1st June 2012 Welcome Céad míle fáilte romhaibh go léir! Is ceiliúradh an speisialta í seo i dTeampall Doire agus tá súil agam go Celebrating 50 years mbainfidh sibh an taitneamh as an tráthnóna agus an turas siar bóthrín na smaointe. of A very warm welcome to you all, to our celebrations this evening to mark the Golden Jubilee of our school. This year we celebrate 50 years Templederry National School of education in this school in Templederry. Templederry translates from Teampall Doire, and means “the church of oak”. As the proverb says “From great oak trees, little acorns grow”. Certainly many, many great oaks have grown over the past 50 years , rooted in this parish and many 1962—2012 little acorns have passed through our school. Unfortunately over that time span, we have lost some good friends and our thoughts and prayers are with the families. On this occasion, I pay special tribute to Mr. Collins and Mrs. Kenny, our two previous Principals and compliment them on their outstanding leadership and vision. I acknowledge their great work and that of many dedicated teachers, pupils, parents, priests , management and everyone who has helped fashion the school to what it is today. I have been privileged to be part of exceptional staffs, past and present, teaching and non teaching and I take this opportunity to sincerely thank them for their co operation, dedication, interest and the great pride they take in our school. The priests of the parish have always been regular and helpful visitors to our classrooms. Presently Fr.Teehan plays an integral role in our school and is an inspiration to us all. In Templederry N.S. we aim to provide quality and balance in education and to develop the full potential of each individual. We endeavour to foster and maintain the tradition and love of hurling and sport that exists in this parish. However, it would not be possible to achieve our vision with- out support. We have always been fortunate to receive this from past and present Boards Of Man- agement, parents and the local community. I thank in particular, our local G.A.A. club, Tem- plederry Kenyons, for exceptional support and generosity always. We have enjoyed great success in school competitions and witnessed remarkable skill and talent develop. The school has had many representatives on Primary Game Teams in hurling, football and camogie and a number of past pupils have played on county teams at all grades, right up to senior level. We are always proud of our past pupils. School is all about children and the children we teach, reflect many fine qualities. They are enthu- siastic, motivated respectful and caring. They are bright, eager and talented and they are the future of Templederry. “Mol an Óige agus tiocfaidh sí”. Fortunately our school has been refurbished in recent years and we have a good range of facilities but education can never sit still and we will continue to strive to enhance the educational environment for our pupils. Footsteps On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee, we look back. We celebrate progress, success and achieve- ments. We are inspired to take courage and to face the future with hope and enthusiasm. Through As you meet with old friends, exchange stories, browse past school photographs, recall incidents, Time……. chat and joke – I hope your trip down memory lane is a lovely enjoyable experience! Gertie Russell. Principal 2 History of Templederry National School Message from the Bishop Templederry National School was built in 1962 as per the plaque below. However, it was not until the 5th May 1963, that the first students started in the school. Mr Nicky Callanan of the Ragg, was the contractor for the new school with staff, Jim McDonnell and Michael Stapleton. Many locals worked on the building. Among As part of my Confirmation programme of visitation through- them, Jim Butler, Peadar Kennedy, Paddy Gilmartin, Thomas Ryan, Jackie Kennedy and Martin Ryan. Others out our Diocese, I visited Templederry National School last were employed on a casual basis over the summer months of 1962. Some of the pupils who moved into the school recall the changes the move brought. Others do not recall the actual day of moving but things like the Friday and I received a warm and gracious welcome from machine arriving to sink the well on the site of the new school or the building work itself. One pupil now in the Mrs. Gertie Russell and the staff. I also had pleasant and prime of maturity recalls a ban on hurling in the new school!! All that new glass has to be protected until eve- friendly exchanges with the pupils. ryone settled down! The play shelter and concrete yard was a novelty and very welcome on wet days. Welling- tons were the usual footwear in the old school, handy to have when nipping down to the river for a little fishing at lunch time, the new school was different. Rubber soled shoes had to be worn to protect the lovely new tim- ber floors and red ceramic tiles of the hall. A drinking fountain was provided in the play shelter. A blessing to While in the school I learned that preparations were in place for celebrations marking the the thirsty but a loss to the lucky pupil who got away from lessons to go to the village pump on a warm day for Golden Jubilee of the school’s foundation on June 1st. I avail of this opportunity of an enamel bucket of fresh water. Another recollection is the provision of numbered hooks in the new cloak- thanking teachers, parents, clergy, pupils and members of successive boards of manage- rooms for coats and minding that hook for dear life. The new play areas were off limits for a while until the grass seed established and a lookout had to be kept for the Master or Fr Queally (later Canon) who would yell ment and all who have served the work of the school faithfully and generously over the “get off the grass” at anyone caught taking a short cut. The change from “dry” toilets to proper toilet and wash past 50 years. The commitment and dedication is remarkable. basins in the new school was welcomed by all. Below are Gleamings from the “Templederry notes” in the “Nenagh Guardian” that document some historical So on this very special occasion for Templederry National School, I wish you all good facts: wishes and God’s blessing. 1962 Feb 24th: “Clearing the site for the new school has commenced. Mr N. Callahan (sic.) is the contractor”. Kind regards, 1962 May 12th: “the building of the new schools is well underway. The walls are almost built and the boundary walls are just completed. The new school in Killeen will be finished shortly also”. Bishop Kieran O’Reilly, SMA. 1962 Oct 27th “It is expected that the work of completing the new school will be completed in a month”. th 1962 Dec 29 : “ During the past year the parish has the proud distinction of having two new schools built, one in Templederry and one in Killeen”. 1963 Nov 9th Jim Armshaw wrote an article entitled “Tipperary villages” and said of Templederry-“The vil- Priests: Templederry Parish since 1962 lage is small and compact. The church at the western end is a fine building. Nearby is a new modern national school, which replaces the old school in the centre of the village. It was blessed and opened during the year”. 1970 Feb 7th: “An extension will be made to the new school in Templederry in the near future to accommodate Parish Priests Curates an inflow of pupils from the outlying areas. Closure of some of the old schools in the area is anticipated”. Fr. Michael Queally R.I.P. Fr. Caimin O’Carroll 1971 Aug 7th: ” Rumours are persistent about the closure of the century and a half old school at Gortnagoona. Fr. John Greed R.I.P. Fr. Patrick Whelan R.I.P. The old building is rapidly deteriorating and it is feared a snowfall might endanger the structure over the com- Fr. John O Driscoll R.I.P. Fr. John Moroney R.I.P. ing winter. It is hoped alternative accommodation will be provided at Templederry before the school term Fr. J.J. Rodgers Fr. James McInerney R.I.P. begins in September”. Fr. Willie Teehan Fr. Tom Comerford R.I.P. 1972 Sept 30th: “Preparations underway for building of an extension Fr. Noel Kennedy at Templederry N.S. to replace temporary prefab structure. The ex- Fr. David Carroll tension will conform to the latest in modern design and equipment”. Fr. Michael O’Meara 1973 July 21st: “Work has commenced on the building of an exten- Fr. Leo Long sion to the new school, it will have a spacious playground to the rear”. “Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere” 1974 May 11th: “Good progress being made on building of new school, completion expected in a few months” 3 4 Clohinch Schools In the girls’ section of Clohinch Boys School Sarah Stanley was the first teacher. The Stanley’s Education Act of 1831 introduced a state system of primary education in Ire- principal of the girls’ part of Clohinch Boys School for a long number of years was Ellen land. These national schools replaced a wide array of hedge schools which taught read- O’Sullivan (aunt of Padraig O’Flanagan). In all she spent 47 years teaching in Tem- ing, writing and arithmetic. There were a number of these schools in the parish of Tem- plederry.