'We had names for the different stages of our journey to school: the belly tree, the six trees, Luby 's hill and Johnnie 's boreen'

'We had names for the different stages of our journey to school: the belly tree, the six trees, Luby 's hill and Johnnie 's boreen'

Frank Remembers the journey to school.

Frank Gaynor

Trinity College Dublin

1940

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Frank Gaynor

Childhood and Early Life

Life Story

Clondaliever, Westmeath

1940's

I fell and cut my knees on my first morning going to Johnstown national school. Johnstown school was in Delvin parish - it has since been closed. We were living in Taughmon parish. It was to Johnstown that daddy had gone for the full three years and four months of his formal schooling. To reach the school we walked on gravel road for the first couple of miles, then across fields, and back on gravel road for the final stretch. On the first half mile, along Clondaliever road, there were seven houses, all with fairly large families. After that there were few houses and no children until we came very close to the school. At one time there were 19 children travelling together along Clondaliever road. We got to know each other very well and some of the friendships formed then have lasted a lifetime. Those that were closest to my age included Jimmy and Rea Byrne, Paddy and Dinah Loughlin, Mark and Raphael Kelleghan, Willie and Lillie Murtagh, and Molly and Johnny Lavin. Most came from large families. There were 7 children in Byrnes, 10 in Loughlins, 8 in Kelleghans, and 9 in Murtaghs. Lavins, with three children, was considered a small family. We had names for the different stages of our journey to school: the belly tree, the six trees, Luby's hill and Johnnie's boreen are a few that come to mind. Along the way we crossed over two streams; the first stream flowed west towards Lake Derravaragh and eventually into the river Shannon; the second stream flowed east and linked up with the river Boyne - we were walking along the backbone of Ireland.Johnstown school, built in 1888, had two classrooms and a wonderful head - teacher whom we have always referred to as Master Lawlor. He was a Kerryman, and like many of his county - men he was a gifted storyteller. He paid scant attention to any syllabus or textbook that may have existed. We listened spellbound to his version of Irish history and emerged from that school as very green nationalists. He seldom used the stick, and when he did he used it sparingly. Compared with the shameful stories of excessive physical punishment that emerged from neighbouring schools, attending Johnstown school was a pleasant experience. Master Lawlor's greatest gift to me was his interest in sport, and in hurling in particular. His own first sporting love was football. Because Johnstown was surrounded by hurling clubs he focused on hurling for our sake. He frequently stayed way over the recommended half - hour lunch break playing football or hurling with us in the small field behind the school. We played as equals and I felt very comfortable in his presence. His efforts were rewarded when, during my final two years in the school, Johnstown won the Westmeath primary schools hurling competition, known as Comorthas na mbunschoil. The first year we were assisted by Ballinvalley; the second year we were on our own. This was a considerable achievement considering that the total school population was less than 70. At that time very few girls participated in team sports - they were still preoccupied with keeping their loose dresses below their knees. My final couple of years in primary school are among the happiest years of my life.

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

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)