Greetings and God’s Blessings to us all!

To say it is an honour and a privilege to have this opportunity to write an article of this magnitude is putting it mildly. From the very first moment that I started this project, I felt so excited! For weeks, I jotted down my every thought of Prizon School in a jumbled fashion. Thanks to a dear school pal, Michael Ansbro, Secretary. Of P.S. Committee, who inspired me to write it. It is a whole lot more than just writing; it’s recalling a flood of delightful, precious and rewarding experiences that evokes a timeless appeal. Actually, this is a unique opportunity to go back in time and encapsulate fond, influential and meaningful memories that bring out the best in us. My own school experience has been one of the finest in every way. Recently, I was obsessed with an Irish song that I learned at school named “Sheamusheen”. Alas there were but a few words I could remember. Behold, at the end of the week I remembered most of it.

This testimony is primarily to shower unlimited credit on our dear, late teachers; Miss Mary O’ Doherty, Principal, and Miss Lily Glenn, Assistant Principal. As students, we were blessed indeed that God placed those two wonderful ladies in our path to shape our innocent lives! Considering the circumstances, during those primitive limes and with little resources, those women were dedicated and experienced teachers who knew the reality of teaching. Moreover, they did more with less and they clearly shared how die lessons worked or how we adopted to them. Their willingness to carry on - no matter what - amazes my adult mind. I don’t remember one day of their absence at school. Miss Glynn cycled to and from school each and every day in hail, rain and snow. Miss ‘O Doherty drove her car likewise to live up to her responsibilities as teacher and Principal. How very loyal of them? Mow devoted!! I doubt they ever got their due recognition and validation. Dare I ask would this be an appropriate occasion to belatedly award them their “just desserts”? Referring to a great motto: “It is never too late”.

I place all teachers on a pedestal for many good reasons. Just to name a few, they must be made of the finest qualities. They provide education to their students that create lasting memories. They must acquire, above all, a great tolerance of children and indeed sometimes their parents

'They log in hours of work after classes. I could go on and on, but I wanted to inject a critical and passionate love of mine. Now on to my happy school memories!

My first day at school is a vague memory of excitement and fear. I remember being assigned to a lovely little desk of solid wood and metal. It seemed like there were a lot of pupils, mostly my age and some a little older. Thankfully, I knew quite a few of them which settled some of my anxiety. Infant to Third Class was conducted in this room by Miss Glynn.

'The room was bright with high windows and the walls were a cheery primrose colour with green trim. Toward the front of the room stood the teachers desk and chair, a little stand with a basin of water and soap, a large blackboard mounted on an easel stood in the corner. The fireplace had a hearty fire blazing and sparking away with some tongs, a pile of turf and some wood alongside. There were a few nice religious statues on stands and high on the walls hung some framed pictures here and there. The one thing in particular, that stands out is the abacus (a counter), a simple and interesting device to teach us to count!

 Insofar as I can remember, each pupil was given a pencil with an eraser on the end and a jotter (a lined pad), plasticine (play doh) white chalk and a slate (?). The following subjects were taught in this classroom; Singing, Irish Language, Religion (using the infamous Baltimore Catechism), Writing and Math. As I look back, there were hardly any distractions allowed in the room, discipline was strongly enforced. Lunch-time was always welcome. Lunch consisted of a bottle of milk (bless Miss Glynn who encouraged us to place it by the fire to warm it in winter time), a few slices of buttered bread and anything else that was available at home that morning, as well as an apple or two (my Dad had an apple orchard). Occasionally when Mother hadn’t time to make bread she would make delicious pancakes for us in the morning. We loved to pack some for lunch after eating our fill for breakfast. Following lunch, we played on the playground outside. We didn’t mind, or even realize that games were scarce but we never tired of making our own innocent fun. Interestingly, I never recall hearing the word “boredom”!

The most popular game was “tip” and we had lots of fun playing with the harvest fallen leaves.

It wasn’t frequent, but when a pupil was due punishment/discipline, Miss Glynn would carefully remove her wrist watch (she was “kit hog”) left-handed and using a slip of a stick about twelve inches long slapping the offender a few times on the palm of the hand, ouch! When necessary, we were allowed while chaperoned of course, to wash our hands in the river. However small, that event meant so much to me. I believe I felt privileged at the time, it felt like I won 'The Irish Sweepstakes!

The main source of heat was an open-hearth fire. Each student that attended school was expected to have a load of turf (peat) delivered to the school’s turf-shed. In addition, those who could afford it donated bog-deal (wood harvested from the bogs). It was common to wear holes in the soles of our wellingtons (rubber boots) and on rainy days our woollen, hand knitted socks got wet. To have them ready and dry for the next school day, we used the “dry-cleaning method” by placing them on the crook by the fire at night. Next morning, all we had to do was rub them together to release the dry soil. How unconventional!

One day when I was very young, I didn’t want to go to school. I attempted to hide my satchel (school-bag) under the furm (wooden bench) and told Mother it was lost. Very soon she found it and so off to school I marched. This school-bag was hand sewn by my dear Mother from a flour-bag that once held one hundred and twenty lbs. of flour. Those flour-bags were made of unique, strong cotton used by many Mothers to fashion by hand various pieces of clothing, then home-dyed. Yes, it wasn’t unusual to have one hundred and twenty lbs. of flour in your average home (of fifteen) to make bread, pancakes, fruit-pies, potato pancakes etc. etc. Oh, the good old days...I can taste it now!

Time marched happily by and soon it was time to proceed upward to Fourth Class. This entailed moving next door into Miss O’Doherty’s classroom who taught Fourth to Eighth Class. As we entered the room, I noticed a few large geographical maps hanging on the back wall with a framed Irish Proclamation alongside. History, Geography and Sewing (taught by Miss Glynn in her room) were incorporated with the other subjects. Studying became more serious and intense both at school and at home. It was at this time that I realized that this was all too much for me.

Then, one day while all heads were down studying, not a sound in the room when all of a sudden, a human head, face up, eyes piercing mine appeared on my desk! “How are you Joan”? The head said. I couldn’t believe my eyes and ears. My hand flew to my mouth to muffle my scream of laughter! The head continued, “Joan, why don’t you talk with me, are you vexed with me”?? The head moved on to another desk, by this time we were all tittering with laughter as we desperately tried to keep it in. It was one of the students playing a prank, one who happened to be one of the brightest pupils in the school!! Broken silence at a time like this was unheard of but was a blessing in disguise since I was making no headway as I wracked my brain for the correct answers in the book! (You know who you are out there!). That infraction called for heavy measures of corporal punishment. Miss O’Doherty grabbed her “strap” and dealt us each a few good slaps on the hand. The culprit, I think got the same punishment.

It was during those days that I developed a few special and lasting relationships with some of the girls in my class. I feel compelled to mention their names. They were, Julie Delaney, Imelda Bourke and Delia Murphy. They didn’t know it, but their friendship gave me the support and courage that I needed at the time. They meant the world to me!

Another occasion that I pleasantly recall is when a group of lovely nuns from a nearby Convent visited the school, for recruiting purposes I presume. Four of us “graduating students” were handpicked to be invited to their convent for a high tea chaperoned by Miss ‘O Doherty. It was a most enjoyable and educational evening indeed! It certainly was a great exposure to introduce me to Finishing School!! In retrospect, we girls had many laughs going over the details.

During the summer holidays bus trips to Enniscrone seaside in Co. Sligo were organized for the students and parent’s day out. My dedicated Mother had hand sewn togs (bathing suits, from those infamous flour bags) for us. It was always a well-planned trip when we had lots and lots of fun eating ice-cream, sweets (candy), biscuits and tea and playing in the sand and ocean! The ladies treated themselves to a spa, some tea and biscuits and dilisc (a wholesome sea-weed). Even the bus ride was a great novelty to us. Oh, what a memorable experience!

I smile with great joy when I recall the innocent fun we had in the mornings, gathered around the school awaiting Miss O’Doherty’s arrival. Usually someone was assigned to be on the look-out of her car coming. Suddenly you’d hear a roar, “she’s on the hill, stoop ye eegits”, (idiots). Very often the teacher may forget to remove her car keys. A common reminder was, “the keys are in the car Miss”. Every so often we were pleasantly surprised by a visit of Prizon School graduates from England or America! We were always delighted to have a little distraction from our lessons. They usually brought us a bag so sweets. In those days, it was customary to schedule a visit to school to give injections to all of the students as a preventative to childhood diseases. Despite the anticipated pain inflicted, we all enjoyed the disinfected aroma (throughout the school.

Periodically an Inspector visited the school to give Religious exams, especially close to the eves (he Sacraments of First Confession, First Holy Communion and Confirmation. Tension filled the air until the Inspector left and not one of us got duck eggs (zeros for failure!).

Fathers hers Killeen and Curley also visited frequently to encourage religious practices and to hear Confessions as well as to get to know the students. Guard Vaughan was also a regular visitor ensure law and order as well as to check for regular student attendance. I had a history of being kept out of school to help on the farm. I was “the chosen one” of the family due to my physical strength and good health. Standing before Guard Vaughen to defend my case was a frightening experience then. Interestingly, Mr. Vaughan was one of the most influential and admired men in Balla. In fact, he was a good friend of my Mother and Father!

Another of my many favourite memories is a most kind man - one Stephen Garvey - the Postman who cycled up hills and down dales each and every (business) day in all kinds of weather to diligently deliver the mail! At times, he stopped by with mail for the teachers but more importantly, to inform a student that there was “a parcel in the Post Office” for the family. Indeed, very often he carried overseas parcels on his bike to save a trip to the town. One such time was when he handed me a parcel addressed to me! Wow, life was good! I felt so excited that I poked a hole in the wrapping to peek at the fabric of a brand new red/off-white coat for my Birthday. It was one of many parcels sent by my beloved sister Kate, in England.

After Stephen Garvey retired, we were blessed by another excellent Postman, namely Ned Walshe! He too was a man of great integrity. Along with the mail, he graciously delivered “messages” from town for the ladies along his route who were unable to leave their homes. The school wouldn’t have been the same without the blessed connection of those two honest men!!

A highlighted tradition is one of Corpus Christi Procession in Balla which usually coincided with the Sacrament of First Holy Communion. All businesses and residential homes in town were closed and shuttered and respectfully decorated with flowers, religious statues and banners. A priest led the Procession, carrying a Monstrance with The Holy Eucharist flanked by altar boys carrying a Crucifix, a church flag and a protective overhead cover for the Priest. Next followed The Children of Mary Society dressed in blue then the little girls who received their First Holy Communion in beautiful white dresses, veils, socks and shoes each carrying a decorated basket of a wide variety of aromatic flower petals of many colours. I vividly remember being hungry as we lined up. Unfortunately, there was no food available, but a miracle happened! Inside my basket was a bag of sweets.!!! I evidentially took the wrong basket (I’d rather believe the miracle story). While constantly chanting the mantra, “Jesus I Love You’” we each took a petal kissed it, then dropped it on the ground as we followed in an orderly fashion. The male counterparts - First Holy Communion recipients - followed suit all wearing well-pressed suits, white shirts and black shoes. Then a long procession of the laity, singing hymns and reciting the Rosary, followed on.

Yet, another sacred memory was picking wild flowers as well as cultivated ones (perhaps stolen from a neighbour’s garden) to place on an altar at school in a strategic spot with Our Blessed Mother’s statue. Every day we sang hymns and prayed the Rosary. In fact, the students had the same devotion at home. This dedication began on May Day and continued through the end of May. The flowers collected were as follows; Bluebells, Rockets, Peonies, Primroses, Laburnum, Cowslips, Dandelions, Daisies, Lilacs, Buttercups, and those I’ve missed you’ll surely pardon.  

Shortly before “Graduation Day”, the class was mandated to take an academic test called “Leaving Certificate”. This test was conducted in Balla School. I became hungry for lunch and for time out to stretch and recoup. As long as I live, I will never, ever forget that lunch! My beloved Mother had previously arranged with Mrs. Hughes who ran a notorious Sweet Shop in town to have a sandwich ready for me. Dear Mrs. Hughes prepared the most delicious banana sandwich and a lovely glass of milk for me! Yes, thankfully I passed the test. (Most likely it was the sandwich or Mrs. Hughes’ prayers! It was a known fact that we were expected to pass the tests; failing was unacceptable in Prizon School!

It was customary for the wooden floors to be scrubbed and disinfected at the end of each school year. I gleefully remember helping my brother Ned with this project. I loved playing with water (and still do to this very day). Miss ‘O Doherty supervised our work. She gave me some holy pictures that eventing. That kind deed made me feel special and important!

Ned Reilly (aka Doyle) and his daughter, Maisie who lived a short distance away were closely affiliated with the school. I well remember their kindness and generosity in an emergency, like a cow rambling loose on the school grounds or a fallen tree on the premises, or a live bird in the classroom. It wasn’t until I left school that I recognized and appreciated their contribution to the school. They were always available at a whim. little did our under-developed minds realize how deeply influenced we were by that kind family. Would now like to give recognition, with much love, to my parents; Norah and Michael Kennedy who sacrificed for us and endured the pain and joy of raising fifteen children! Regretfully, it is too late to give them their rightful acknowledgement and love but for sure they knew it was there! May God Almighty bless all those dear ones of whom I have mentioned as well as those deceased ones.

A very dear friend who also attended Prizon School with the rest of her wonderful family, deeply regrets she cannot be here to celebrate this happy occasion. We converse for hours about our happy school days. Her claim to fame is that “We all graduated from Prizon University”. She coined a joke worth printing; “some families were so poor the mice had to go out to eat”!!! (Dear one, you know who you are!).

My very best wishes for a huge success to this blessed School Reunion. A special “thank you” to the Committee and all those who worked hard to make this a festive and memorable event!!! I am so pleased and grateful that I contributed this article.

It stirred up so many fond memories that 1 had almost forgotten. Those memories are now fresh on my mind and so I can take them out any time I want to smile.

IT IS BETTER TO LIGHT ONE CANDLE THAN TO CURSE THE DARKNESS