Le Donncha Ó Laoire,
Priomh Oide, Scoil Mhuire, 1999


D'osclaíodh dóirse na Ceárd Scoile do dhaltaí lán-aimsire lae don chéad uair i Meán Fomhair 1939. Bhíodh ranganna ag an gCoiste Ghairm-Oideachais roimhe sin sa halla agus bhíodh Gaeilge, Adhmadóireacht agus Tuath-Eolaíocht ar siúl de ló is d'oíche, ach ní ranganna lán-aimsire a bhíodh iontu, go bhfios dom.Bhí cúrsaí Samhraidh sa Ghaeilge á reachtáil ag an gCoiste, do mhúinteoirí i nGuagán Barra agus do pháistí i mBéal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh.
Bhí éileamh go dtógfaí Ceárd Scoil i mBéal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh á dhéanamh  i rith na dtriochaidí.Chun tosaigh sna hiarrachtaí sin bhí Séamus Ó Séaghdha, a bhí ina Phríomh Oide ar Cheárd Scoil Mhágh Chromtha ag an am, ach bhí a chroí fós aige ina áit dhúchais. I measc a chuid pháipéirí, tá a lán litreacha ó pholaiteoirí éagsúla i 1935 ag freagairt litreacha  a bhí scríte aige ag iarraidh orthu cás na scoile i mBéal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh a chur chun tosaigh. Tá litir ón Aire Tailte, R. Keyes T.D., agus ó pholaiteoirí áitiúla de gach páirtí: Dónal (Danny Arthur) Ó Laoire T.D., Baile Mhúirne, Dan Corkery, T.D. Mágh Chromtha agus T.J. Murphy T.D. Dún Maonmhuí. Tá an píosa seo tógtha as miontuairiscí an Choiste Gairmoideachais  19 Feabhra 1935.   
"Letter from Munster College of Irish stating they are satisfied to give to the Committee a site for a Technical School, on the College Grounds, Ballingeary, free of rent and in fee simple.
They hope the work will go ahead without further delay and they will give every help possible to obtain funds from the Department of Education for same.
Deputation
A Deputation consisting of B. Searthain, S. Ó Criodhain, T. Ó Tuama, representing the people of Ballingeary, and Liam de Róiste, T. Ó Tuama, representing the Coláiste na Mhumhan, appeared before the Committee in support of the erection of a Vocational School at Ballingeary.

It was decided that the Minister for Education be asked to receive a deputation consisting of the deputation present, together with Very Rev.Canon O'Leary, representing the County Committee, and S. Ó Seaghdha, Head Master."

An Suíomh
Mar a thárla, ní ó Choláiste na Mumhan a fuarathas an suíomh, ach ceannuíodh é ó mhuintir Scríbhín.
Bhí toradh fónta ar na hiarrachtaí, mar léadh litir ón Roinn Oideachais ag cruinniú an Choiste 16 Meitheamh 1936, ag ceadú dóibh dul ar aghaidh le pleanáil na scoile maraon le deontas de £800 in aghaidh na bliana.
Ceannuíodh an suíomh ansan agus sna miontuairiscí 28.7.36 tá sé seo:
"Approving of the proposal of the Committee to purchase from Mr. James Scriven, Dromanally, Ballingeary, in fee simple, for the sum of £225, the plot of ground comprising about 2 acres, the location and dimensions of which are shown on the site map submitted, for the purpose of erecting a Technical School thereon."







Tenders
I Meitheamh 1937 ó na miontuairiscí arís:
The Committee proceeded to consider Tenders for the Erection and completion of a Technical School at Ballingeary.

The following Tenders were received :-

Mr. Dónal Ó Laoghaire, Ballingeary, Co. Cork   £5474  15  4
Messrs. O'Shea Ltd., 41 South Mall, Cork    £5513   9   4
Mr. Wm. Lynch, 10 Merchant's Quay, Cork    £5358   7   2
Messrs. P. McCarthy & Sons, Gullane, Rathmore, Co. Kerry £7044  16  0
Messrs. Kelly Brothers, Barrack Street, Bantry   £4735  19  6

To the last mentioned Tender a letter was attached in which the following statement was set out:-
"We have priced this work on present rates and condition of wages in the locality and we assume allowance will be made by your Committee should any unforseen increase occur."
It was agreed unanimously to accept the Tender of Messrs. Kelly Brothers at
£4,735  19s. 6d. on the condition that the foregoing statement in their letter will be withdrawn, the acceptance of the Tender being subject to the approval of the Department.

Cead na Roinne Oideachais
Thug an Roinn Oideachais cead dul ar aghaidh leis an tógáil agus mínítear an tairgeadú sa phíosa seo ó 29 Iúl 1937:- 
Approving, subject to compliance with the Vocational Education (Contracts) Regulations, 1931, of the erection by the Committee of a Technical School at Ballingeary in accordance with the plans and specifications as finally approved.
They add that the Minister for Education is of opinion that the cost of the erection and equipping of this school should, by reason of the permanent character of the undertaking, be spread over a terms of years. The plans and specification having now been finally approved by the Department as required by Section (4) of the Vocational Education (Borrowing) Regulations, 1937, the Minister consents to the defrayal of the expenditure on the erection and equipping of the school being spread over a period of fifteen years. The Minister is however of opinion that, on the basis of the amount of the tender accepted by the Committee, such expenditure should not exceed £6,000, and he accordingly consents to the Committee raising a loan of this amount from the Munster and Leinster Bank Ltd., Cork, under Section 50 of the Vocational Education Act, 1930, on the terms set out in the Committee's application on form V. 21, to be utilised towards the defrayal of the expenditure involved.   
Príomh Oide
I miontuairiscí an Choiste i 1938 tá roinnt tráchta ar cheapadh an Phríomh Oide. Moladh go mbeadh S. Ó Séaghdha ceaptha mar Phríomh Oide i mBéal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh chomh maith le
Mágh Chromtha. Níor glacadh leis an moladh seo cé gur pléadh go minic é agus ar 21.6.38 ceapadh Mícheál Ó Drisceoil ina Phríómh Oide.
Ar 28.7.38 tá an giota seo:
Obair bhreise
The following Report was read from Mr. R. Conboy, Architect, re Ballingeary School and Kanturk Site Works:-   "Upon a recent visit to Ballingeary I came to the conclusion that it will be necessary to insert a second flight of steps in the pathway leading to the Front Entrance door. The approach is very steep and another series of steps will do much to reduce the severe gradient."



Ar 20.9.38 tá litir ón Roinn ag ceadú na hoibre thuas chomh maith leis an giota seo:

"Approving of the proposal to instal Calor Gas Lighting in Ballingeary  Technical School in accordance with the plan submitted and of the expenditure involved.
Ar 29.11.38 ceaduíodh meastúcháin de £279 don chóras teasa a chur isteach sa scoil.

Oscailt na Scoile
I Meán Fomhair 1939 bhí gach rud ullamh agus in oirúint do oscailt na scoile, díreach ag an am céanna agus a bhí an dara cogadh domhanda ag briseadh amach in Iarthar na hEorpa.
Múinteoirí
Mícheál Ó Drisceoil, Príomh Oide,  Adhmadóireacht,  Líníocht
Liam Ó Briain,     Tuatheolaíocht, Matamaitic
Éamonn Ó hArgáin     Gaeilge
Maighréad Ní Chochláin   Tíos
Tomás Ó Múrchú    Miotalóireacht
Bhí cuid de na múinteoirí seo ag obair in ionaid eile agus bhí ranganna oíche acu chomh maith.
Bhí Seán Ó Loinsigh ceaptha mar fhreastalaí agus bhí baint níos faide aige leis an scoil ná éinne eile. Bhí sé ann go dtí 1977.
Daltaí
De réir na gcúntaisí a cuireadh go dtí an Roinn Oideachais ag an am, claruíodh 29 sa scoil i 1939.. Bhí 22 cailíní agus 7 buachaillí. Bhí 18 fé 16 agus 11 ós cionn 16.
Ag an am seo níl na leabhair rollaí le fáil agus mar sin ní féidir  bheith cruinn fé na daoine a bhí ann. Seo leanas an liosta atá curtha le chéile ó bheith ag caint le na hiar-daltaí sin.
 
     Cailíní   1939/40
Caitríona Ní Bhuachalla    Na Fuithirí
Maighréad  Ní Cheallacháin    Cathair
Seosaimhín Ní Chéilleachair    Goirtín Fliuch
Maighréad Ní Chonaill    Gort na Binne
Máire Ní Chremín     Leaca Bán
Cáit Ní Chríodáin     Oileán Aibhneach
Máire Ní Chríodáin     Drom an Ailthigh
Maighréad Ní Chroínín    Carraig an Lóiste
Máirín Ní Chroínín     Goirtín Fliuch
Nóirin Ní Chroínín     Bán a' Teampaill
Nóra Ní Chroínín     Cora Glas
Síle Ní Laoire      Cuar na hAthchoille
Mairéad Ní Loinsigh     Ladhar na Gaoithe   
Máire Ní Liatháin     Goirtín Fliuch
Gobnait Ní Luasa     An Choill Mhór
Julia Mai Ní Luasa     Carraig na Dobhaire
Cáit Ní Mhuimhneacháin    Céim an Fhia
Nóra Ní Mhuirithe     Gort an Éadain
Sinéad Seartan      Curraithe
Nóra Ní Sheitheacháin    Cathair