Hard Days and Happy Days

Copies of the book are still available! More info…

“Hard Days and Happy Days” has been written to help commemorate the 150th anniversary of the building of the school and to put on record the history of the school. The title for the book was born during an interview with Paddy O’Mahony of Lyreen. In response to a question about his schooldays in Skeheenarinky during the 1930s, Paddy replied, “We had hard days and happy days.”

The book, which was published by the National School Anniversary Committee as part of the Skeheenarinky National School 150th Anniversary Celebration, includes the following: a foreword written by former Taoiseach Dr. Garret FitzGerald; Hedge Schools in Skeheenarinky, Coolagaranroe, Kiltankin etc.; a map and an interesting section on townland placenames and their meanings; Extracts from the 1938 Folklore Commission Schools Project; The landlords of Galtee Castle; Lots of information regarding the application to build the school, the site chosen, the sponsors, the manager, the area covered, number of pupils, etc.; Building the school, delay in opening, hiring teachers, subjects taught, etc.; and much much more!

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