Eyre’s Church, Eyrecourt by Donal Burke Newsletter No 10 Summer 2012 Events - Summer 2012 "The Irish American Link: People, Places, and Culture" Tiernascragh Heritage Project “The Irish American Link: People, Places, and Culture" confer- ‘Derrybrien to Tiernascragh’ Centenary Commemmo- ence will take place in the Ard Ri House Hotel, Tuam, Co. Gal- way, Ireland from the 12th to 16th July, 2012. ration - Hosted by the Old Tuam Society in partnership with Drew University (Madison, New Jersey, USA); Galway County Coun- Saturday 9th June cil; The Centre for Irish Studies, National University of Ireland In 1911/1912 eight families were relocated from the parish of Galway and Galway County Heritage Forum. Derrybrien in South Galway to the parish of Tiernascragh in The conference will explore historic connections between East Galway. The eight families were Kelly (3), Daly/Quinn, the West of Ireland and North America. It will focus on historical Fahy, Flynn, Madden, and Treacy. Their arrival had a profound figures, emigration, genealogy, history and culture. As well as effect on their new parish in terms of its impact on school, history and important historical figures, the conference will have a church, commercial and social life. strong emphasis on the cultural links between the West of Ireland They were relocated by the Land Commission to what and North America. was part of the Kenny estate, in the townland of Longford in The conference will involve 28 lectures over 3 days and 2 Tiernascragh parish. They were allocated a new Land Commis- day tours, which will explore the hidden heritage of East and West sion house on a farm of land. Though now a journey of less than County Galway. one hour by car, it was then a very long and hard journey for Speakers include: Professor Christine Kinealy (Department each family. Roads were in poor condition and the journey was of History, Drew University, NJ, USA); Professor Terry Golway undertaken on foot because they had to walk their few animals (Department of History, Kean University, NJ, USA); Professor to their new homes. The journey is reputed to have taken 2 days Gearoid O Tuathaigh (Moore Institute, National University of to complete with an overnight stop somewhere near Abbey. Ireland, Galway); Professor Ray Gillespie (Department of History, To mark this event, Tiernascragh Heritage Project are National University of Ireland, Maynooth); Alan Delozier M.A. having a special mass in Tiernascragh church at 5pm on Satur- (Director of Archives and Special Collections Center - Seton Hall day 9th June 2012, followed by the unveiling of a commemora- University, NJ, USA); Dr. Gerard Moran (Department of History, tive stone by the Mayor of County Galway (Cllr. Michael National University of Ireland, Maynooth); Professor Bronwen Maher). This will be followed a social gathering in the nearby Walter (Emeritus Professor of Irish Diaspora Studies, Anglia community centre where a short historical address by Dr Brian Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK); Dr. Nessa Cronin, (Lecturer, Casey entitled; Migration, Resettlement and Commemora- Centre for Irish Studies, National University of Ireland, Galway) tion in the Parish of Tieranascragh will take place, followed plus many more distinguished lecturers. For a full speaker and by refreshments and music. A large attendance is expected for conference agenda visit www.irishamericanlink.com this very special event. Further details are available from Patrick Madden, Chair- New Members: If you know someone that might like to become a member of SEGAHS, or is visiting the area and may wish to at- man, Tiernascragh Heritage Project at 087 6505561. tend our events, please invite them along. Membership Fee: The annual society membership fee is €20. This can be paid to the society treasurer Michael Ward or assistant Heritage Week 18th – 26th August treasurer Philip Treacy. The SEGAHS committee are planning to host an event during Articles: If you have a short article, note, or query of heritage Heritage Week 2012 which takes place from the 18th to the 26th interest that you would like to share with members of the society, we will be happy to publish it here in our newsletter. If you wish August. Once the event details are agreed notice will be circu- to have your article included you can do so by emailing it to the lated to members and also placed in the local newspapers . editor [email protected] TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN PORTUMNA … THE EARLY YEARS Paul Duffy BE - FIEI Following the introduction of a scheme of technical instruction in England in 1891 the Duke of Abercorn circularized Dublin Corporation, the County Grand Juries, Town Commissioners, and Boards of Guardians of the Poor Law Un- ions urging them to make their views known to the British Parliament on the importance of introducing such a scheme for Ireland. He noted that Irish farmers were facing keen competition from Denmark and America, and pointed out that unless the quality of Irish agricultural produce did not improve in line with the expected improve- ment in England then Irish farmers would loose their only market. He urged the Irish Local Authorities to press for a scheme of technical instruction for Ireland. The County Galway Grand Jury responded to the circular letter at the first available opportunity. At the Spring Assizes of 1892 they passed a resolution calling on the British Government to introduce a scheme for Ireland which would promote not only an improvement of the dairy industry but, also, the de- velopment of Irish industry generally.1 The Galway Grand Jury were still seeking the introduction of an Irish scheme at the Spring Assizes of 1899 on the eve of their final dissolution and replacement by the new local authority system.2 That same year the Agriculture and Technical Instruction (Ireland) Act passed into law. In 1901 the County Council for the County of Galway set up a Technical Instruction Committee to implement the provisions of the act in the county. Given the very limited financial resources available to the committee it is hardly surprising that their first re- port stressed the importance of harnessing all available existing facilities to maximize the provision of technical edu- cation in the county. The existence of a convent school in an area meant that it could be used as a centre where classes for girls could be held. The case of Mountbellew was cited. Great difficulty was encountered in implementing the 1899 Act due to the absence of just such a school in the area.3 Some convents had begun to provide the basics of technical education for girls in the years prior to the introduction of the relevant legislation. The Convent of Mercy, Gort, introduced dressmaking classes in 1864 and by 1890 had developed classes in hand and machine knitting, weaving and lace making, and, also, the domestic production of shirts and children’s clothes.4 The Convent of Mercy, Portumna, a daughter house of Loughrea, was founded in 1882 and opened a residen- tial Domestic Science School for girls in 1898. The founding manager was Sr. Mary Joseph Pelly. The convent may have run the school for some years prior to this as the third report of the County Committee mentions that the school was funded by the Board of Guardians (Portumna Union) and had been in operation for many years.5 Under the 1891 Act Boards of Guardians were empowered to make grants available for agricultural education and training. The school was established to give “instruction in the science and practice of Cookery, Laundry Work, Dairy Manage- ment, Poultry Management, General Housework, Domestic Economy, and Needlework. It had three principal objec- tives:- 1) The training of farmers` daughters and other girls in improved modes of dairying and general household management. 2) The training of domestic servants. 3) The special instruction of girls about to become technical instruction teachers. The admission requirements for prospective students were as follows:- - Pupils had to be sixteen years of age or older. - Applications for admission had to be signed by a “responsible person” who was well acquainted with the prospective pupil. - Pupils had to be able to read, write “with a fair hand”, spell with tolerable correctness, and have a knowledge of the basic rules of Arithmetic. - As pupils had to take part in all the work of the school and household they were required to supply ser- viceable dresses and aprons of plain washing material. In addition they were required to bring one good outdoor dress, hat and jacket, a pair of towels, house shoes, hair brush and comb, tooth brush, and clothes brush. Whilst people might smile at the clothing requirements it should be remembered that it was always expensive to kit out children for boarding school. - Pupils from outside the Portumna Rural Union area had to be selected by either their Local Authority (Union) or Committee and submitted to the County Committee for Technical Instruction for final ap- proval. - At the end of term (one year’s training) an examination was held under the auspices of The Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland. Prizes were awarded for best exam results, neat- ness, and best notebook. A second terms training could be supplied if required. - Non resident pupils were admitted at a fee of ten shillings (€0.58) per quarter. - Pupils had to show an aptitude for the work of the school and if they failed to do so within two months they were to be sent home. - On completion of training pupils, who earned it, would receive a certificate of merit relating to their conduct and exam results. The timetable makes it abundantly clear that there was little time for distractions. The day began with a 6.00am rise, with a half an hour for dressing and prayers.