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- History Of Crab Lane N.S.
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Although
our school first opened its doors in 1904, the school
records date back to 1885 to a time when the children of the area were taught
in a two -roomed school-house, off the entrance to Maryville Estate, in Ballintemple
Village. A trip through the old Roll Books
tells a fascinating story.The Register lists the names, addresses, ages
and of the enrolled children and also parents occupation.
At the beginning of the century many parents were listed as porters, sailors,
gardeners and labourers and in 1906 a coachman is recorded. Transport changes
from the horse became evident as the children of tram, engine drivers and conductors
were enrolled. In 1909 the occupation of one parent was given as car-owner!
Another was a telegraph-operator. Such was the march of technology!
The second decade
of the century sees a notable increase in the number of soldiers recorded
as a result of World War I. Gardeners and labourers remain much in evidence
still. The period beginning 1921 has the first enrolment of children
of those working in the then recently established Ford plant The addresses
of these children was given as Beaumont. Older residents of Blackrock
will remember the 'cottages' erected at the end of Beaumont Avenue by
Fords to house their advance party of technicians. change in administration
becomes evident in the first entries in Irish in 1928. One parent was
described then as "Saighdúir Gallda" (British Soldier).
By 1931 all names are in Irish.
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In the 1940's there
are still large numbers of labourers and gardeners recorded but the
post-World War Two period brought rapid change with the children of
workers in Dunlops, E.S.B., Shell, etc in evidence. Lastly,
there is an interesting contrast in the christian names of children
in 1916 and 1991. The girls of 1916 Bessie, Lily and Daisy,
gave way to Aoife, Ashling, Laura, Linda, Danielle and Holly in 2001!
Cookery
Class of 1929
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Below is an acount of what school-life
in Crab Lane was like in the 1930's. It was sent to us by Dan Mellamphy, who
now lives on Waiheke Island, off the coast of New Zealand. Dan returned to his
alma mater last year and presented the school with a beautiful carving which
he produced from materials found in his adopted homeland.
My
first day at Ballintemple National School (circa 1936).
Sitting under a Pohutukawa tree on a subtropical island in the South Pacific
......... the sea turquoise , the sky dresden-blue and the surf pounding lazily
on a stretch of silver sand, and here I am - sixty years on and still remembering
my first day at Ballintemple School.
I belonged to the tail-end
of the Mellamphy family attending that institution of learning down Crab Lane
It wasn't my idea to be there but I think some trick was played upon me whereby
I found myself torn from the company of the two youngest, George and Philomena,
and Iknew my baby-hood was over that day. I can recall. having a dummy-run a
few days prior to the real thing but I was too innocent of any ruse to separate
me from my siblings or from my Mother's apron-strings.
Like a bleating lamb,
I found myself inside the classroom and no attempt to escape was of any use.
I was captured! So I remember giving vent to my lungs and the floodgates were
wide open. What heart-break and how could they do this to me and wasn't I the
one they all called "a little dote".
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Now
whilst all of this was in progress, a lovely old lady teacher came forward.
Miss Sarah O'Leary - and I will never, EVER forget her. She knew what
to do with little boys hollering the roof off. She got her hand~bag and
digging down into the depths of it; produced an acid-drop and promptly
popped it into my gaping mouth . We would love her memory for ever but
from that day till this I have never forgotten Miss Sarah O'Leary and
the acid-drop (covered with hairs) that stopped me in my tracks all those
years ago... and No, I don't like acid-drops, thank you very much!!!
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Dan Mellamphy, WAIHEKE
ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND.
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The
Ballintemple Tramline
The
tramline from the city centre to Ballintemple was opened in 1900. It left
Patrick Street and travelled over Parnell Bridge, which was a swivel bridge
in those days and it continued along the Blackrock Road as far as Ballintemple
Village and then on to Blackrock Village. The number of the tram was the
No. 7. The tram line was closed in 1922.
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The Cork to Passage Railway
Line
The line opened for service in 1850. The train journey began
at City Park Station in Albert road. The train came down the Marina, through
Blackrock, across the Douglas Viaduct to Rochestown and then onto Passage.The
first class fare was 6d (six old pence) and the second class fare was 4d.
The railway line also played its part in the Civil War, when in 1922, the Republican
forces blew up the Douglas Viaduct (the black bridge) to prevent the Free State
Army from marching on Cork City. The bridge was repaired in 1923 but competion
from buses closed the line in 1932. Today a section of the line from the Marina
to Rochestown has been converted into an amenity walk.
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