'A heavy set nun, she was, I remember clearly, very fond of the cane or her long black leather strap worn around her waist which came to hand very easily when the cane was not to hand.'

'A heavy set nun, she was, I remember clearly, very fond of the cane or her long black leather strap worn around her waist which came to hand very easily when the cane was not to hand.'

Theresa Byrne describes the nuns who used to teach in her school.

Theresa Byrne

Trinity College Dublin

1955

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Theresa Byrne

Childhood and Early Life

Life Story

Dublin

1950s

At four years of age, I started primary school and attended the Holy Faith Convent in Little Strand Street, Dublin, where I remained until I was fourteen years old. I walked to school with my sister and brother. Being a convent school, we were taught mainly by nuns. All of them had different personalities. However, there were a couple of lay teachers, some whose names are forgotten, but one named Mrs. Walsh, a kind lady, a widow, soft spoken, who taught me in fourth class. Other named teachers were Sister Bonaventure, a young, kind teacher who never slapped. Her mother was in a nursing home in Bray and every week I delivered a parcel to her, to say hello with wishes from her daughter. Sr. Sylvester taught third class. A heavy set nun, she was, I remember clearly, very fond of the cane or her long black leather strap worn around her waist which came to hand very easily when the cane was not to hand. However, she praised my handwriting and sent me around other classes to show off my copybook. If that took place today, I would probably suffer at the hands of bullies after school. Sr. Therese taught the First Holy Communion class which numbered about fifty boys and girls. Following this ceremony, the boys took leave of our school.Sr. Mary Lelia was the Rev. Mother. A charitable woman, who when it came around to communion and confirmation took matters into her own hands and trudged several children to a nearby clothing factory. Aware of the circumstances of some families whose children attended the school, she bought and supplied every item of clothing needed for their special day. This extraordinary nun took a tremendous leap forward to ease the plight of parents who otherwise we in no position to clothe their children for such occasions and it was done with grace and diplomacy.

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

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)