Some excited new pupils on September 26th 1975
The Parish of Renmore, as we know it today, was established in 1971. Canon Jack O’Connor was its first parish priest and he quickly set about the task of building schools to cater for the rapidly growing population. Scoil Chaitríona Senior enrolled its original 114 girls and boys on 1st July 1974, under its first principal, Mr. Pádraig O’Grady. The other three teachers on the staff were Máire Bn Ní Fhinneagáin, Mrs Maura O’Connor and Mr Mícheál Kitt. As the senior school building was as yet unfinished, the school spent its first year in classrooms belonging to Scoil Chaitríona Junior. On July 1st 1975 the children and their teachers moved into their new school. Mr. Richard Burke T.D., Minister for Education, performed the official opening, and Most Rev. Dr. Michael Browne, Bishop of Galway, blessed the new complex on September 26th, 1975.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishbeo/albums/72157650862724115/with/16385548678/
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Past Principals
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| Pádraig O Grady, 1974-1993 | Virginia Uí Mhathúna, 1993-2007 | Bernadette Uí Ghradaigh, 2007-2010 |
‘Bóithrín na Smaointe ó 1975’, by Virginia O’Mahony from Scoil Chaitríona Senior’s 40th Commemorative Book
I first saw Scoil Chaitríona when I joined the teaching staff of the senior school on Monday the 7th April 1975, a lovely sunny spring day. It was then a small school of 114 children and a staff of four comprising the late Pádraig O’Grady (RIP), a teaching principal, together with Máire Finnegan (RIP), Barbara Young, substitute for Mícheál Kitt who was recently elected as a T.D to Dáil Éireann, and myself. Pádraig was a positive, visionary and gifted school leader whose attitude inspired his staff to go the extra mile for the children and for the school community. Our four classrooms were temporarily located in Scoil Chaitríona Junior which had opened its doors a year previously on 1st July 1973. Our new building was in the process of completion for the new school year and the excitement built daily as we watched its progress up to the day when we wheeled all our furniture across the front yard to our new school.
My memories of the children and their parents are of a group of enthusiastic and committed young families united by the common purpose of building a new community. Fundraising committees were working at full power. Their enormous pride in their new school was evidenced by their support for the work of the teachers both in school and after school. Sporting and musical activities were central to the identity of this new parish of Renmore. Leading this vibrant community was the parish priest, Fr. Jack O’Connor and the then curate Fr. Éamonn Dermody, both of whom had worked tirelessly on what was a huge building project culminating in the opening of the Church of St. Oliver Plunkett in December 1976. It was easy to become part of this special community in the knowledge that the foundations being set down would endure.
Padraig O’Grady as principal saw the importance of providing the children with a wide range of musical experience. A school choir was established for the official opening of the school on the 26th September 1975, which was performed by Richard Burke, Minister for Education and the schools were blessed by Bishop Michael Browne, Bishop of Galway. Soon after Enda Kilbane and I agreed that a school band would be a great experience for the children and we bravely began with forty children playing tin whistles. In the early years of the Renmore Pantomime the school band was invited to provide the entertainment at the interval much to the delight of the children and their parents. I vividly remember one night in January 1981 in the Jesuit Hall, as we guided the children off the stage, a very generous parent pressed a fistful of notes into my hand and whispered ‘Buy them a couple of drums’! I suppose the sound of the tin whistles was a bit thin! When I counted it later he had given me £90 and it bought our first snare drums together with a base drum.
When I think of choirs in Scoil Chaitríona my sweetest memories will always be of Confirmation ceremonies and Carol Services when our two great musical directors, Tríona Glynn and Anne O’Flaherty, would weave their magic with so many young voices producing harmonies that enhanced the liturgy in a special way and made all such occasions both uplifting and memorable. I know that the experience was equally special for the children and their parents as many remember those special times with great fondness.
In Scoil Chaitríona Senior we were always inspired to look outwards, beyond our own confines, to learn from the experience of others and from other cultures. A chance meeting with a teacher made us aware of the existence of a town called Galway in Saratoga County in New York State. There was great excitement in Scoil Chaitríona when we hosted teachers Brenda Denny and Cathy Riggins and some pupils from Galway, New York on the 24th April 1995. They were also made welcome by the mayor on behalf of the city of Galway.
Our many international tours with the children provide many happy and amusing memories. I remember one June Sunday morning in Versailles, as we waited to visit the great Chateau de Versailles, we took the children to Mass in Versailles Cathedral having allowed about an hour for this on our timetable. We had not bargained for the pomp and splendour of Versailles Cathedral on a Sunday morning with three choirs and many members of the French hierarchy celebrating a special feast day. After an hour and a half, with the choirs in full voice and no end in sight, worried glances were exchanged. As the temperature rose the children started to complain of feeling weak so evasive action had to be taken. Pádraig O’Grady stood at the end of the pew and whispered ‘Gluaisigí’ which the children took as their cue to file out quietly and gratefully into the welcome fresh air.
And finally ……one September I had gone into a third class to tell the children about an upcoming event. As I left I assured the children that I would remind them later on the school’s intercom, a system with a small speaker over the door in each classroom. A little girl stopped me at the door and with great concern said: ‘Mrs O’Mahony, be very careful when you’re climbing up into your little box’!
These are a selection of my memories of Scoil Chaitríona. Forty years is a considerable milestone to celebrate. May this fine school celebrate many more significant birthdays.
‘Scoil Chaitríona San Frontiers!’, by Bernadette O’Grady from Scoil Chaitríona Senior’s 40th Commemorative Book
Scoil Chaitríona Senior had no boundaries, no high surrounding walls, no gates. With its teachers it had unlimited vision, sharing developing philosophies with the local colleges and universities. However, its early days presented many challenges.
Most unsettling was the inefficient heating system, as single boiler which rarely achieved minimum temperatures, necessitating immediate school closure, without warning, at 10.30am. Pupils proceeded home through the well-worn grass paths, to be welcomed by their parents, we assume, as no complaint was ever made. A second boiler was eventually purchased to the disappointment of many as it guaranteed a full school day.
The badminton club complained that the inverted roof in the school hall was surely as a result of the builders’ misinterpretation of the architect’s plan. This theory still holds!
Large classes of 40+ pupils were standard, Learning Support was non-existent. Our Principal, Pádraig O’Grady, first introduced the Marino Word Test, each pupil was assessed by him. We were amazed by some of the results. He, too, invited an educational psychologist to support us. It took both parents and teachers some time to accept the recommendations rendered.
“Travel broadens the mind” and so trips around Ireland were the order of the day, but SCS had to push the boat out, to London for starters. The pioneering teachers who travelled to London will never forget the many challenges of that maiden voyage. Being thrown off a night-time train at Crewe Station, at 2am, in freezing conditions, was nightmarish. While we wondered if another train might arrive, one pupil remarked, “Don’t you think we resemble a group of refugees in flight?” Of course, “Sleepless in London” was yet to follow! However the travel bug in SCS was sown.
The “sage on the stage” had no education equipment, neither did we have a tuck shop but, charmingly, one supported the other. Taytos, with their high profit margins, caused chaotic queues at the 10.30am break (in the days before a Healthy Eating Policy!)A local farmer complained that one of his cows nearly choked on a “Toyota” bag. This near fatal bovine asphyxiation soon tightened up our non-existent litter campaign.
The SCS Summer School was the hottest ticket in town, advertising up to 20 activities, the main attraction being the weekly Film Show. The reel of film arrived from Dublin via Transtrack and was projected on a wall sheet to the excitement of the huge numbers attending.
SCS was a happy, fun place to work. By its positive, adventurous and talented staff the philosophy of Comenius was embraced. From the Northern Lights in Tromso, Norway to the Archaeological Centre, Ephesus, Turkey teachers shared folklore, culture and customs with other European educators as the pupils communicated with pen pals in various other European countries.
Many projects evolved due to experience and common sense, for example, the arduous Christmas Concert evolved into the now elevating Christmas Carol Service.
On recalling the years, I remember with great sadness the beautiful children who passed away due to accidental death or illness. I remember their parents and families who live daily with their great loss. My most cherished memories are evoked when a past-pupil approaches me with, “How are you, Miss Walsh? You haven’t changed a bit.” I wish!
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School Leaver’s 2020
The class of 2020 had an alternative end of year celebration. See their school leaver’s song below.
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