Schooldays
"Oh God be with my schoolboy days. How I wish them back once more, and God be with the days I spent around Lough Gara's shore"
Tom Callaghan
These are lines from a very old song entitled My Native Town of Boyle". Those same lines could clearly describe my school days in Kingsland and the many happy Sunday afternoons I spent swimming and fishing. The bygone days were happy and carefree with no hint of the present rat-race that has crept in and has done much damage to the quali ty of rural life with its arrival. Schooldays in Kingsland then were easy-going, the academical requirements were not very high. A bases knowledge of the 3R's was all that was necessary. Be able to read the newspaper, write a letter and have the arithmetic " well covered, with special emphasis on shop bills. The bottom line was don't be tricked when selling or buying in later years. Still some of the brainy ones were not prepared to settle for that and went onto greater things. Frank Harrington, Padraig Connor, Tom Knott and John P. Murren, are names that spring to mind. Indeed, many of the girls went onto secondary school and did well in the civil service, nursing, etc. The era I am writing about is the early 30's to the early 40's. In those years, wealth and riches were not plentiful, lifestyles were simple, and wages were very low. The second World War was looming, leaving the future very insecure for everybody. However, those problems were unknown to the pupils of Kingsland and made little difference to them. Enjoyment and fun were the order of the day. The shoes were discarded on Mayday regardless of the weather. The football was kicked with the bare feet, many a nail-biting match was played between Grangemore and Cornavaigh. All living north of the school played for Grangemore and those to the south of the school represented Cornavaigh. About October the shoes were donned again, heavy nailed boots for the boys, the more nails the better, the tougher the individual. Christmas was very special in those days too. The preparation with the holly and ivy, the feasting was told and retold to our pals. Now the wren boys were a big part of the festival and took a lot of planning.
When recalling one’s school days, the classmates automatically come to mind. Our class numbered about twenty which was considered large by rural standards. Thank God many of them are still with us, some have long emigrated to foreign climes, some are with us all the time and about five have gone to their eternal "reward. We remember them all on this reunion. We wish the absent ones well and say a silent prayer for the members that have gone before us. Their names are still familiar: Sheila Kelly nee Harrington, Mary Conmee, John Francis Harrington, Joe Brennan and Willie Joe Harrington. We have many pleasant memories of them all. May they rest in peace. One cannot forget the teachers on such an occasion. Sadly, none of them are with us. Master Kelly was the Principal. A fair-minded man who would not tolerate too much nonsense. Mrs. Naughton was easy to get along with as was Mrs. Healy and Mrs. Knott. They certainly did their best for us. May they get the just reward they have so well earned. Another person I think will always be associated with our schooldays, was the late Rev. Michael Devine, a very religious priest. Every Friday afternoon he arrived to give us a Christian doctrine lecture, he had our well-being at heart too. To Father Michael and indeed all the past pupils of Kingsland school who have departed this life we say, may you all rest in peace, and let us hope you can take part in our reunion and view the proceedings from a higher and more privileged seat than we could offer.
We remember you all with affection.
- Tom Callaghan
Past pupils of Kingsland N.S.
L. to R. John F. Harrington, Frank Harrington, Michael Harrington R.1.P., Paddy Heneghan, J.P. Harrington and Harold Mulrennan