'Eithne, the mother, was and is the cornerstone of all the family, she wanted nothing and got nothing but seemed comfortable'

'Eithne, the mother, was and is the cornerstone of all the family, she wanted nothing and got nothing but seemed comfortable'

Billy Gallagher describes his wife and notes what a wonderful mother she is and he describes his children's upbringing and educational development.

Billy Gallagher

Trinity College Dublin

1965

This item is protected by original copyright

This content may be downloaded and used (with attribution) for research, teaching or private study. It may not be used for commercial purposes without permission.

Billy Gallagher

Marriage and Family

Life Story

Co. Dublin, Newpark Comprehensive School

1960's

The children had been going to a small private school, Avoca and Kingstown preparatory school. The teachers were quaint old ladies who spoke both nicely and kindly. I was paying by post-dated cheques to Eithne's great embarrassment but all the bills were paid and the cheques never bounced. In 1983 this school closed for the last time and the children had to go into the ordinary National School (Hollypark in Foxrock). We discovered after a few months that this was infinitely superior to the private school, the standard and spirit of education simply wonderful.From national school all gravitated to Newpark Comprehensive, a free, comprehensive, interdenominational, co-educational, Church of Ireland school. Seemingly there was a preference for Church of Ireland students, which our children were not. Our family was always looked on as the 'Irish' family there and would be chosen to speak at any Catholic or Irish event. They got a wonderful broad education that has served them greatly in the world they participated in afterwards. They were perfectly at ease in the company of anyone, boys; girls; Jews; Holy Rollers; foreigners; disabled people; black; yellow; Goths; gays.Again it was Eithne's foresight and energy that got them all through Newpark.Some years after leaving Newpark young Eithne (Superwoman), living in Romania, had adopted 5 children (all siblings). The eldest of these, Nico, aged 12 when she met Eithne (then 24) had no visible signs of education whatever. Young Eithne decided when Nico was 19 to ask Newpark if they would take Nico into transition year to which they readily agreed and Nico and Newpark had a wonderful success together.All graduated from Newpark with adequate qualifications, none spectacular. S £_le (Rosie) didn't quite get the points she needed for primary school teaching and went to St Laurence's in Loughlinstown to do 7th year. That, to my amazement was spectacularly successful. Being educated in Newpark, living at home (where they all did French exchange at least once), where visitors called incessantly from all over the world and from all disciplines allowed everyone the ability to think outside the parish.Eithne the mother was and is the cornerstone of all the family, she wanted nothing and got nothing but seemed comfortable. In latter years she developed her music skills and teaches piano at home. She developed her computer skills and is very efficiently involved in various charities mostly in a secretarial capacity. She cooks and cleans, knits for the grandchildren (10), reads and hikes but never rests. She makes jam and cooks the old way (her recipes) and would never ever buy shop cake, ready made meals, shop jam or any shortcut to the healthy diet.

Irish Research Council for Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (IRCHSS)

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)