My brother Paddy was now in fifth standard, and was due to leave the school in a few months. He was always bright at lessons and was becoming good at his trade. He had been in the mechanic’s shop for more than two years. The first year was under Joe Carmody, a great tradesman, and now under Mr O’Shea, also equally good. Paddy’s suit was now being made. I can’t remember the colour of the material, but it was a good tweed from Foxford Woollen Mills, where we got most of our materials. He also got black shoes which were made to measure. Boys were now allowed to have shoes instead of boots, and the leather was quite good boxcalf. Paddy leaves early in the morning and we say goodbye the night before. He got a haircut and bath before leaving, and Brother Keegan gave him five shilling and Mr O’Shea also gave him 2/-. I missed my brother Paddy a lot more than Joe, because we played together more in spite of the difference in ages. Paddy was the one who received all the letters and read them to us. As well as getting the credit for the small sums of money and the parcels we received he also took the blame if a festival went by without us getting anything from home. We accused Paddy of putting the wrong address on or putting the stamp on the wrong side. I was not so close to Joe because he was older and he could neither read or write. Mother said that Joe has learned to read since he left school. He learned because dad was always calling him ‘our Dunce’.
The days are now getting short and it’s dark when we go to school in the evenings. Next week will be Halloween and the lads are all talking about it first thing in the morning when we are lined up for inspection, after washing ourselves. Brother Byrne said we shouldn’t get so excited over a festival, but should think about what we are doing. When he had inspected everyone, he took several lads away and gave them a good scrubbing, because their necks were dirty. We were now issued with new toothbrushes which had our number on them, and we were told we must brush our teeth every day at least once. Brother Byrne explained that unless teeth are cleaned regularly they would soon decay, and without teeth we could not chew our food. It was now Halloween again and a day of great joy. There was now great excitement in St Michael’s dormitory and almost everyone was up long before we were called. When I awoke and seen the kids running to get washed my thoughts flashed back to a few years ago, when Walsh would beat us for being up before being called. During breakfast all kinds of stories were going about, concerning the apples and nuts. Some said the apples were big and rosy, others said they were small. Joe Baker said they were Australian. But everybody’s mouth dropped when we learned that the apples and nuts were still at Clifden ten miles away, and the lorry which was to go for them was out of order.
Better news now reached us. Brother Keegan himself had already left in the old Ford. Everyone was now pleased because the Ford although very slow never got stuck. She was more reliable than the Guy which was bought recently. Joe O’Shea told my brother the Guy lorry was a bad bargain, and was only fit for scrap, and added that if they didn’t dispose of the Guy he would leave the school for a better job. Shortly after dinner there is a roar of excitement as the whistle blows. Everyone knows it’s Brother Keegan’s whistle. He always gives three short blasts, and besides it’s much louder than the others. Brother Keegan once said the whistle was given to him by a policeman who was retiring. When we are all lined up four of the old boys or monitors are sent to carry several bags (which are sealed up) from the car, and Brother Keegan cuts the bags open with a small penknife. There is even greater excitement, because as well as apples and oranges there are four different varieties of nuts.
The older boys are now pushing forward and Mr Griffin who is standing against the ball alley comes over, and tells them that there is ‘more than enough for everyone’. ‘Go back and be patient you lucky lads’ says Mr Griffin, with that, he pushes them gently back. Brother Vale now comes from the kitchen, he walks very slowly around the yard, still limping a little after his accident. He looks awfully fed up and lonely. No one says very much as Vale walks along. Brother Keegan now calls Mr Griffin ‘Tom’, and he is now getting all the nuts he wants. Mr Griffin also takes an orange. There are plenty of nuts and oranges left over and anyone can go and ask for more, but it is not considered good manners in our school to be greedy or selfish. Our education is based on self-denial. Although we sometimes get up during the night and steal food from the kitchen if there is a window open, in front of our superiors and schoolmates we try to behave in keeping with our teaching.
Back in the tailor’s shop we are busy making suits and costumes for those taking part in a new play. The suits were of Donegal tweed and a very old design, which was fashionable some fifty years ago. In the play, where boys dressed up as girls in colours of white, green and gold, they wore wigs and wore wings which we also made. Wings consisted of a simple wire frame and covered with a thin cotton material. The wings were held in position by elastic bands, which fitted over the arms and were fastened in the centre back, about the shoulder blades by press studs.
The boys’ jackets we found very difficult to make. They were very long at the back like a frock coat, and were cut away in front. The collar was of a different material. Brother Byrne supervises the making of all costumes etc. He is also responsible for the teaching and training of each one who is taking part in the play. Brother Byrne is quite an expert in this kind of work. He is being advised by a professional man called Mr Jarvis from Castlebar, who visits the school periodically.
I have been chosen to take part in a marching and exercise act, which is done to music, but I never report for training because I am much too frightened. I go and hide in the laundry or under my bed in the dormitory each day until I have been replaced. Brother Byrne who is a very good man understands, and he does not punish me. I now feel terribly ashamed as I am such a coward. I am not afraid of being beaten, but I am afraid of making a mistake, and letting down Brother Byrne who has been good to everyone.
It’s only a few weeks to Christmas and everyone is getting himself worked up. The stories are already going about as to what the menu will consist of in our workshop. Ginger Donlon has marked down on the bench the number of days. He has made 18 strokes with chalk or a stroke for each day and every afternoon when we report to the workshop at 2 p.m. all the youngsters watch almost breathlessly, as Donlon crosses out another stroke. As the days go past we are even more excited, and many times during working hours we count and recount the number of strokes.
A few days before Christmas we receive a letter from mother telling us that Paddy has a nice job and comes home each night. She also explains that as the quarry contract is long since finished and dad is out of work we would only receive a cake for Christmas. There is now only a few days to go and the lads spend most of their time climbing up and looking in the kitchen windows. Latest information is that Brother Murphy who looks after the monastery has come to give Brother Vale a hand, who is still walking with great difficulty. On Christmas Eve, the superior Brother Keegan comes around the school, and lines up everyone against the wall and inspects our clothing. He has been to Dublin and bought pants with pockets and lining for everyone. We are told they have been purchased at a bargain price, much less than to buy the material from the mills. The pants which are made in our shop have no lining or pockets. On Christmas Eve night we all hang up our stockings, as there is a rumour going about that Father Christmas will be coming. We heard that story last year, but he never came. Anyhow we hang up a stocking on the end of the bed. We are awakened in the early hours of Christmas morning. Someone has seen Father Christmas leaving, and sure enough we all have a present of some kind and sweets.
There is no more sleep for anyone. Most of the children are up and running about. It’s still dark, and the night man who normally makes us go back to bed has turned on all the lights. Before Brother Byrne comes to call us we are up and dressed. Most have had a wash already, so there is no inspection. I have a new comb, which I have found in my stocking.
I spend a very long time combing my hair, but the more I comb the more it stands u
p. We only comb our hair on special occasions, for a play or concert, or when the priest comes for catechism exams. We wander off to mass in our own time. There is no parade, yet there are no absentees. Most of the boys get to the chapel long before the service has started. Brother Keegan is not present at mass as he is ill, and the doctor has been called. We are told at breakfast that his illness is not severe and he would be well in a day or two.
The dinner is roast turkey with boiled potatoes and peas or cabbage, with gravy, and plum pudding. The office Brother is present with Brother Vale and Brother Murphy from the monastery. The office Brother doesn’t see us very much because he is always up at the farm with his pigeons, and tame rabbits, and chickens. After dinner we go to number two school and say prayers for the superior. After which a picture is shown, but there are so many breakdowns that it cannot be considered a success. The mechanic is present and Brother Vale, so when the machine finally breaks down we have a sing song. And any boy who gives a turn, whether it be a song, a dance, or a piece of poetry or a story, gets a bar of chocolate.
After Christmas we are told that Brother Keegan may be replaced as superior and another man, who had already left Letterfrack, would be taking over. There was a long silence. Who could it be? There was Brother Dooley, Walsh, and the older lads were talking about a Brother O’Brien, and they also mentioned a man called ‘the boxer’,because he never used a stick or strap, only his bare hands.
8
Portraits
The superior (or manager) Brother Keegan is rather tall, about 5'-11", aged about forty-five has a sloping forehead going thin on top, with dark hair. He is very religious, he is fond of a drink but never to excess. A strict disciplinarian, he is very hard and can be a very cruel man. As already mentioned in earlier chapters, it was Keegan’s practice to come to the square always carrying a stick. He often took several boys away, and flogged them severely with their pants off. The reason for this flogging was because of improper actions, which are said to have taken place in the dormitories and lavatories. Keegan has a very good knowledge of motorcar engines and can do most repairs, and is a good and careful driver. He is a qualified electrician. He is just as severe on the other Christian Brothers and masters as on the children.
Brother Blake was in the farm for a short time during my first year, before Brother Scully came. He had a bad name amongst the farm hands, he was transferred to Salthill in Galway, where he was tied up and severely beaten by senior boys for alleged ill-treatment. Brother Scully was a small man of about sixty years of age and was bald. He was easily the kindest and most friendly man in Letterfrack. He had a kind word for everyone and was most liberal with his snuff. Tommy Mannion, a man on the farm, said, ‘Brother Scully got more work out of the boys by singing a song than all the other brothers had with their sticks and straps.’ Scully was a broadminded man, was well read and had travelled widely. He spoke several languages. Scully carried a walking stick but it was only to assist him when walking through the farm land, it was never carried when he visited the school yard. He was at home with the very young children and it was a common sight to see him walking along with a young child on each side. Whenever we had a problem, we always went to Scully, he was always ready to listen and his advice was appreciated. He never passed anyone by without a few words. During the summer holidays when most of the Brothers were away he would love to come to the square and take charge. This would allow Mr Griffin to go to the village for a pint. If the weather was fine we would go for a walk around the farm, and through the football field, and along the sea front, we could go into the sea or pick blackberries.
Brother Walsh was of medium build, about forty years old, with dark hair brushed straight back. He was cruel and cunning. He dressed in expensive clothes and was very religious. He spent most of his time praying, except during school hours. He was ferocious not only in his treatment of young children but all who worked under him. I remember him on at least one occasion attacking our schoolteacher, McAntaggart, who was also a bandmaster. He beat him across the face with the strap until the teacher cried like a child. It was awful to see a teacher being beaten. The very strange part of this is that McAntaggart was a taller man, and much younger than Walsh. I should also add that McAntaggart was an ex-industrial schoolboy from Artane.
The Hayden brothers are two bakers, they have been brought up in Letterfrack. They are aged about 28 and 30 years. Joe Hayden was the baker in 1925 and left about 1927 when his brother took over. They change about every two or three years. They are good men, but differ in many ways. Mick wears a hat and is friendly with Fahy, while Joe does not even speak to Fahy. He wears a cap and is an ex-soldier from the Free State army. Sorry, they are both ex-soldiers.
Joe Hayden refused to go to mass and the parish priest Fr Discan came to the bakehouse to see him. There was an argument which finished up on the terrace one Sunday morning about ten o’clock. Fr Discan threatened to strike Joe. Joe warned the priest, and advised him to go and mind his own business. Shortly after, Joe left and Mick came. Mick is a quieter man and gets on better with the Brothers, and the priests. He spends most of his time in the mechanic’s shop or with Fahy, and the bandmaster Hickey.
Brother Dooley was in charge of senior classes from 1925 until 1926. A fairly big man aged about fifty, he was very bald. He always took the whole school on drill and P.T. every Sunday on the yard, during wet weather we went to the gymnasium. He nearly always carried a heavy cane or walking stick, which he used fairly often to beat the older lads on the back and the legs, for mistakes in drill and exercises. I don’t remember seeing him beat very young boys. The lads in top class say that he was bad at sums and he often sent for Mr Griffin when in difficulty. He was very religious. He sold sweets from the small shop under the stairs after breakfast or just before school. He had a good knowledge of music and was a fairly good singer. He conducted the singing with the walking stick. George Gordon, a boy of fifteen, played the piano, as there was no regular bandmaster in 1925.
Brother Murphy, the office Brother, is a man of about forty-five. He is bald, thick-set, round-shouldered (from desk work and study), brilliant and highly educated. He is also widely travelled and well read and a very broad-minded man. He was very fond of animals and birds, he used to spend most of his spare time on the farm with his pigeons, and pet rabbits which he used to breed. He taught boys fret saw work and how to make models from plywood. He was very good at geometry and maths. Murphy was a very modern thinker. I once heard him say to Fr Diskan, the P.P. (jokingly), ‘I am more interested in this world than the next.’ On another occasion when Brother Fahy was pulling his leg about the farm, Brother Murphy said ‘I spend my time on the farm because I like animals better than some men.’
Brother Fahy was a conceited, self-centred, arrogant bully. He bullied not only children, but other Brothers, and masters as well. Fahy wore expensive clothes, which were not made in the school. He had a girlfriend from Clifden called Lydon O’Neill. Fahy is said to have used some of the school funds for his personal use and to help some of his relations in Claremorris. His age was about 43 years. He had a gold tooth which was visible when he smiled. He liked a drink. He often complained about the poverty of the Christian Brothers, who worked for their food and clothes, which they would get in any workhouse.
Brother Vale. About forty years old, 5'-5" with dark hair, wore dark sunglasses, he was a very lonely man, and had no real friends. He didn’t mix with the other Brothers. He spent most of his time in the kitchen or in the pantry. He cooked a good Christmas dinner, but at other times, the food was disgusting. Vale often put large doses of medicine in the food, to cure skin disease which most young children suffered from. This medicine made children ill and kept them running to the lavatory at night.
Brother Conway was about 5'-7", very young about twenty, very handsome with black wavy hair, brushed straight back, a good teacher, rather childish, likes to play with the children. He plays handball and football very well. When his class are not
working well, Conway reads them a story, or changes the subject.
Mr Moran, the old blacksmith, lost his son two years ago who was aged 33. His daughter teaches knitting and darning. Moran is a first-class tradesman, he is very popular with everyone. He sings and shouts all day. He is cruel to horses. I have seen him many times hitting a horse with a heavy hammer. He is almost seventy years old. He has worked at the school for many years.
Mr Cummings is thirty years old, wears a brown suit, with a hat to match, he has only one ear they say. He got the other ear shot off during the trouble in 1921. Cummings is the wheelwright and carpenter and he is a fairly good tradesman. He is very quiet, about 5'-6", of medium build. He spends his spare time walking around the school grounds.
Joe O’Shea the mechanic aged 30, native of Cork city, has been in the school a year, he is 5'-6" tall with fair hair. He is married with two children living in Cork. He is leaving the school shortly.
Brother Murphy, who cooks for the monastery, aged about 47, is about 5'-8" in height, rather slim build, is going grey, a good handball player. He is also a good carpenter, he made a crutch for Tom Thornton who has one leg. I have never seen him beating the children.
Brother Kelly was the office Brother. He left Letterfrack in early 1927. He sometimes came to the refectory during meals. He is a very good and religious man, and is most kind to everyone. He is about fifty years old, about 5'-9", going grey, he is a slim figure. He used to read letters from boys who had left the school, he often gave lectures during meals about the importance of chewing food correctly. He said that ‘each mouthful of food should be chewed thirty times’. The purpose of this lecture was because many children suffered from indigestion and skin disease.
Founded on Fear Page 11