrote with a fountain pen and used blotting paper to dry their writing. Sr. Cecelia, who was a lovely nun, taught singing two days a week. They learned sewing and knitting and patterns made were fastened to pages in copy books. Ms. Waldron taught English, later married and settled in Attymon, and became the mother of Redemptorist Fathers Tony and Peter Flannery. Catechism was taught for a half an hour each day from 12 to 12.30pm.
Students knelt for prayers before class each morning and at the end of the last class of the day, and afterwards paid a visit to the Blessed Sacrament.
Primary and Secondary Top Pupils in the early 1930s
Front, l-r: _____, ______, Una Hynes, _____, _____, ______, Kitty Fahy and ____Molloy (Hotel). Second row, l-r: _____Ledwith, Sr. Jarlath, Betty Manning (Bridge St), Flora Heavy (Church St), Rita Glynn, Rose Reilly, _____, ______ .
Third row, l-r: ______Nolan, Madie Fit (Square), Bridie Ledwith (College), ______,
______, ______Coffey, Josephine Dunne (Connelly), M. McGovern, _____Coffey, Julia Keane, ______McCay (Mulpit) and Masie Connelly (College). Back, l-r: Nora Byrne, Minnie Collins, _____, _______, Baby Nyland, Annie Rooney, ______, J. Bermingham, ______, ______Creham, ______, _______, Kathleen Duffy, Ita Hynes, ______,______.
Trips and Concerts
School trips to Kylemore Abbey and Kilkee were extremely enjoyable and their appetites were satisfied with a packed lunch and flasks of tea. They recalled the school concerts where Nora Byrne sang and Joan Fitzsimons played the piano.
Silver Stars
Friday was test day for subjects and failure resulted in being sent around to the other convent classes with a placard stating that result. Silver stars were the rewards for success. For misbehaviour, a small slap with a stick was given. In general, the students didn’t take any notice of the punishments and got back to work.
Rogation Days
Rogation Days in the Catholic Church are special days of supplication marked by processions and special prayers to honour the Lord, His Blessed Mother and the Saints. For pupils of the Presentation Sisters they were highlights of the school year, with the Feast of the Sacred Heart being the most prominent. The altar was decorated with beautiful pots of flowers and red and white crepe paper. After Mass and Benediction in the nuns’ chapel, usually said by Father O’Grady C.C. or Canon Farragher P.P., tea and buns were served , and there followed the sports with the Three Legged Race, Egg and Spoon Race, Tug-of-Wag and running races. The Month of May was also one of great devotions to The Blessed Virgin with May Altars, rosaries and hymn singing. Every year there was a three day Retreat given by the Franciscans. Regular visits to the Blessed Sacrament, rosaries and weekly confession were important parts of religious formation. They got a wonderful spiritual training, which stood to them all throughout their lives.
Inter Cert 1933
In 1933 Molly and Julia and their classmates sat the Intermediate Certificate examination in Irish, English, Mathematics, History and Geography in the Secondary Top classroom.
Both could not praise the Presentation Sisters enough and hope that God will reward them.
In 1932, pupils from the school travelled by train to Tuam where there was a celebration for the Eucharistic Congress. The older girls wore veils and the younger ones were accompanied by parents.
Life in The Secondary Top 1934-1936
Summary of an interview with Masie Reynolds (nee Sherlock)
by her niece, Alison McGreal (nee Sherlock)
In the thirties, Mr. Rohan, the principal at Tiaquin National School, encouraged his female pupils to sit the entrance examination for Presentation Convent Secondary School in Athenry.
Dodging Potholes
In 1934, Nora and Maisie Sherlock (left) began their daily commute to attend the convent. They cycled the seven miles on rickety bikes, dodging pot-holes on the country roads. Maisie recalls how, on fair day mornings in the town, the students would have to weave in and out through the cattle to reach the school gate. They frequently fell from the bikes onto the rough ground and tears and bleeding knees were the norm.
Soothing words and hot sweet tea
One of Maisie’s abiding memories is being brought into the warm kitchen in the convent after a particularly nasty fall. With a soothing word and a cup of hot sweet tea from one of the sisters, the wounds on her knees were cleaned and dabbed with iodine. This was typical of the nuns’ kind nature and made a big impression on her.
She studied Irish, English, Maths, History and Geography. She excelled at creative writing in English.
The Teaching Staff
On the staff with Sister Xavier Curran were: Sister Cecelia who was kind and gentle, Miss Kelly and Miss Monaghan, all of whom were good teachers.
She brought a packed lunch to school each day and, along with others, took tea during the one hour lunch break in the Two Miss Monaghan’s café that was located opposite Hanberry’s hotel.
Strict Disciplinarian
Sister Xavier was an excellent teacher but was a strict disciplinarian. She had a stately posture and students could tell by the look on her face in the morning what kind of form she was in. Pupils who failed to attend regular confession and communion were sent around to the other classes and had to admit this omission publicly. Sister Cecilia usually came to the rescue by halting this parade in her classroom and telling the student to return to the secondary top room. There the defaulter was sent to sit in isolation at the back of the room.
The teachers sat behind a desk on a rostrum at the top of the room. Students sat two to a desk, which had a lid that could be raised and the under compartment was used to store the students’ books and writing materials. They were given plenty of homework consisting of essays, maths and reading.
Personal Interest
She speaks with fondness of the time she was taught by Sr. Xavier (left), who took a personal interest in her education. Staying in school wasn’t always an option for the youth of that time and girls often left to work at home or abroad or to get married. Sr. Xavier recognised talents in the young Maisie and insisted on communicating this to her parents. On hearing of her request for a meeting about his daughter, Maisie’s father got on his bike and visited Sr. Xavier at the school. In those days, men wore caps and Maisie recounts that such was his respect for Sister that he removed his cap when speaking to her. Between them, it was decided that Maisie would be given the opportunity to apply for the County Council exam. From then on, Sr. Xavier took the young student under her wing and guided her through various assignments, often tutoring Maisie outside of school hours.
Rosary Beads and fond memories
She also remembers seeing the Sisters walking in pairs on the convent’s gravel paths, reciting the rosary in their long black habits while clutching rosary beads.
Following her time in the school, Maisie went on to have a long and successful career in nursing in the UK and locally. She retains fond memories to this day of Sr. Xavier’s selfless interest and encouragement.
Sister Marie Therése O’Brien
(Principal 1937-1947)
In 1937, Sister Marie Therése O’Brien became the principal. She received her secondary education as Lily O’Brien and was a boarder in the Presentation Convent, Tuam. Even then she was a kind and dignified girl and she entered the presentation order in September 1938. Sister Colubanus, who was a junior pupil in the school, remembers her saying. ‘I’m getting a months’ ladyship and I’m enjoying every moment of it. I get up when I like, I can go round where I like inside the convent grounds. When are you coming in?’ She trained as primary teacher in Carysfort College from 1932 to1934.
After founding the Presentation Convent in Tiernea, Connemara with three others in 1935, she was transferred to Athenry in 1937 and became principal of the Secondary Top. The Athenry girls had the highest opinion of her kindness to and understanding of them; her dedication to hard work and above all her prayerful-like and ladylike demeanor. Many of her pupils became nuns; others got excellent employment. Long after leaving the school, pupils corresponded with her as they felt they owed her so much.
Secondary Top from 1937 to 1940
Late 1930s-Amalgamated Classes(Upper Primary, Secondary Top and Commercial)
Front, l-r: Rhoda Fitzsimons, Ena Doherty, Minnie Grennan, Philomena Flynn, Mary Waldron, Eithne O’Loughlin, Mary King, Nodlaig Manning and Bridie Curran.
2nd Row, l-r: Maureen Tierney, Ena Spelman, Kathleen Brennan, Eileen O’Regan, Eileen Everard, Maise Hassey, Clemmie McGuinness, Ena Coen, Teresa Kenny, Maisie Curran and Noreen Hession. 3rd Row, l-r: Kathleen Kavanagh, Bríd Glynn, Lucy McLoughlin, Annie O’Meara, Rita Murphy, Peg O’Meara, Kathleen Murphy, Bridie Mahon, Tess Coppinger and Mary Beirne. Back, l-r: Mary Cawley, Mary Caulfield, Mary Mooney, Chrissie Molloy, Mary Kelly, Peggy Molloy, Mairéad O’Regan, Kathleen Noone, Gretta Loughnana, Eileen Madden and Mary Fallon.
Photo: Gretta Kenny
1938-Secondary Top students
Ena Coen, Teresa Hession, Margaret Cloonan, Philomena Flynn,Teresa Kenny, Nora Coyne, Mary Mahon, Maisie Hassey, Violet Ruane, Rhoda Fitzsimons and Marjorie Murphy.
Peggy Walshe, Cissie Coppinger, Nora Kindregan, Monica Connolly, M. Callanan, Patsy Murphy, Laura Lally, Ena Cleary, Rosaleen Kenny and Philomena Kineen.
Aggie Coffey, Mary King, Nonie Kenny, Mary Burke, M. Collins, Phil Gannon, B. Burke, Bríd Collins, Bridie Mahon, T. Walsh and Mary Finn.
I entered the Top in 1937 where my teachers were Sr. Marie Terese and Annie Monaghan. (The Rev. Mother at the time was Sr Magdalen.). In 1940, I sat the Inter Cert in Tuam in the subjects: English, Irish, Maths, History and Geography.
My classmates were Majorie Murphy, Eileen O’Regan, Minnie Grennan, Violet Corbett, and Mary Mahon from Cross Street.
In 1937 (and probably prior to that also) pupils sat the Intermediate Examination in Dominican Convent, Taylors Hill, Galway. At that time, French was not taught as a subject. Instead, they studied Industrial History and Business Methods
1938 Intermediate Examination candidates: Detta Fahy, Carmel Jordan, Philomena Keane, Mona Kenny and Ena McGlade.
1939 Intermediate Examination Candidates: May Burke, Philomena Hynes, Nonie Kenny, Bridie Mahon and Kathleen Monohan.
1940 Intermediate Examination Candidates: Minnie Grennan, Teresa Kenny, Clem McGuinness and Eileen O’Regan.
Other Pupils of that time
Imelda, Nonie and Rosaleen Kenny, Craughwell; Peggy, Cissie and Lily Forde, Killeeeneen;
Julia Cahill, Shanbally; Pauline Lally, Lily, Rita and Bríd Duffy, Attymon; Mildred Reynolds, Athenry; Kathleen Monaghan, Gloves; Kathleen and Una Burke, Peggy Hession.
Commercial Class of 1942
Eileen Regan, Rhoda Fitzsimons, Nodlaig Manning, Teresa Kenny and Minnie Grennan.
Secondary Top from 1940 to 1944
Sr. Angela Murphy’s memories
I started in 5th class, being taught by Sr. Gabriel Healy. 6th class was in the same room. I was taught by Miss Curran, later Sr. Kevin Curran. She took the two classes for drill in the adjoining yard. The following year, Miss Glynn took over from Miss Curran.
Then I progressed to 7th class in another room and was taught there by Miss O’Malley (left). Sr. Marie Therése taught pre-Inter and Inter Certs in the same room. What was achieved educationally in those circumstances was a wonder. I left after that and went as a boarder in the Presentation Secondary School, Tuam.
Mrs. Nora O’Malley McCluskey, a native of Cleggan, Co. Galway was a past pupil of Presentation Secondary School, Tuam after which she pursued a brilliant career. She qualified as a Primary School teacher in Carysfort College, Dublin.
Her first appointment was in Athenry, where Sr. Marie Theresa and herself worked in the Secondary Top in the Presentation School, which today is a well established Secondary School. She died unexpectedly on the 16th April 1943. She was a sister of Sr. Alphonsus O’Malley, Presentation Convent, Galway.
Secondary Top in 1940s
Sr. Madeleine Houlihan’s memories
‘I went to Secondary School around 1943/44. I studied English, Irish, History, Geography, French, Drawing, Singing and Maths.
I did the Inter Cert twice because there was no Leaving Cert in Athenry.
Six or seven only sat the Inter. The best were picked, which was sad but she had so many to teach-Minnie Quinn (Cleary now), Gretta Kenny, Rosemary Fitzsimons, Margaret Morris.
I was unsure as to what I wanted to do. I went to Tuam in 1947. I did the Leaving Cert there and had all the same subjects. I loved doing honours Maths.’
The Uniform, according to Sr. Madeleine, was a navy pinafore with box pleats.
The teachers were Sr. Marie Terese, who taught all subjects, Miss Glynn, who walked to school from Ballygurrane and taught maths. A Miss Burke came and played the melodeon. There was Drill on a Friday for a half hour consisting of exercises and marching in unison.
Secondary Top Pupils in 1945: Annie Allen, Gretta Cummins, Gretta Kenny.
Secondary Top Pupils in 1946: Molly Allen, Mary Jo Cahill, Margaret Kavanagh, Siobhán Keogh, Annie Curran. Mary Flynn, Josephine Cullen, Agnes Finn, Kitty Rooney, Julia Quinn, Josie Houlihan, Nuala Courtney.
Commercial Class of 1946
Pauline Pollard, Angela Grennan, Nano Kennedy and ______ Lolo Houlihan, Nancy McNamara and Josie Cloonan.
Nano Kennedy did Commercial Class after 6th Class in 1938. The typing room was off the 6th Class room and had two typewriters then. They went to the Cookery Room to do Shorthand and Book-Keeping and sat an exam at the end of the course.
Secondary Top 1945-1947
After Primary School we moved into 7th Class to prepare for Inter Cert, which I sat in 1948 in Tuam Presentation where we boarded for two weeks.
Sr. Marie Terese’s ‘Reflection on Life’ given to first years in 1946
Life is a story in three volumes,
The past, the present and the yet to be.
First we have read and laid away.
The second, we are reading day by day.
Third and last of the volumes three
Are locked away and God keeps the key.
Pupils in the Secondary Top room in 1947
Back row, l-r: Marie McHugh, Peg Bane, Sheila Barrett, Agnes Finn, Chris Kennedy Lydon, Anastasia Mulkerrins, Bridie O’Malley, Ann Connors, Annie O’Malley, Kitty Burke, Lulu Cunniffe, Rosaleen Fitzpatrick, Patricia O’Neill, Rosemary Fitzsimons, Gretta Kenny, Minnie Quinn and Nora Kennedy Lydon.
Left wall, seated, front: Bridie Nolan, Kitty O’Toole, Margaret Kavanagh, Della Hession, Julia Quinn (hidden), _________, Marie O’Loughlin and Josie Murphy.
2nd row from left (seated): Maureen Haverty, Annie and Molly Allen, Mary Jo Cahill, Siobhan Keogh, ? Carr, _______Burke, ________, Eileen Higgins, _______, Mary O’Dea and Josie Loughnane. 3rd row from left, seated: Mary O’Malley, Noreen Finn, Betty Ruane, Bridie Fitzpatrick, Bridie O’Toole and Kathleen Donoghue.
Right wall row: Vera Curran and Evelyn Houlihan.
Photo: Minnie Cleary (Quinn)
After doing the Primary Cert. the vast majority of the pupils moved on to what was then called Seventh Class. It was really the First Year of Secondary Top. Pupils, who had completed Sixth Class in other schools around the county, some from as far away as Craughwell and Monivea, came into this class also. There we were taught by Sr. Marie Therese and Miss Glynn.
In this class, French was introduced as a subject as also was Art, which was divided into three categories, Pictorial, Design and Nature.
At the end of two years, some students went on to study for the Intermediate Cert. while others opted to do a Commercial Course consisting of Pitman’s Shorthand, Typing and Book-keeping taught by Sr. Perpetua. Since there was no Examination Centre in Athenry, students doing the Intermediate Certificate had to board in the Presentation Convent in Tuam for the two weeks duration of the exam.
In 1937 (and probably prior to that also) pupils sat the Intermediate Examination in Dominican Convent, Taylors Hill, Galway. At that time, French was not taught as a subject. Instead, they studied Industrial History and Business Methods
End of the Secondary Top
In 1947 the Secondary Top ceased to exist when formal secondary school education began with the recognition of the Presentation Secondary School by the Department of Education.
In September 1948 the Leaving Cert. Course was introduced for the first time in Athenry. Classes moved to temporary accommodation of two rooms upstairs in the Canton Hall. Teaching there were Sr. Rosario, Sr. Vianney and Sr. Marie Therese, while Sr. Celestine taught Art.
At that time the Sisters were still enclosed so, at change of classes, a pupil would accompany one of the Sisters back to the Convent and walk back with another to the hall. While studying for examinations pupils had classes on Saturday mornings.
In September 1949, the Fifth Year and Leaving Cert. students moved to a room in the Convent. By June 1950 a new Secondary School had been built and the Junior and Leaving Cert Examinations were held there.
Thanks to the following for their contribution to this part of the story:
Sr. Alphonsus O’Malley, Julia Rooney, Monsie Kennedy, Gretta Kenny, Sr. Angela Murphy, Phil Gannon, Vincent Devally, Julia Keane, Teresa Kenny, Minnie Cleary (Quinn), Sr. Alphonsus Allen, Sr. Madeleine Houlihan, Eileen Holian, Clem McGuinness, Masie Reynolds, Sr. Evelyn Geraghty and Molly Clancy.
