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My father-in-law was born in the townland of Altnagapple on the 3rd of
May, 1919,

and at 81, is still in sound mind and body to tell of "school days" of long
ago.

A far cry from times of "school days" in the 21st Century.

In the time the first world war had ended, and the first Dail Eireann had
been set up. Times were certainly hard as Tommy was the youngest
child of seven children. His father had passed away when he was only 3
months old, and his oldest brother Francie took over the father role , as
his mother struggled to bring up the children on her own.

In 1923/24, Tommy started school in the old Meetinadea school . The
master at the time was wee Paddy McGill and the teacher was Bridie
Cassidy.

In the winter, you were lucky because you got to wear your shoes, as
in the summer you went barefoot. You would also take it in turns to bring
turf for the fire to heat the school, and if you got wet while walking to
school, you sat in the same wet clothes all day.

I asked Tommy, "What would you get up to on the way home from
school with his brothers and sisters", he said , "you got home as fast as
you could, cause you were starving, and had your chores to do, looking
after the animals and your homework."

The only car in the area was the masters, which seems really strange when
I tell my children, who incidently go to the new Meetinadea school.

The families in the townland of Altnagapple were bigger than today, a sign
of the times. As most of the houses are new and the old ones disgarded
and left in the background.

How far we have come since the 1920's. My children find it hard to
believe their grandad's story.

They are truly the Dot. Com. children of today.

JANET KENNY.