I am one of those people who came from Thurles to Ballingarry, assigned to stay one year, and believe it or not, I have remained almost sixty! Today I would like to share with you some reminiscences about life in Ballingarry as I experienced it.
I began teaching in the late thirties and spent most of my life in the classroom. There were about forty pupils in the Secondary School at that time and they were prepared for Intermediate and Leaving Certificates, Teacher Training and Civil Service examinations I loved teaching and my subjects were Religion, Irish, Latin, History, Home Economics, Physiology and Hygiene. All subjects were taught through the medium of Irish and Irish was the official language of the school. It was well and truly a Gael-Scoil. Summer saw us, young nuns going on holidays to the Gaeltacht — Ring, Ballyferriter Ballinaskelligs We combined work and pleasure and we loved it. We updated our knowledge further by attending various courses — theology, sociology, history, science, music, drama, speech and languages. A school concert was held annually and we produced plays and opera. There were Choral and Music Examinations and Plain Chant Festivals. An extra dimension of culture was added to the school by our local curate, Fr. John McGrath of very happy and grateful memory. Each weekend he taught Musical Appreciation and introduced the students to the world of Opera, Ballet and the Fine Arts. He presented the school with copies of the Old Masters and he added valuable notes on their works.
Unlike today, almost all teachers on the staff were nuns. There was one lovely young teacher named Leanora Dunlea, a native of Cork city She was warned by her friends she would never get a husband in Ballingarry! At twenty-two this wasn’t a pressing problem! Within six months she had met a fine young teacher named Jim Hanrahan, who was teaching in Lisnamrock Primary School. Later he was appointed principal in Kilvemnon N.S. in Mullinahone Their friendship grew, and in the course of time they became engaged and later married. They had a very happy family life for a few short years. Then tragedy struck. Jim fell suddenly ill, and within a few hours a brain haemorrhage claimed his life. He was thirty-five. Leanora and her young family returned to Cork and she resumed teaching. She has kept contact with us ever since, and we count her among our closest friends.
World War II brought its own share of excitement to Ballingarry! One day a document came from the Red Cross asking, if we would be prepared to take some refugee French children, should the need arise. We agreed. Months passed, and we had almost forgotten, until one day came a bolt from the blue — the Red Cross informed us that three young French girls would arrive at Thurles Station for us at noon the next day! Fortunately one of our nuns, Mother Cecilia had been educated in France and was a fluent French speaker, and sister Madeleine, who taught French in the school, was very fluent also. The girls, Odette aged fourteen, Marise twelve, and Janine aged ten hadn’t a word of English, but it was amazing how quickly and how well they picked it up. They were extremely anxious to do so, and at our Christmas concert they sang three songs, one in French, one in English and the third in Irish! The applause was tremendous, Odette and Marise were excellent Catholics but little Janine had very little religious knowledge. Mother Cecilia took her in hand and instructed her very carefully in the Faith. She received her First Communion in our Convent Chapel and was surely the most radiant little girl there that morning. The girls stayed with us for a year. They won all hearts, they were so vivacious, refined and full of fun. Various families were anxious to adopt them. Meanwhile the war had ended and relatives in France succeeded in making contact with them, and so our little French friends returned to their homeland.
In 1952 we had a visit from Dr. McKeefrey, Archbishop of Wellington, New Zealand seeking a foundation of Presentation Nuns for his Diocese. Two Sisters of our community Sisters Elizabeth and Consilio ansvered his call and travelled with five Sisters from Presentation Convent, Thurles, to distant New Zealand where they made the much needed foundation. Sister Kathleen Meagher of Boulea, Ballingarry sister of Mrs. Mary Ryan on our teaching staff, joined the young Community at a later date. God blessed their effort with unprecedented success, and today, Catholic schools run by Presentation nuns, are present in the diocese of Wellington.
In the early sixties our Parish Priest, Fr. Noonan was in a dilemma. There were promising boys in the parish who would profit from Secondary Education. The nearest Secondary Schools for boys were many miles away He thought of the Convent. The Archbishop, Dr. Morris was approached. Leave was graciously granted and six local boys enrolled in our Secondary School the following September 1962. CoeducatiOn at Secondary level had begun. The boys fitted in perfectly from the first day Those who needed woodwork took lessons in Ballingarry Technical School. Our boys and girls have brought credit to their school, down the years.
— Michael Kinane has won world-wide fame as a jockey
— Gerard Raleigh of Gortnahoe was one of a team of engineers who worked on the underseas tunnel between Dover and Calais.
— Tom McGrath Ph.D. is a noted writer and historian and lecturer at U.C.D. and Carlow College.
— Kathleen Fingleton of the Glebe, Ballingarry is a linguist and has command of several languages. She holds an important post as interpreter in Brussels.
— Mary Wilson of Drangan is a journalist and reporter with R.T.E. and she keeps us informed, through the Press, of Law Court activities in the capital.
— Triona Clutterbuck of Mohober was conferred with Ph.D. in Oxford recently and lectures at U.C.D.
Many many others, both boys and girls have brought honour and distinction on their old school.
Religious vocations were fostered and very many nuns on distant mission fields, and nearer home, owe much to their early training in Ballingarry And there have been priestly vocations. Fr. Francis Cotter from Urlingford is a Franciscan Priest. Fr. James Walton, Curate in Thurles is a native of Cappagh, Ballingarry.
In 1966, thanks to the Minister of Education at the time, the late Donncha O’Malley made free secondary education available for all. Coeducation was well and firmly established in Ballingarry Classrooms were filled to capacity and overflowing. Pre-fabricated classrooms fulfilled the immediate need. But a solid structure was needed. Then began a fund-raising campaign. Parents, parishioners and friends were wonderfully generous and funds flowed in from many sources — whist drives, discos, concerts, etc. Finally Scoil Mhuire began to take shape, and not only was it completed within a year, but all debts were cleared also. After the Opening Mass and official blessing, Scoil Mhuire began a new chapter in education in Ballingarry
The traditions and values of Scoil Mhuire are carried on by a very generous, dedicated and devoted staff, whose main interest is the welfare of their pupils. Every student leaving our school carries this thought in his or her heart

“Though the world may treat me kindly
Though the world may make me sad,
The thought of Ballingarry,
Will always make me glad”.

Among our very distinguished visitors to the Convent down the years was Mr. Eamonn de Valera, later Uachtarin na hEireann, who entertained us with a thrilling account of his daring escape from Lincoln Prison.
In July 1989 we were privileged to welcome Cardinal Tomas 0 Fiach, Primate of All Ireland. He had been invited to unveil a beautiful granite monument in The Commons, commemorating the leaders of the Young Ireland Rebellion, which had taken place in Ballingarry in 1848. The Cardinal, Archbishop Clifford and other dignatories were entertained to lunch in the Convent. The Cardinal, a most-genial and kindly man, sang for us his favourite song The County of Armagh, and was photographed with us.

The news of his sudden and unexpected death, less than a year later greatly shocked and deeply saddened us. August 1994 we were yery shocked and grieved to learn of the sudden death of Doctor Diarmaid 0 Sulleabhain, Bishop of Kerry, who was a good friend of ours for many years.

“I bParrthas na nGráds go raibh se”.

It is almost twenty years since I left the classroom, but by no means have I lost contact, and I am always willing and happy to give a grind in Irish to students preparing for oral examinations, and I am particularly pleased to meet members of the teaching staff. Retirement has given me time to indulge in my favourite hobby which is gardening. I spend many happy hours close to nature, tending and cultivating tender young plants, as I oAce enjoyed cultivating the enquiring young minds of my pupils in the classroom.

Sr. M. Xavier
60 years in Presentation Convent, Ballingarry.