local history from the School's collection - Dromagh Castle

 History according to school-aged children in 1930s Ireland...perspectives, lore...more!

Situated south-west of Kanturk is the parish of Dromagh or Dromtariffe as it is commonly called was also built by the O'keeffes.

It is a square enclosure, flanked by four circular towers, one of which with part of the enclosure has been converted into offices in 1837.

It greatly resembled Dromsicane with its central tower, as in the case of the later castle also gone.

Lord Muskerry marched out from Dromagh Castle in 1652 to encounter Lord Broghill at the famous battle of Knockaclashy near Clonmeen.

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O'Donoghue - Great grandfather, grandfather, grandmother and Dromagh

Teachers, principals - these three ancestors are just a few of my many that were teachers.

Before and after them, from hedge schools to the present day, waves of teachers.

This is to document the one in Dromagh. The website for the national school they all taught at has been recently updated, and shares a brief history of the school, and its evolution over the centuries.

from the school's website:

Teachers from 1902 - 1920
The Boys were taught by:
Denis J Ryan ~ Principal
Denis O'Donoghue (R.I.P) (father of Bill O'Donoghue), &
James O'Connor (R.I.P)

School Life 1902 - 1920

​Pupils Enjoyed gardening, - setting Vegetables at the front, sides & back of the school.

There were no desks suite small children, so 2 desks were altered for junior pupils.

The length of the school day was reduced, with school times now being 9am to 3.30pm

James O'Connor taught Irish to the Adults in Dromagh & also travelled across the river by boat to teach Irish in Rathcool also.

1919, saw the introduction of the First ever Irish school book, call "Seadhna".

Cookery was also taught to all pupils in the school.

Mr. Bill O'Donoghue being made Principal in 1955 - 1973, & his wife Mrs. Maureen O'Donoghue, also joined the teaching team.  By the end of the 1950's there were just 2 teachers teaching in the school.

In 1945, there school still did not have electricity, and benches were used by the children to sit on.  

To the back of the school, there were 2 Dry Toilets, as there was not any running water.  It was during the holidays, the toilets would be cleaned out!

The school was heated by a turf fire in each class room... Trying to light it was a days work!! The fires would just start to heat up, when the school day was over!

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earliest memories - grandfather

Reflecting on my grandfather, William O'Donoghue (1907-1976)

I don't remember where I first read about it, but know that memories start making recollective imprints around the age of 5. And this is true for me. From about the age of 5, I have a flood of memories I can tap into, and before that, nearly nothing.

I have 2 memories from my very early childhood. Given that I was so young, I can only assume that they were very impactful points in my young life.

The first was when I had my tonsils removed, just before I turned 3. I remember the colour of the walls - those sea green walls. I remember how I felt...afraid and alone despite the whir of people around me.

The second was when I was 3. I was in Ireland, at my grandparents' home. My grandfather with the big smile and gentle laugh was carrying me, I remember the warmth of his sweater pressing against my face, lifting me up, as I reached for an apple from a tree in his orchard. A chorus of laughter swept over us like a wave of security. That moment is frozen in time, deeply embedded in memory, I feel it within the depths of my heart when I recount it, it stirs up tears when I do. I felt safe, loved, and joy.

Whenever I need to remember my first moments of joy, I return to that memory. There is a photograph in one of my parents' albums of him holding me, both of us beaming happiness. I will add that to this post when I see it again.

He died a year later.

My grandfather, William O'Donoghue was a teacher, and then principal of a National school in Ireland. His wife, my grandmother, Mary O'Connor was also a teacher.

I have several uncles who were teachers.

I am a teacher.

And my grandfather, when I was 3 years old, taught me how to find joy in the most ordinary of moments. And I am so grateful that my mind captured such a beautiful, enduring memory of him.

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