I started in the Girls School of 1917. My first memory was of a big room full of children sitting at their desks. I remember walking around the room having a good look. I would have been six and a half at the time.
The room was white with four windows, large maps and charts hung on the wall. The room was fitted with dark brown wainscotting about three feet high, it had a bare wooden floor and a big open turf fire with a big grate. A picture of the "Angelus" hung over the fireplace. A large table was between us and the fire, it was used as a general purpose table. There were two black- boards and six long desks. Both teachers had a stool and Mrs. Casey had a desk. There was a press in the corner each side of the fire. One was used for domestic science in the earlier days before they did Irish. We hung our coats in the hall at the front door.
There were two teachers. Mrs. Casey taught the Senior Classes and Mrs. O'Halloran taught the Juniors. About forty girls went to the school at the time. We were taught eight subjects: English, Mathematics, Catechism, History, Geography, Needlework, Music and Domestic Science was replaced by Irish. We learned mostly through Irish. One year we had long holidays because the teachers all went. away to refresh their Irish, none of the pupils were promoted that year.
Inspectors came once a year, they were normally pleased with us. The parish priest was Canon McDonald, the curates were Fr. Canavan and Fr. Owens. Fr. Canavan used to come to school on a motorbike.
I have fond memories of my days in Cuilmore School and all of my classmates, some of whom have passed away and a lot of these memories come back to me when I hear my grandchildren telling me of their friends who's grandparents were my classmates.