School: Glenahulla, Mitchelstown (roll number 12446)

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1. A Local Incident - An Old Hedge-Schoolmaster (continued)

   

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   On his arrival, before he spoke one word to explain the object of his visit, "Biddy" greeted him saying. Welcome John Courtney from Glanworth a preliminary greeting. She told him what he came for, and she likewise told him what he would have to undergo or suffer in order to avert the pending trouble and with the knowledge of all this he willingly agreed to make the sacrifice.
   He had a very large attendance for some years but there was a gradual falling off in numbers and in the year 1884 I can certainly say that the total number of pupils was something about a dozen. The chief subjects which were taught at the time were arithmetic and algebra. His methods were very simple and the problem which he failed to solve should be a very hard one.
   An old Parish Priest in the parish of Ballindangan who held very strong prejudices against the Hedge Schoolmasters Revd. Timothy Murphy, or he was commonly known as Father Danger made an exception in his favour and more than once openly expressed his appreciation of Master John Courtney's ability as a teacher and praise from such a source was praise indeed. In his quest for knowledge he endured much hardship and fatigue in travelling from one centre to another Master Courtney

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Máiréad Bean Uí Réagáin

   Gender

   Female

   Occupation

   Múinteoir