Old Schools

transcribed at

Old Schools  [duchas:5030109]

The following are the names of the places where the Hedge Schools were situated about 120 years ago in this district. There was one in Ballybrack which was in some house there and the man that taught in it was Patrick Byrne. There was another in Kyle which was indoors and the man that taught in it was Patrick Myers. There was another in Ballymurphy which was indoors and the man that taught in it was Matthew McCabe, it was said that he was the first Teacher who taught in Ballymurphy School which was built in 1830. There was another in Knock and Elizabeth Farrell taught there. There was another in Knockroe and Mary Wilson taught there. The subjects that were taught in those schools were Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. The name of the English reader was "Reading Made Easy" and the name of the Arithmetic was the "Goffs" and they had another book which was called the "Vosters spelling book. They wrote with quill pens. They had no desks they used to leave the paper or slate on their knees and sit down on the floor and write. Each pupil had each to bring a sod of turf to make a fire and they also had to bring a penny each to their Teacher every week for what they were learning.