Two Centuries of Teaching in Talbotstown

© The Publishers

Full title: At the Foot of Keadeen: History and Memories from Scoil Naomh Bríd, Talbotstown

Creator / Author: Board of Management and various contributors

Item Type / Page count: Book / 149p

When Published: 2014

Publisher / Place of Publication: Board of Management Scoil Naomh Bríd / Talbotstown, Co. Wicklow

About: The back cover blurb says it all “The history of Scoil Naomh Bríd Talbotstown…is traced from the school at Englishtown to the construction of the Boys and Girls school in Talbotstown in the 1840s, to the construction of the current school in 1962. Many memories of past pupils as well as photos down through the years also feature in this commemorative book”

ID number(s): None

Contents: Welcome / Muireann Gartland — Foreword / Brian Flood — History of the name of Talbotstown and Kilranelagh / Peter Keogh — The early days: hedge schools or pay schools — History of Englishtown National School — Other schools in the area — Knocklishen National School — Fortgranite School — National Education Act 1829 — Application for building of school — Talbotstown National Schools (The Old Schools) — Maps of Talbotstown 1838 and 1907 – Enrolments from 1840-1868 — Census of Kilranelagh / Kiltegan areas in 1861 — St. Brigid’s Church, Talbotstown — Sample page from Geography Book used at Talbotstown Schools in 1840s — Amalgamation of Talbotstown Boys and Girls Schools to a mixed school in 1908 — Memories / Sr. Eileen Doyle — Group photo from circa 1922 — Staff of amalgamated schools at Talbotstown — Samples of geometry work in a copy of a pupil from 1915 — Maurice Ó Conaill, Principal of Talbotstown National School 1925-1937 / Oisín Breathnach — School group photo late 1920s — School group photo from 1930s — Primary Schools Folklore Collection: (1) Holy wells in the area, St. Brigid — (2) Local marriage customs — (3) Forts, Talbotstown Fort — (4) Goodwin’s Grave in Talbotstown — (5) Caves — (6) Crois Úna — (7) The Battle of Kaideen — (8) The Skirmish at Kilranelagh — (9) Michael Dwyer’s surrender — (10) Local weather folklore — (11) Riddles — (12) Cures — The Primary Certificate 1929-1967 — “Bingen on the Rhine” / Caroline Norton — Memories from two sisters / Betty Keogh and Brigid Doyle — Memories of Talbotstown / Maeve O’Byrne — Main developments in Primary Education in Ireland — Sample inspection report from the 1920s — Role of Religion at Talbotstown N.S.— Down memory lane / Mary Hickson — [Photo Galleries] — Memories of a mitcher / Peter Keogh — Brian Graham, Principal of Talbotstown National School 1963-1975 — Part of history! / Terri Kenny — Group photo of pupils 1969 — Memories of Treasa O’Keeffe 1963-1998 — Memories of Con Cronin — [Photo Galleries] — Memories from Ben Lennon 1955-1964 – [Photo Galleries] — Talbotstown N.S. visits Áras an Uachtaráin — [Photo Gallery] — Henry Shefflin visits Talbotstown N.S. — Colm “Gooch” Cooper visits Talbotstown N.S. — All Ireland winners Junior Inventor of the Year 2014 — Pictures from visit to Dáil Éireann 2014 — “Dear Grace” creative writing competition — Memories of Bridget Farrell (née Keating) — “Reminiscing” [poem] / John Lennon 1957-1960; 1963-1966  — Current staff of Talbotstown N.S. 2015 — “Thank You”.

Extra #1: includes several pages of full colour & black/white photographs.

Education with a Capital H

© The Publisher

Full title: The Hedge Schools of Wicklow

Creator / Author: Thomas O’Rourke

Item Type / Page count: Book / 216p

When Published: 2015

Publisher / Place of Publication: Eagle Rock / Ballydoreen, Ashford, Co. Wicklow

About: Education has always been held in high regard in Ireland. So-called hedge schools preserved a link between the Bardic Schools of the Gaelic era and the introduction of the National School system in the first half of the nineteenth century. Hedge schools proliferated following the enactment of the Penal Laws and, although not necessarily located beside hedgerows, they became an unofficial system of education in their own right. In this well researched book, the author provides the historical context for hedge schools and provides a checklist of known locations of hedge schools in each barony of the county of Wicklow.

ID number(s): 9780993441806

Contents: Dedication – Acknowledgements – Illustrations – Introduction – The County of Wicklow – Celtic origins – The Bardic Schools — The Brehon Laws and education in Ireland – Ireland: the island of saints and scholars – The Penal Laws and Irish education – Wicklow in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries – Hedge schools – The Hedge schoolmaster – Hedge schoolmasters and agrarian activities – Books used in Irish schools – The Irish language – Education in County Wicklow – Barony of Arklow – Barony of Ballinacor North – Barony of Ballinacor South – Barony of Newcastle – Barony of Rathdown — Barony of Shillelagh — Barony of Talbotstown Lower — Barony of Talbotstown Upper – Commission for National Education – Conclusion — Bibliography – Index.

Extra #1: Includes numerous illustrations and maps.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #3: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

Master O’Toole of Rathvilly

© Geography Publications

Full title: Edward O’Toole, 1860-1943: Rathvilly schoolteacher and nationalist

Creator / Author: Eileen McGregor

Item Type / Page count: Book Chapter / 36pp

When Published: 2008

Publisher / Place of Publication: Geography Publications / 24 Kennington Road, Templeogue, Dublin 6W.

Parent Publication [book]: Carlow: history & society. Interdisciplinary essays on the history of an Irish county / edited by Thomas McGrath / 1070pp

About: An excellent biographical essay on Edward O’Toole of Rathvilly, who retired from teaching in 1925 and thereafter devoted much time to researching the history, folklore and placenames of County Carlow and neighbouring areas.

ID number(s): 9780906602386

Contents Education – Towards promotion – The Gaelic League – Irish National Teachers’ Organisation – Payment by results – Curriculum changes – Politics – IRB – Land League — Parnell – Volunteers pre 1916 — Easter Week 1916 – Volunteers post 1916 – Black and Tans – Community life – Rathvilly train service – St. Patrick’s Church – Village Green – Remunerative activities – Public Office – North Carlow Co-op Poultry Society – Kiltegan Loan Fund – Folklore – Archaeology – Publications – Conclusions – Acknowledgements — References.

WW Connection #1: Edward O’Toole was a well-known figure in Carlow / West Wicklow and wrote many articles about the history and folklore of the area.

Extra #1: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #2: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

Extra #3: Link to the Publisher’s website:  http://www.geographypublications.com/

Extra #4: Browse the 1901 Census entry for Edward O’Toole.

Extra #5: Browse the 1911 Census entry for Edward O’Toole.

125 Years of Education in Blessington

© St. Mary’s

Full title: A History of St. Mary’s National School Blessington: 125th anniversary 1882 – 2007.

Creator / Author: St. Mary’s National School

Item Type / Page count: Book / 159p

When Published: 2007

Publisher / Place of Publication: St. Mary’s National School/ Blessington, Co. Wicklow.

About: A book that is a commemoration of 125 years of teaching at the local primary school. It celebrates the history of the community as told through a compendium of short pieces brought to life by past and present pupils.

ID number(s):None

Contents: Chairman’s address – Principal’s address — Introduction – Forewords – Hedge schools / Larry McCorristine – The National School System / Larry McCorristine – Towards a new school: Blessington 1882 – Blessington Catholic Schools – A Lament for Allen View National School [ballad] / Pat ‘Phildy’ McGowan – An Interview with Mr. Frank Murphy – probably the oldest surviving pupil of St. Mary’s – “I learned nothing” / Frank Murphy – Pat Hanlon (aged 93 years), The Rundle, Knockieran – Bridie and Jane Tyrrell – “Worse than Purgatory” / Evelyn Hudson – “Never missed a day” / Tom Tyrell – The Blessington Tram [ballad] / Peter C. Grattan – Sheila Walsh, née Boylan, aged 82 years – Billy Crowley – an interview – The Teaching of Religion in the National School – Parish Priests of Blessington Parish – The Church of Our Mother of Mercy / Beth Halligan — The Church of Our Lady of the Most Holy Sacrament / Beth Halligan – Seamus Dowling: the man from Mill House – School in the 1940’s – From Blessington to Baghdad / Joe Halligan – Hampden Bomber Crash Site Blackhill 1941 – Annie Byrne née Geoghegan, Burgage – “The Good Old Days” / Pete Nolan – The Primary Certificate – My Memories of St. Mary’s N.S. 1948-1949 / Ron Charles née Veronica Bohan — Knitting and Sewing – She Taught Them All / Vincent Byrne – Mrs. Elizabeth O’Donnell / Manus O’Donnell – Sean Davin, Principal of St. Mary’s N.S. from 1968-1996 – Memories of St. Mary’s National School, Blessington / Theresa Torsney née Creighton — Memoirs of St. Mary’s / Rena Hennessy – Willie Sargent Remembers – Blessington National School Parents Association – Darren McHugh – Schooldays in the 1980’s / Larissa Nolan – Gemma Ashe (R.I.P.) – Comórtas / Ciaran Duffy – Christy Casey – New Principal – Christy Casey (R.I.P.) – an appreciation – Lisa Frederick-Dunne (R.I.P) – Gerry Brown, Principal of St. Mary’s N.S., Blessington 1999-2007 – German in St. Mary’s 1995-2003 / Iris Rouse – Remembering St. Mary’s National School, Blessington 1995 to 2003 / Ellen Bytyqi, Naseem Nolan & Macha O’Donnell – Sport in St. Mary’s National School, Blessington / Lisa Smith – Turning the Sod / Gerry Brown – 125^th Anniversary Mass and Unveiling of Commemorative Stone — St. Mary’s National School, Blessington, Co. Wicklow – List of teachers – Epilogue.

Extra #1: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #2: Contains dozens of black and white photographs, mainly of local people.

The Schools Around the County

© The Publisher

Full title: Education in Wicklow: from parish schools to national schools

Creator / Author: Michael Seery

Item Type / Page count: Book / 189p

When Published: 2014

Publisher / Place of Publication: Creathach Press / Wicklow [?]

About: A meticulously researched and well-presented work which traces the history of purpose-built schoolhouses in Wicklow up to around the middle of the nineteenth-century. Written by someone who has an obvious passion both for education and for local history, it is hard to believe that a book of this size could contain so much information.

ID number(s): 9780992823306

Chapters: [Introduction] Education in Ireland – Penal Laws – The lay of the land – Sources for this study – Overview of book.
[Education in Ireland before and under the Penal Laws] Royal schools – Charter schools – Other schools.
[Landlord educators and the Wicklow Education Society] The Kildare Place Society — The Wicklow Education Society – The Fitzwilliam Estate – Arklow  Barony – Talbotstown Barony – North-east Wicklow – Conclusion.
[The emergence of a National School system] The decline of the Kildare Place Society – National Schools in County Wicklow — Conclusions.
[Appendices] Extracts from the reports of the Kildare Place Society training records for Wicklow (1814-1825) — Extracts from the records of the Kildare Place Society:  gratuities awarded to teachers to 1824 — Extracts from the Lord Lieutenant’s Fund for County Wicklow – Wicklow returns to the Second Report of the Commissioners of Irish Education Inquiry (abridged) – Brief biographical details of those with an interest in Wicklow education – Schools marked on Ordnance Survey of Ireland Map (1838-1840), with web link to OSI map, Google Map, Google image (where school building is still in existence) and notes on the location of school – Bibliography – Endnotes.

Extra #1: Includes several black & white photographs, maps, plans and tables of data.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #3: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

STOP PRESS: The author’s website (viewed March 2015) stated: “Education in Wicklow is now sold out but is available for free on Google Books.” Click here for Google Books link.

Two Schools Across the River

© Rathcoyle NS

Full title: Crossing the Derreen: images and memories of Rathcoyle National School. Commemorating the 50^th Anniversary of the Opening of the New School 1961-2011

Creator / Author: Sean Byrne (compiler and editor) and various contributors.

Item Type / Page count: Book / 160p

When Published: 2011

Publisher / Place of Publication: Rathcoyle National School / Rathcoyle, Rathdangan, Co. Wicklow.

About: A profusely illustrated commemorative book that was issued to mark the diamond jubilee of the ‘New School’ at Rathcoyle. This milestone was used as a focal point to highlight the history of education in the area from the time of the hedge schools to 2011. The book was published locally in a special limited edition of 500 copies and was printed by the firm of one of the past pupils who ‘crossed the Derreen’ in 1961.

ID number(s): None

Contents: Introduction / Sean Byrne – Acknowledgements / Sean Byrne – Foreword / Triona Byrne, Principal — A message from the Chairman of the Board of Management / Jim Whelan — Rathcoyle National School Boards of Management — Rathcoyle National School Today and Tomorrow / Triona Byrne — The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine — The Hedge Schools / Pay Schools: The School Buildings — Subjects Taught — Extracts from Diocesan Report 1824: Rathdangan; Ballinguile; Carricknamiel — The Established Church Schools: Killamoate; Tourboy — Moses Walsh’s Schoolhouse — Rathcoyle National Schools (The old school) — The National School System — The Famine and its aftermath — Payment by results — The ‘Masters’ Byrne — Drury’s Height to Kate’s Cottage by former pupil of the 1950’s — Hugh and Rose Byrne — The Primary Certificate — Christian Doctrine — Celebrating the Golden Jubilee of Rathcoyle School 12.06.2011 / Peadar C. Ó’Cuilinn — Early Days Gallery — The New School May 1961 — 1960s Gallery — Askinagap’s National School Amalgamation with Rathcoyle School — Brian Graham — My School Memories / Catherine Coogan (neé Byrne) — The 1960s: recollection of schooldays in Rathcoyle / Simon Byrne — The Rathcoyle Tea Bucket / Mary Kelly (neé Lawler) 1961-1968 — 1970s Gallery — The 1970s: Rathcoyle school memories / Ann Whelan — From Talbotstown to Rathcoyle / Brian Graham — The Lee Cup / Brian Graham — The 1980s: Memories / Nicolette Van der Wel and Teresa Byrne — 1980s Gallery — Memories of Rathcoyle National School / Niall Harmon 1982-1990 – The 1990s: My Memories of Rathcoyle National School / Sean O’Neill — 1990s Gallery – The 1990s: Rathcoyle National School / Ciara Ní Bhroin – Retirement / Brian Graham — The 2000s: Rathcoyle National School / Shane O’Toole — My time at Rathcoyle National School / Bríd Lambert — 2000s Gallery — Caretakers / Board of Management / Chaplain — Teaching Staff Rathcoyle National School 1961-2011 — Teachers 1961-2011 Gallery — The Future.

Extra #1: Includes several photograph galleries showing school classes, school activities and school personnel over the years.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.