Comhnasc Spring / April 2013 - Retired Teachers` Association of

Transcription

COMHNASC
T h e Q u a r t e r l y J o u r n a l o f t h e R TA I
RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION
OF IRELAND
Issue No. 8 – April 2013
National Executive
Committee 2013/14
The newly elected National Executive of RTAI.
Back Row L to R: Mary Kyne, Matt Reville, Sheelagh Coyle,
Mick Finn, Tom Burke, Luke McGinley, Joe Cashin.
Front Row L to R: Denis Desmond (General Secretary),
Máire Clarke (Vice-President), Joe Conway (President),
Éamonn Jennings (Ex-President), Ita Sweeney.
Health Corner
Story and Humour
Sudoku and Crosswords
Financial and Legal Matters
and much more
COMHNASC -
The Quarterly Journal of the RTAI - Page 1
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Editorial Comment
Comhnasc General Editor:
Denis Desmond
Since the last issue of Comhnasc in January, members
will be aware of proposed “cuts” to teachers’ salaries and
teachers’ pensions. While the salary reductions are
known there has not been definitive news on how the
proposed reduction to pensions will be applied. We have
received as much information as possible from the
Department of Public Service and Reform – who do not
General Secretary, R.T.A.I.,
have the details fully worked out yet. Extrapolating from
Denis Desmond
the information we have, and pursuant to a possible
proposal to implement the new reductions on an extension of the PSPR deductions of
2011, we have put together the possible method and amount involved. These are on
our website under News – Latest News. A brief resume is as follows. Pensions under
€32,500 (Gross) will be untouched. Over that amount – the first €32,500 will be
disregarded; the balance (up to €40,000) will be assessed at 2.75% of the amount in
excess of €32,500 and 4% of the excess over €40,000.
Remember that this is an educated assessment of what may be proposed and we still
await definite information. Remember also that we are still looking for an increase in
the proposed €32,500 but we all await the outcome of the ICTU Unions ballot before
any progress is possible.
Our Annual Convention was held in the Teachers’ Club on Tuesday 12th March and
it was attended by 126 delegates from our branches around the country. It was the first
Convention under the new rules which the Association adopted in March 2012 and
was very successful. Much work went into the organisation of the day and we were
very pleased with the smooth operation of procedures.
Among the motions adopted were 2 motions supporting the INTO in whatever action
it proposes to take as a result of its own ballot on the Croke Park Extension Proposals.
Our Convention urged members to support INTO at local level in any protest they
may organise. We will be fully supportive also at national level and will be assisting
any fighting fund they may put in place to this end. Is treise muid le chéile.
Later in this issue (p.7) I have an item on “Think Ahead”. This is a procedure that
came from a National Forum on End of Life organised by the Irish Hospice Foundation.
The INTO and ourselves met with their representatives and we were very impressed.
We get too many calls in the office here from members or families of members who
have end of life issues – people who have not expressed their wishes around this area
when they were in full health. It is a sombre thought but one with which we deal on
a regular basis and it is both practical and professional to discuss these issues when
one in healthy and able to do so. Making a will and documenting our wishes as well
as the location of important legal and financial documents will save our loved ones
much anxiety later. Please read the article and contact Think Ahead if you wish.
Copy Date for July Issue is: Friday 14th June, 2013
Please note our new address for your submissions. It is [email protected] We welcome your stories, poems, photographs,
articles, book-reviews, humour and pictures. Best if they come by email, but we will try to manage submissions in other
formats. It is helpful to know also if they have been published elsewhere, as there may be copyright issues.
In our Next Issue. . . .
All the usual favourites such as Financial & Legal, Health Issues, Crossword, Sudoku and Annual
Convention Report PLUS many other articles
. . . all in the next COMHNASC, in the post directly to you come Summer time.
COMHNASC -
Editor:
Joe Conway
Advertising:
Joe Conway
Design & Printing:
Mullen Print
Correspondence to:
The Editor,
Comhnasc,
R.T.A.I.,
Vere Foster House,
35 Parnell Square,
Dublin 1.
Telephone:
01-2454130
Fax:
01-8749117
Email:
Office
Comhnasc
[email protected]
[email protected]
Website:
www.rtaireland.ie
Office Hours:
9.00am - 4.30pm
Monday - Friday
Comhnasc is published by the
Retired Teachers’ Association of
Ireland and distributed to members
and interested parties. Comhnasc is
the most widely circulated magazine
for Retired Teachers in Ireland.
The views expressed in this journal
are those of the individual authors
and are not necessarily endorsed by
the R.T.A.I. While every care has
been taken to ensure that the
information contained in this
publication is up to date and correct,
no responsibility will be taken by the
R.T.A.I. for any error which might
occur.
Except where the Retired Teachers’
Association of Ireland has formally
negotiated agreements as part of its
services to members, inclusion of an
advertisement does not imply any
form of recommendation. While
every effort is made to ensure the
reliability of advertisers, the R.T.A.I.
cannot accept liability for the quality
of goods and services offered.
Office News
VHI - We get many queries on the 10% reduction
for our Group Scheme – Does it still exist? Yes – it
still exists for what I’ll call the “old” schemes.
These were the old Plans A,B,C,D,E. Anybody on
one of those schemes (they have new fancy names
now) is benefitting from 10% reduction provided
the deduction is taken from their pension or it may
be through some other group scheme. The 10% is
applied at source so the premium being deducted
already has the reduction accounted for. Many
new plans have been rolled out in recent years –
“The One Plan”, “The Family Plan”, “The Teachers’
Plan” etc. These new plans do not carry the 10%
discount as they have been pared back already.
Members should ensure that they have the cover
they require from whatever provider they are
using. Many new plans from all providers have
restrictions on illnesses they cover and limits on
the cover they provide. “Caveat Emptor”.
SUBSTITUTE OVERPAYMENT 2011.- Members who
did substitute work during 2011 will be aware of
overpayment and the Department recouping this
money by fortnightly deductions. You should be
aware that the recouping is of the full gross
amount i.e. inclusive of PAYE, PRSI etc. When the
repayment is complete members should then
reclaim the relevant PAYE, PRSI on that portion
from their local Revenue office. Please be aware
that PAYE rebates only go back 4 years so it is in
your best interest to ensure repayment is complete
within this 4 year period.
“SIGNING ON”- Up to recently retired teachers
who retired before age 65 had to maintain a social
Welfare Record by signing on at the local office
until age 65. This was known as PREC 1. That
system changed recently and there is no longer
any need to sign on in this way. We signed on to
maintain eligibility for Widows / Widowers /
Surviving Civil Partners pension. There is a small
difference between the pension a widow/er
receives depending on the number of years PRSI
contributions were paid i.e. when teaching. The
difference is €4.50 per week gross at most. In
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The Quarterly Journal of the RTAI
order to close this €4.50 gap if desired you would
have to attend at the Social Welfare Office monthly
and complete a “Jobseeker’s” form and in effect
be job seeking. Is it worth the hassle for maybe
€2.50 net out of €230 per week?
FAIR DEAL SCHEME- It has come to our attention
recently that while the 5% p.a. payment on the
value of the family house is capped at 3 years
maximum no such limit applies to the value of any
land. Members researching the Fair Deal Scheme
should ensure they are in possession of full facts
on all these matters. There are “Help Lines” in all
areas for this scheme. These phone numbers and
further information are available on the Fair Deal
Scheme website, form your local HSE office or from
the Citizens Information Board.
New NEC. - Some members of the National
Executive Committee stepped down at Annual
Convention this year. The Association is greatly
indebted to these dedicated members. Their
wisdom and experience was invaluable over the
years and so we record our appreciation. To the
new members who replaced them we say “Céad
Míle Fáilte”. We look forward to working together
over the coming year. Nár laga Dia bhfúr lámha.
Email contact details. Please note that the email
address for office matters is: [email protected]
/ email for Comhnasc is: [email protected]
Gathering in the Sheaves
Paddy Murray (Mayo Branch)
In the 1948 “New Ireland Reader” for
fifth class there is a lesson entitled “In
the Cornfield”. It is preceded by a full
page picture in red, white and blue by
Eibhlín Ní Chochlain and in it are
depicted a boy and girl of about twelve
years of age, happily stooking wheat
while Daddy waves to them from a
reaper and binder.
The girl wears a light short-sleeved
summer dress while the boy is wearing a
short trousers and a short-sleeved shirt.
Both are wearing sandals and seem to be
enjoying what they are doing. Miss
Coughlan was evidently never in a
machine. The binder was a three horse powered
cornfield, otherwise she would have dressed the
affair-Tom horse, Paddy horse, and Bessie the mare
children in more appropriate garb conducive to the
and believe me they certainly earned their keep
stooking of wheat.
after a day’s harvesting. Two smaller detachable
The reaper and binder or “The binder”, as it was
wheels called “Road wheels” were used for
always referred to, was easily the noisiest piece of
transporting the binder on the road and the
machinery on the farm. All year it was housed in its
hauling beam was changed from the front of the
own special shed because of its size, and leaving it
binder to a position near the “Little wheel” which
out under the elements would cause such an
supported the canvass platform. The cutting blade
expensive piece of machinery to decay and rust. It
was sectioned and it ran into place along the finger
was pulled out shortly after the hay drawing and
bar where it was coupled up with the “Speed Rod”.
every part was meticulously oiled with a longA binder usually had a six-foot cutting potential.
piped, pump-action oilcan. When the oiling and
The sheaf tier was a miracle of engineering in its
greasing was done the machine was slowly turned
own rite. Known as the “Knotter” - it tied the
over by winding a handle for that purpose. It was
sheaves to the correct consistency before they were
like swing-starting a reluctant motor car, only three
tossed out off the packing table by “The Forks”
times more difficult because of the myriad moving
which rotated with a whipping movement and
parts.
landed the sheaf just the correct distance from the
The binder was built in three sections - the platform
edge of the next stroke. One thing I remember
on which the lower canvass rotated, the upper
about the knotter was that the twine tension had
canvass that conveyed the corn up and on to the
to be spot on. Too tight and it broke, too slack and
third section, the table - where the sheaf was
the sheaves would open and scatter all over the
formed. The latter two parts were sloped like the
field. In the same way that only Herself could
roof of a house and underneath them were housed
thread the sewing machine, only Himself knew how
the innards of the machine - an assortment of
to thread the binder.
chains, gear wheels, sprockets, connecting rods,
Binder twine was made from jute and had a
chain adjusters, worm gear assemblies, cams and
distinctive oily smell. It came in a dark creampulleys - all of which worked in synchronization to
coloured roll about nine inches long and had a
produce a sheaf of corn tied and uniform in size.
diameter of about five or six inches. It fitted snugly
The “Big Wheel” was housed in here as well and
in the cylindrical shaped twine holder mounted on
when lowered, its function was to power the whole
COMHNASC -
the rear of the machine. An exit hole in the lid
allowed the twine to be pulled through and then it
was threaded through a seemingly endless series
of eyelets and twine guides until it eventually
exited again into the knotter which was mounted
on the sheaf packing table.
There were several different makes of binder
including McCormick, Massey Harris, Albion, Pierce
and a make called a Claas. The McCormick model
was the most popular one as it traveled well over
rough ground.
A large array of levers kept the binder level as well
as making sure the reels were at the correct height
and the proper angle to keep the canvass table full
of corn. As a small boy, I often remember
thinking…Is there not an easier and quieter way to
make a sheaf of corn!
The Lord once observed in the New Testament “The
harvest is great but the laborers are few”. He
obviously had a cornfield in mind for his metaphor.
The poet Tennyson wrote, “Behold her reaping in
the field, yon Solitary lass” Perhaps she couldn’t
find anyone to stook the corn for her! So clearly
the cornfield was not a very popular place to be at
harvest time for “The laborers” more often than not
were there press ganged against their will and the
“Solitary lass” was in the cornfield all by herself
without any volunteers from nearby
Camelot. The laborers were the
ones at the corn face who made the
corn into stooks. Each stook usually
comprised of six sheaves placed at
an angle of about sixty degrees to
the ground and they were placed in
a leaning position against each
other for stability. Wheat stooks
were the easiest to make as the
stalks and heads were strong and
firm whereas oats was limp and
slippery while barley was a curse as
it velcroed itself to every part of
your person and it also had the
maddening ability of working its way inside your
clothing.
The cutting day usually began after coming home
from the creamery. The horses were yoked up to the
binder and the stookers assembled and given
instructions as to how the stooks should be made.
Page 6 - COMHNASC
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“Don’t make them too loose or most of them will be
down in the morning”. We were advised to “Keep
them tight and plant them well into the stubble”. It
was of course important to be suitably attired when
making stooks in order to avoid the uncomfortable
experience of being prodded by stubbles, having
your arms chafed by rough ears of wheat, being
stung by horse flies and having your boots half full
of wheat hulls. A pair of dungarees stuffed down
into your stockings, heavy hobnailed boots fully
laced and bound tightly round the ankles and
finally, a heavy flannel shirt with the sleeves
fastened at the wrists was the recommended
ensemble for the cornfield. This gave a modicum of
protection although it was very uncomfortable on
a hot autumn afternoon when each sheaf weighed
a ton, your back got progressively stiffer and the
sheaves seemed to stretch in never ending rows to
the horizon.
Himself would, as would befit his status, be
perched up in the cast iron seat of the binder in
charge of cutting operations and he literally had to
have eyes in the proverbial back of his head. He
had to keep the horses in on the stroke, watch the
sheaf packer, check the cutting height, keep the
reels at the correct angle and height, make sure the
canvasses were running smoothly and see that the
little wheel at the end of the cutting platform was
set properly. All these tasks were done through
lever manipulation. As well as all this, he had to be
watching the uncut crop where Tiny the terrier was
hunting for rabbits and Mrs. Hen and her tiny brood
could well be foraging for choice grains of wheat.
He also had to deal with the ground staff going in
for drinks of water - “Ah, where do you think you’re
off to?” “I’m going in for a drink”. “Bring out two
buckets of water for the horses and hurry up and
don’t spill any”. And from time to time he was heard
admonishing, “Will ye tighten up the sheaves in
those bloody stooks and keep the row straight or
you’ll bloody-well end up down in Castletown with
them!” You just couldn’t win, could you?
Thus as the day wore on we became worn out but
the square of wheat became smaller and smaller
until eventually the final cut was made and the
cacophony of noise ceased as the binder was driven
to the field gate and the horses unyoked from
under it.
The binder, like its cousin the mowing machine, is
now long withdrawn from the cornfield, replaced
by the combined harvester - a mechanical
behemoth with a thirty six foot cut that can work
round-the-clock, if necessary, in fields which are
now ten times their original size. The laborers are
not just few – they have been made redundant and
have long since departed the rural scene but no
doubt they still hold their memories - however
good, bad or indifferent - of toiling under a hot,
late-summer sun… gathering in the sheaves.
“Think Ahead” is an initiative to guide members of
the public in discussing and recording their
preferences around end of life. It was developed by
the Forum on End of Life in Ireland – an initiative of
the Irish Hospice Association – following a yearlong public consultation process on issues
surrounding death, dying and bereavement.
A meeting of a representative group from “Think
Ahead” met with INTO and RTAI recently in Head
Office INTO and we were very positive about the
project. We all engage in everyday planning e.g.
about our retirement, holidays, purchases etc.
Even though end of life is inevitable, it is
something we often choose not to plan for or even
think about. Think Ahead is a project that can
assist us in doing this.
Through the experience of completing a Think
Ahead form, I have thought about what I would
like for the future and I have talked to my loved
ones to make sure they know my wishes. I
encourage all of you to do the same.
Think Ahead can give us the gift of peace of mind.
We all want to feel that we have left our affairs in
order and that we have not left our loved ones
having to make difficult decisions without knowing
our wishes. Think Ahead can give us this gift. It
can ensure that our wishes will be heard at times
when we may not be able to speak for ourselves.
The exercise involves people thinking about,
discussing and recording their preferences in the
event of an emergency, serious illness or death
when they may be unable to speak for themselves.
Think Ahead will
engage all members of the public –
young and old,
those who are
healthy and those
who are living with
illness.
Ideally,
this is something
we should do while
healthy and then go on living our lives, revisiting
our preferences over the years to make sure that
they continue to express our current wishes. In
addition to enabling people to express their care
preferences, the Think Ahead form will also allow
people to record location of key legal and financial
documents and approve the donation of their
organs and a hospital post-mortem in the event of
their death.
Think Ahead
The think Ahead form and useful guidelines and
resources are available on the Think Ahead website
www.thinkahead.ie The Irish Pharmacy Union and
the Citizens Information Board are partner
organisations and the project is also supported by
the Law Reform Commission.
RTAI lends its strong support to the project.
For more information see www.thinkahead.ie or
contact Sarah Murphy: 01-6793188.
D.D.
COMHNASC -
The Old Nuns
Mary Moloney (Kildare Branch)
I remember my first year teaching as if a presence there was a sense of perennial crisis on board ship.
lifted the veil of thirty one years and revealed a On one, manic tear-filled day, a rather outspoken
young teacher in a large prefab with an assortment jaunty child looked around loftily through the lens
of thirty eight Junior Infant girls. They stand of oddly fitted spectacles and said in a very posh
resurrected before me now in a sea of pink dresses, English voice, “THEY’RE ALL AT IT NOW!”
dungarees, and ladybird pinafores.
Through fair and foul weather, we sailed on to
They came that first day
Hallowe’en and my
in various states of
graduation. The tears
readiness - some nonbegan to abate as flood
chalantly handling a box
waters do and a sense of
of bricks in the play area
belonging began to
with the familiarity bred
envelop them. We
only in an old soul.
appeared to have passed
Others clung on to their
through the straits of
mammies’
skirts...
wailing and calmer
appearing and disapwaters were after all on
pearing behind the folds
the other side.
in turn. When they did emerge from under cover, By now, I had become accustomed to the frequent
they surreptitiously scanned the room and warily intrusions into my classroom from the retired nuns
eyed their new shipmates. Both crew and captain or the “old nuns”, as we liked to call them.They
were embarking on their maiden voyage together. would come across the short pathway from the
The ever-indomitable, irrepressible Principal, Sister convent side door to see the little ones. First up
Louise, was my trusty first mate, who coaxed, was a very bent old lady called Mother Joseph. She
cajoled and even threatened one mutinous crew seemed to be a cross between the old woman who
member in a light pink dress, who was now taking it lived in the shoe and a kindly little woman of the
upon herself to play chasing between the rows of roads in a black shawl. Almost bent in two, she
tables. Her unwavering
tapped her way into the room with her walking
brown eyes blinked hard
stick. With a myopic stare she began to look
when a stern reprimand
‘around the room for a child whose mother and
from Sr Louise sent her
grandmother she had taught. “Where’s Claire
scurrying to her chair. By
Ryan?” she would ask in a small high pitched voice.
the time I entered virginal
A quiet spoken, stocky child with thick jet black hair
staffroom territory later
falling slightly over one eye was then hauled out.
Mother Joseph would tilt the little girl’s face gently
that morning, I felt I was
getting to grips with things. In fact I had almost upwards and with a certain awe scan it for
conquered Education Everest! This Edmond Hilary memories.
didn’t know it then but she had not even left The next old nun to visit every Friday caused serious
tremors in the ranks of my crew. She was a rather
basecamp.
Somehow I got through that first week, carried on gruff, burly woman with many nuggets of kindness
a wave of innocence and youthful stamina .At under the bluster. Are you alright in that rented
times, when I had them eating out of my hand with house? Have you enough blankets, she would
a magical story or an arm-waving song, it was a inquire repeatedly. Then she would seat her large
heady cocktail. Other times, when I mopped up the frame at my desk, methodically taking her reading
same little girl’s tears for the umpteenth time, glasses out of their case to read the newspaper. Her
Page 8 - COMHNASC
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function was to supervise whilst I had an early
lunch before playground duty. If any gormless child
came up to show her a picture with a big sloppy sun
swimming in the corner of a dog-eared page, she
would never indulge the hapless owner with “Oh,
isn’t that lovely!” Instead she would bark out a
Napoleonic order - “Sit down!” She then combed
the paper from cover to cover, totally
uninterrupted.
The third member of the trio was a sweet little
octogenarian called Sister Anna. Sister Anna was
short in stature, with a smooth baby face and small
round-rimmed glasses which gave her a rather
twinkly appeal. However, lurking under the beatific
smile, I occasionally caught glimpse of a flash of
steel. One such occasion was my 21st birthday. My
little bespectacled girl with the posh accent had got
her Daddy to bring me a beautiful
bouquet of flowers. I had placed them on
the piano when in sailed Sister Anna.
Her eyes lit on them and a sort of saintly
greed took hold. “Oh, they’re perfect for
Our Lady’s altar in the church” she
cooed. I opened my mouth to protest,
glimpsed the flashing steel and promptly
closed it again. I was outfoxed!
Smilingly, I handed over my flowers - just
a pawn in a saintly game of chess.
They are long gone now, the 80something-year-old trio. The new school
stands on a splendid green site, without
any interweave of the religious and the secular. The
convent is closed and its gates have forever sealed
ghostly lips and nuns’ secrets.
I feel my past bound up with those women. They
were pioneers and made many imprints on young
minds through turbulent decades in Irish history
and I feel I was privileged to know them.
Explore Historic Dublin
If you fancy some relaxed talks
and walks on the history of our
capital city during early May
please contact me and I will
reserve a place for you. My talks
will take place upstairs in the
Ha’penny Bridge Inn (Southside
of Bridge) 11-1pm with a short
break for coffee/tea. The cost is
€80 payable on the first day of
the course which will include
admission charges to places we
will visit.
Tues 7th
Wed 8th
Thurs 9th
Fri 10th
Tues 14th
Wed 15th
Thurs 16th
Fri 17th
The Origins of Dublin
Powerpoint Presentation
Viking Dublin
Powerpoint & Video
Walking The Wall of Dublin
Anglo-Norman Dublin
Powerpoint & Video
Georgain Dublin
Powerpoint Presentation
Walking Georgian Dublin
Georgian Dublin &
Malton Prints Presentation
Walk The Great South Wall
To reserve your place text Des O’Dowd at 086-2495669 or Email [email protected]
COMHNASC -
Kathleen Florence Lynn
Michael Maughan (South Dublin Branch)
TI thought it appropriate during 2013, the
centenary year of the Dublin lockout, and close
to the centenary year of the 1916 Rebellion to
focus on a woman who played a major role in
both. Not alone was she an ardent patriot but
she became one of the great medical pioneers in
the Ireland of her
time.
Kathleen
Florence
Lynn was born in
Mullaghfarry
near
Killala, County Mayo,
on 28th of January
1874. She was the
second eldest child of
the local Church of
Ireland clergyman,
Reverend Robert Lynn
and his wife Catherine. These were very tough times
in rural Ireland. Catholic tenant farmers found it
difficult to subsist on small holdings, and this led
to the foundation of the Land League by Michael
Davitt. Undoubtedly, growing up as a little girl,
Kathleen saw all this poverty around her and it
made an impact later on the moulding of her social
conscience.
Kathleen’s own education was one of privilege. She
had a private primary education and was then sent
Page 10 - COMHNASC
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off to board in Alexandra College in Dublin. At that
time the top professions were dominated by men,
principally because women were not allowed into
the universities. Kathleen was an outstanding
student and managed to gain a place to study
medicine in the Catholic University Medical School.
She gained first place in physical anatomy in her
exams of 1896. She graduated in 1899 and went to
the U.S. to do post graduate research.
Kathleen’s first appointment was to the Adelaide
Hospital in Dublin, where some of the male doctors
refused to work with her. She then spent some time
in the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, and also
at Sir Patrick Dun’s and The Rotunda. She then
decided to set up her own practice in Rathmines, at
9 Belgrave Road,
in 1904. At this
time her social
conscience began
to emerge in her
outside interests.
She
became
involved with the
suffragette
movement
and
also in socialism.
Later she became
Lynn and her friend Ffrench Mullen
involved with the
developing Republican movement.
Kathleen died in 1955 and is buried in Deansgrange
Cemetery. Nurses lined the route as the funeral
passed by St. Ultan’s. She was buried with full
military honours and the Irish Citizen Army
provided a guard of honour. Members of the
Seventh Eastern Battalion fired three volleys over
her grave, and a bugler sounded the Last Post.
The story of Kathleen’s productive life is told in
Margaret Ó hÓgartaigh’s biography Kathleen
Florence Lynn - Irishwoman, Patriot and Doctor.
Kathleen is commemorated by having The Lynn
Ward in Tallaght Hospital named after her. The
Medical Council of Ireland (Comhairle na
nDochtúirí) is based in a building on Lower
Rathmines Road called Lynn House.
Financial & Legal
Niche
1. Teacher’s Pension – Write to:Retired Teacher’s Payments Section,
Department of Education and Skills,
Cornamaddy,
Athlone,
Co. Westmeath.
Telephone: 09064 83995.
Inform them of the death and request:• Application form for spouse’s and children’s
pension (see notes below).
• Statement of all monies due to the deceased’s
estate.
• Application form for children’s allowance for any
eligible children.
Any pension cheque for the deceased which arrives
after the death must be returned to the Department
for re-calculation. Pension which has been paid
directly into a bank account will be recouped by the
Department themselves and again will be recalculated up to the date of death.
When writing to the Department, always quote the
payroll number of the deceased. This can be found in
the centre quite near the top of the pension payslip (7
digits or 6 digits and X or Y) e.g.: 1234567 or
123456Y.
2. Social Welfare Widow’s/Widower’s Contributory
Pension.
All surviving spouses (men and women) are entitled
to
a
Contributory
Social
Welfare
Widow’s/Widower’s/Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension
on the death of their spouse/partner. They may also
be entitled to other benefits – living alone allowance
and free schemes (Free Electricity Allowance, TV
Licence, Telephone Rental) - depending on age.
Explanatory fact sheet 5/49 and application form
SCPI are available from all Social Welfare Offices or
from the internet.
Forms for application for this pension may be
downloaded from the internet – Social Welfare –
Procedures to be Adopted on
the Death of a Retired
Teacher
Contributory Pension or from any Social Welfare
Office or any Citizens’ Information Bureau Office.
Please note that an individual is entitled to one Social
Welfare Pension only. Surviving spouses will not get an
Old Age Pension (if applicable) as well as a
Widow’s/Widower’s Pension. They will get the higher
of the two.
3. Bereavement Grant.
A Bereavement Grant of €850.00 (current) is payable
to help with burial expenses. Application form DGI
is available from the internet, from all Social Welfare
Offices or directly from:Bereavement Grants Section,
Social Welfare Services Offices,
Government Buildings,
Ballinalee Road,
Longford.
Telephone: 043-3340000
or Lo-call 1890-927770
4. Voluntary
Health
Insurance/LAYA/Healthcare /Aviva.
Inform V.H.I. or LAYA HEALTHCARE or AVIVA of the
death in order to ensure continuing cover for
surviving spouse/family members. Quote reference
number.
This should be done as soon as possible after the
death by telephone call and followed by a letter.
5. Income Tax.
It is important to inform the Revenue authorities of
the death.
Quote the PPS number (tax number).
Write to the regional tax office of the deceased –
address on all recent Tax Credit Certificates.
Send a death certificate and ask for a review of the
taxation. A rebate may be due and it is also
important to have the surviving spouse’s own
taxation position put in order as soon as possible.
6. Credit Union Insurance.
If the deceased had been a member of a Credit
Union(s) some insurances may apply. This will
COMHNASC -
depend on the shares the member maintained up to
and after age 55 and the age at death. Extra
insurance will apply if the particular Credit Union held
membership of a special Death Benefit Insurance
scheme. Contact the relevant Credit Union(s). A
death certificate will be required.
7. Probate of Will.
Have probate properly
executed for the Will of the
deceased or arrange Letters
of Administration. This
matter is usually handled by
a Solicitor or other
individual familiar with the
procedure.
IMPORTANT NOTES ON 1 AND 2 THE ABOVE:
• The Spouses’ and Orphans’ Pension scheme was
introduced for men in 1969. It was optional for
male teachers already in the service at that time
but became compulsory for those joining the
service thereafter. The surviving widows of those
retired male teachers who were in the scheme will
be entitled to a Department of Education Spouse’s
Pension i.e. half of the late retired teacher’s
Page 12 - COMHNASC
-
pension as well as the Social Welfare pension
referred to at 2 above.
• A similar scheme was introduced for women
teachers in 1981. Again, it was optional for those
already teaching but became compulsory for
those entering the service after that date. The
surviving spouses of those who opted to join the
scheme will be eligible for both these pensions as
well. Spouses of those who did not opt to join the
scheme in 1981 will not be eligible for the D.E.S.
pension but will be eligible for the Social Welfare
Pension at 2 above.
• When a retired teacher dies, a number of death
certificates should be obtained at the time as only
original death certificates (no photocopies) will
be accepted when applying for the pensions and
benefits referred to above.
General Secretary, R.T.A.I.,
Vere Foster House,
35 Parnell Square,
Dublin 1.
Tel.: 01-2454130
Fax: 01-8749117
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.rtaireland.ie
Holocaust Education Trust Ireland (HETI)
Holocaust Education Trust Ireland(HETI) was
established in September 2005 and launched by
President McAleese. Since then, we have introduced
Holocaust education and awareness programmes
across all levels of education as well as teacher
education, outreach, public events, exhibitions and
lectures throughout Ireland.
HETI organises the National Holocaust Memorial Day
commemoration. It takes place on the Sunday nearest to
the 27 January, (anniversary of the liberation of
Auschwitz), and recalls the persecution and destruction
of European Jews as well as all of the other victims.
Learning about the Holocaust provides an opportunity
to reflect on its consequences but also to address
antisemitism and all forms of racism and intolerance –
learning from the past lessons that are relevant to our
lives today.
All of us in this area of work are conscious that the
number of Holocaust survivors diminishes every year.
We have two survivors here in Ireland who give
unstintingly of their time and emotional energy to speak
at post primary schools, (Transition Year and upwards)
about their personal experiences during the Holocaust.
This is a very special and privileged event in any school
and “our” survivors make an indelible impression on all
who hear them.
Currently we are working hard to introduce new
programmes and projects to the senior cycle so that we
can continue to make a valuable contribution to
Holocaust education now and in the years ahead.
To coincide with the launch of HETI in 2005, we
introduced The Crocus Project to 5th and 6th Class in
primary schools. Pupils aged 11 years and upwards are
presented with yellow crocus bulbs to plant in Autumn
in memory of the one and a half million Jewish children
who perished in the Holocaust as well as thousands of
other children who were victims of Nazi atrocities. The
project is free to participating schools and has grown
from 6,000 pupils to over 55,000 in Ireland and Europe.
In 2013, HETI will be organising study visits to Berlin,
Jerusalem and Krakow which are open for those
interested in becoming informed about the Holocaust
from the perspective of authentic sites, resources and
archive centres.
We would welcome hearing from retired teachers who
might be interested in our work.
Holocaust Education Trust Ireland
Clifton House, Lower Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2
T: 01 6690593 W: www.hetireland.org
E: [email protected]
SPECIAL RATES FOR RTAI MEMBERS
“Where Do I Go for Printing?”
Book Publishing,
Business Cards,
Letterheads,
Docket Books,
Party Invitations,
Magazines,
Moving Cards,
etc. etc.
Please quote Ref. No.: Comh010 for your RTAI Special Rate
MULLEN PRINT
RATED
ED AND OPE
IRISH OWN
Unit B1, Centrepoint, Rosemount Business Park, Ballycoolin, Dublin 11.
Tel: 01-8853755 Fax: 01-8853756
Email: [email protected] Web: www.mullenprint.com
•
•
COMHNASC -
CONVENTION 2013
The RTAI held its first Convention under new rules in Club na Múinteoirí on March 12th, 2013. One hundred
and twenty delegates attended with the democratic mandates of their respective Branches. The sessions
were chaired by the President, Éamonn Jennings (Mayo Branch).
Page 14 - COMHNASC
-
Out of the Mouths of Babes . . .
Kieran Tonra (Longford Branch) & Dick O’Flaherty (Kerry Branch)
These are true stories – they happened in school
during teaching days…
It was coming up to First
Communion time, and my
assistant asked me if I could
take the First Confession class
and put them through their
paces. So I assumed the role
of the Priest and they came in
one by one to make their
confession. One of the boys, known as “Wishie” came
in, knelt down, blessed himself and said his Confiteor
(word perfectly). Then he waited, and I said “How long
is it since your last confession?” to which he solemnly
replied “This is my last Confession”!
he. “Was it Ball or Bull or Boat”, I suggested. “No”,
says he “B-E”. “Well, maybe Bed or Belt or Berry”, I
asked. “No”, says he, “but I’ll whisper it”. I bent down
and he put his mouth close to my ear and whispered
“Fucker”.
*******
A colleague told me this one…
Fifth class were writing an English essay when Johnny
in the front seat put up his hand and said “Please Sir,
how do you spell shnite?” “What word”, asked the
teacher. “Shnite” he repeated. “Read the sentence
you’re writing”, said the teacher. “Please Sir”, Said
Johnny, “My father went to the pub lash shnite”
*******
*******
It was religion time in First Class and the
substitute teacher, Pádraig asked
the class “Can any one of you tell
me what a Christian is?” There was
a prolonged silence, but finally
Philip put up his hand. “Tell us”,
said Pádraig, “what a Christian is”.
“Please Sir” said
Philip, “It’s someone who ates his dinner real shlow”
*******
I was doing yard duty when Tommy came over to me
and said, “Please Sir, Paddy Mulligan said a bad word”.
“Oh”, I said, “what did he say?” “I couldn’t say it” was
the reply. “What did it start with? I asked, “B”, says
This boy in 6th class – very intelligent... not alone was
he was very bright, but he was also an only son. He
knew the big farm was awaiting him when he left
school, so he had no great interest in anything
academic.
I wanted him to be
reasonable at reading
and writing and I
spent a lot of time with
him and eventually got
exasperated. So I said
to him one day,
“Tommy, would you
ever go down to the
butchers and ask for a pound of brains”. “Right Sir”,
he said and went to the door, stopped, turned around
and said “Will I say they’re for you, Sir?”
St. Pat’s Graduate Class of 1971-1973
The St. Pat’s Graduate Class of 1971 - 1973 wish to mark their forty years of service,
1973 - 2013, with a gathering at Club na Múinteoirí on All Ireland Football Final
weekend September 2013, beginning on Friday September 20th at 20:00 hours.
Suggestions for Golf, Escorted City Walk etc.
Please contact the following as soon as possible:
Áinnle O’Neill on [email protected]
Brendan Ryan on [email protected]
John J. O’Carroll on [email protected]
COMHNASC -
CARYSFORT GRADUATION CLASS 1961-1963
Carysfort Class of 1961-1963 wish to celebrate 50 years since Graduation
with a luncheon in
The Regency Hotel, Drumcondra on
Friday 14th June, 2013.
For further information please contact the following as soon as possible:
Finola Harte 074-9142164 / 087-6608994
or
Margaret Ward 01-4943787 / 087-6462708 / [email protected]
ST. PAT’S CLASS OF 1963
50th Reunion September 19th @ 2.00pm
Dergvale Hotel, Dublin, 01-8744753
Further informations from:
Flan Garvey
Mick Burke
086 8109449
Tom McCarrig 087 6434450
086 8434181
Vincent Cronin 086 8138683
Joe Diver 085 1427718
Using a pestle and mortar, grind
garlic, sea salt, sugar/honey,
pepper and mustard to a fine
paste.
Add vinegar and oil, and pour
into a jar with a fairly wide screw
top lid - shake very well and store
Eileen Donnellan
in the fridge.
(Westmeath Branch)
Enjoy it with some fresh crispy
Recipe - Donegal Rapeseed green garden salad.
Donegal Pure Rapeseed oil:
Oil Dressing
rapeseed grown in the fields of
Ireland. This is an excellent oil
1 Clove Garlic
with half the saturated fat
1 Level teaspoon fine
content of olive oil and is also
sea salt
rich in Omega 3, 6 and 9.
1 Level
teaspoon
steep in a shady place for about
two weeks.
It is necessary to choose the site
carefully as the tea gives off
unpleasant odours.
Strain and discard the leaves and
transfer to screw top containers
e.g. plastic drink bottles.
To use: dilute 10 parts water to 1
part nettle tea and feed plants.
Nettles can be used to make a
really potent
plant feed
full
of
nutrients. It
is
particularly good
sugar or honey
20-30 grinds of
GARDENING TIPS – NETTLE TEA for summer
pepper mill
crops like tomatoes, courgettes
FOR PLANTS
1 Teaspoon French
Fill a 5 gallon plastic bucket to and cucumbers. Happy Foraging!
Mustard
the top with young nettle leaves.
1 Tablespoon White Vinegar
Fill to the top with cold water, Bain suimhneas as an garraí
4 Tablespoons Donegal Rapeseed Oil cover the container and leave to glasraí!
Page 16 - COMHNASC
-
Mid Term Break in Paris
Patricia Dolan (Dublin North Branch)
Imagine George Clooney but younger, taller, longerhaired...speaking broken English in a delicious French
accent. On a bitter February morning I met him. He
was selling watercolours on the long flight of steps
leading up to Sacre Coeur cathedral. There were few
tourists that morning making the strenuous climb to
the iconic cathedral and fewer hawkers. As we passed
the place where he had set up his stall, I was stopped
in my tracks by the beautiful colours of the paintings.
I love watercolours.
I dragged Anna, my friend, over to the stall to look at
the paintings. Smiling, the artist displayed the choice
available. I fell for a painting of the cathedral painted
from below the steps. The roof of the cathedral stands
out against a white-streaked blue sky. In the
foreground, tiny buds appear on the trees as people
make their way up the steps. I asked how much it cost.
He began to speak and I was lost. His velvety brown
eyes looked into mine as he told me the price. He told
me that because it was so cold and I, a beautiful
woman, had visited his beautiful city that
for me there would be a special price. I
bought the painting. I did not quibble or
bargain. I cannot remember what it cost
but I do remember it cost a lot more to
frame it.
Each time I look at that painting on the
sitting room wall, I remember that icy day
and wonder - what is it about a Frenchman
speaking halting English that is so
attractive to a sensible, mature
Irishwoman of a certain age, that she
loses her common sense?
COMHNASC -
Declan Kelleher (Top right) meets the Yellow Flag Diversity Committee in Gaelscoil Riabhach, Loughrea, Co. Galway.
Former INTO President Declan Kelleher
encourages retired teachers to VOLUNTEER with
the Yellow Flag Intercultural schools
programme!
The Yellow Flag Programme is working to create a
world where all children learn to celebrate & value
difference. It does this by supporting both
primary & secondary schools through an 8 step
programme at the end of which they receive a
physical flag in recognition of their work in
promoting diversity & inclusion which they can fly
outside their school with pride!
We are currently looking for volunteers with a
background in teaching including retired teachers
who would be interested in volunteering with the
programme.
‘If you are interested in seeing the extraordinary
and groundbreaking work in the area of equality and
celebration of diversity in Irish schools then you
should give consideration to involvement in this
excellent programme. Molaim go h-ard an obair
iontach seo .
(Declan Kelleher Former school principal and
former INTO President)
Depending on your interests and commitment
Page 18 - COMHNASC
-
possible areas of work include:
• Visits to schools at key points in the
programme including completion of the
programme
• Supporting the delivery of lesson plans in the
classroom on Equality and Diversity
• Identifying and / or supporting the
development of curriculum resources for
schools on the programme
We will provide; Training and support around the
Yellow Flag Programme; on issues of Equality and
Diversity; Pre-planning sessions for visits and
Travel and Subsistence.
What we need from you: An interest and
commitment to Equality and Diversity; to attend
an informal interview; a commitment to attending
training and planning sessions and a time
commitment that would match your support role.
Please check our website www.yellowflag.ie for
information on the programme.
Please contact Paula or Sinead on 01 679 6577 or
email [email protected] to
register your interest or if you would like to know
more.
We look forward to hearing from you.
HEALTH CORNER
Caring for your Cognition
Cases
of
Alzheimer's
syndrome in the United
States are expected to triple
in the next 40 years as socalled baby boomers are
reaching greater ages,
according to a study
published recently that
suggests there could be
close to 14 million sufferers
by 2050. There were 4.7
million
people
with
Alzheimer's in the United
States in 2010, but baby
boomers reaching older age
are likely to triple that number by 2050. The
results of the study were published in the online
issue of “Neurology”, the medical journal of the
American Academy of Neurology.
"This increase is due to an aging baby boom
generation," said Jennifer Weuve, assistant
professor of medicine at Rush Institute for Healthy
Aging at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
She referred to the large numbers of people who
were born in the years immediately after the end of
World War II.
The researchers analyzed information from 10,802
elderly people who lived in Chicago between 1993
and 2011, and participants were interviewed and
assessed for dementia every three years. The results
were combined with U.S. death rates, education
and current and future population estimates from
the U.S. Census Bureau.
The study found that the total number of people
with Alzheimer's is likely to reach 13.8 million by
2050, when about 7 million of those affected would
be age 85 or older. "These projections anticipate a
future with a dramatic increase in the number of
people with Alzheimer's and should compel us to
prepare for it," Weuve said.
Weuve said the results draw attention to an "urgent
need" for more research, treatments and
preventive strategies to reduce the effects of the
condition. "[The increase] will place a huge burden
on society, disabling more people who develop the
syndrome, challenging their caregivers, and
straining medical and social safety nets," she said.
Keep your brain healthy...now!
There is no way to guarantee you can avoid
dementia, but there are steps you can take to
reduce your risk.
These steps are practical and achievable and will
help you with good general health and well-being.
It is never too late to make changes to your lifestyle
and so help to reduce your risk of developing
dementia/Alzeimer’s.
Step 1: Eat healthily
Eating a balanced diet will help to keep you healthy
and prevent many illnesses. A healthy diet is good
for your body, your heart and your brain and it is
easy to achieve.
• Eat plenty of fruit and
vegetables – aim for five
portions every day. A
portion could be a piece of
fruit, a glass of fruit or
vegetable juice or two large tablespoons of
vegetables with a meal.
• Include fish in your diet, particularly oily fish
COMHNASC -
like salmon, mackerel and sardines – these
could be fresh, tinned or frozen. These types of
fish contain Omega-3 which are linked to
reducing risk of dementia. Other sources of
Omega-3 include nuts, seeds and olive oil.
• Choose wholemeal or wholegrain breads and
cereals.
• Reduce the amount of sugar, fat and saturated
fat in your diet. Choose low-fat options
whenever possible, and consider low-fat dairy
products and lean cuts of meat.
• Cut down on salt.
Step 2: Be Physically Active
Regular exercise has a range of health benefits. It
helps to reduce our risk of heart disease, stroke and
diabetes. It helps to lower high blood pressure and
assist in weight control. There is also growing
evidence to suggest that physical activity can help
to improve our
cognitive performance as well as
reduce our risk of
developing dementia.
• Physical exercise does not have to be strenuous.
Aim to build up to 30 minutes of moderate
activity five or more times a week.
• Activity can include going for a walk, swimming
or gardening. Try something new like a dance
class or yoga.
• Talk to your doctor if you are unsure about what
is the best way for you to introduce or increase
physical activity.
Step 3: Be Socially Active
Keep involved in the world around you. Stay in
touch with family, friends, your neighbours and
your local community. There are lots of different
ways to do this, choose ones that you are
comfortable with.
• Keep in touch with people by arranging to meet
and by phone.
• Get out and about in your locality, visit the
parks, cafes, library and shops.
• Get involved with your local community,
consider volunteering.
• Join a club or take up a new hobby.
Whatever way you decide, being sociably active is
Page 20 - COMHNASC
-
beneficial to your health and has been linked to
reducing the risk of dementia.
Step 4: Stimulate your Mind
Use it or lose it! We should keep our brains active
and engaged to stay mentally sharp. Engaging in
activities that help to stimulate our minds has been
linked to improving our cognitive functioning and a
reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
There are lots of ways to do this, choose something
that appeals to you, some suggestions include:
• Reading, writing, crosswords, word or number
puzzles and quizzes.
• Learn a language, play a
musical instrument or take up
painting
or
crafts.
• Take up a hobby such as bridge or a dance class
or learn to use a computer - learning something
new can have added benefits.
• Some people take part in cognitive training
programmes run by health professionals.
Step 5: Go for regular health checks
What is good for your heart is good for your brain.
It is important to know your blood pressure,
cholesterol, blood sugar and weight are all at levels
that are right for you. This is particularly important
for people over 40. Problems in any of these areas
are linked to an increase risk of dementia. However,
these problems are easy to identify and are
treatable.
By building time into your life to have these areas
checked, you are taking a positive step to
maintaining a healthy heart and a healthy brain.
COMHNASC would like to acknowledge the
assistance THE ALZEIMER’S SOCIETY OF IRELAND
in the preparation of this article.
Their National helpline is 1 800 341 341...and don’t
forget that the Alzeimer’s National Cuppa Tea Day is
9th May, 2013.
For your Tea Day Pack please call 1800 719 820
Happy Years as a retired Sub
Raymond Hughes (Dublin South Branch)
When my glittering career as teaching principal
in a DEIS school ended in 2007 I was very content
to jettison the administrative hassle but still
retained a hankering for the classroom. In that
case, the considered advice was almost
unanimous - Go subbing, young man.
Retirees were greatly sought after then and lionised
for their experience and availability. In a
burgeoning employment market it was difficult to
entice young people to schools as stand-ins. If one
could be nabbed, the chances of a smooth
operation was not guaranteed. Nothing is surer to
put a principal in an early grave than noise and
uproar blaring from some young temp’s room as the
class takes advantage. One-day sickies were even
covered. No wonder doors were thrown open,
phone numbers exchanged, texts sent and
arrangements made well in advance for planned
absences. Schools head-hunted and coveted the
local retiree. Order was assured and solid work done
Some tried to seek exclusive rights. Thus I was
fortunate to have five happy years going on my
local circuit to several great schools.
But it kicked off in a different academy on a bright
day with a pitilessly cold edge to it. If I tell you that
Bray was my neck of the woods, it will explain why
Kilmacanogue acquired my services at very short
notice . If someone was absent when one inquired
about subbing, an invitation to come issued on the
spot. In this instance, there was an unfortunate
conjunction of occurences: the principal was
absent and the heating system had broken down.
Nevertheless school went ahead. I had a mixed fifth
class. They whetted my appetite; the pupils were
well- mannered and diligent. Interestingly I never
returned to Kilmac but instead helped myself to the
abundant pickings nearer home.
One learnt very sharpishly the value of being
available at short notice, never refusing a gig if at
all possible, arriving as early as possible to
adquately prepare and never, ever, break one’s
word. I would sacrifice a week’s work on occasion
for a day promised. Principals respected integrity.
You quickly realised how brutal and heartless the
market was; “Unable to sub today but fine for
tomorrow,” met an abrupt” No problem” as the
seeker rushed to next on the list. This could lead to
exclusion for weeks as the acceptor got the inside
track in the school.
But the jobs were so plentiful one could be
confidently suited on Mondays awaiting the ringing
phone - usually about 7.55. The first to call was
accepted and off you sped; only your listed schools
contacted. Any subsequent inquiries required a
reply; ignoring was both rude and short-sighted.
Schmoosing your clients was the only game in
town. Principals and subs played it deftly. All were
equally ruthless.
Classes from one to six experienced my old–
fashioned methods; I drew the line at infants. The
little ones were the most rigid and inflexible: our
way, not yours. Sweet little seven year olds peered
in the window on one occasion and announced
confidently that I was the principal, on the basis of
similar dress. The day kicked-off with hilarity
during news when I wrote B Movie on the board,
their current must see, have seen, film. ”No,”they
chortled in unison, “Bee Movie, bzzzzzz.”
My second job had a big surprise in store; the first
interactive board in the school. “You’ll love it,”
assured the principal. “Anyway the kids will
operate it for you.” If I can explain my dilemma: to
the end I had been a blackboard man. Now to take
on a strange class and cede control of a major
COMHNASC -
teaching tool was not on. I didn’t use it, couldn’t
use it, on that occasion. Fortunately this new gizmo
was flanked on each side by parts of the old white
board; salvation was to hand. In reprisal,
somebody slipped a permanent marker unnoticed
into my line of vision. Yes, I used it! But by then I
knew the antidote: write over with a whiteboard
marker and disappointment for my vindictive
scholars. The few words were removed.
As time went by,
more interactive
boards began to
appear - there
was no choice.
With unremitting
application,
plenty of trepidation and pain I
mastered
the
basics. Initially connecting the leads from the
board to the laptop sapped kilolitres of nervous
energy. Which bloody one is which? The bell will go
any minute and the class will rumble my
technological frailties. Irredeemable loss of face!!
I finally drew a simple diagram for future reference
showing the correct links. It proved such a balm.
One school allowed me to remain daily for an hour
for self training, unpressurised. With this and brain
picking, I reached a tolerable level of competence.
I came to regard the interactive board as an
outstanding means of instruction. For me it was
first and foremost a blackboard. However it was
much, much more, as I discovered. One could save,
clear pages, draw perfectly straight lines and use
colour to highlight. It even had an eraser. The day’s
work could be stored page by page ready for use
and filed away for recall. Hot news could be on
screen when the children first came in the morning.
The scope was exciting, nay, amazing. This
beautiful tool demanded attention with its crystal
clear screen. Without subbing, I would have been
as unaware of this revolutionary utensil as I am of
nanophysics. To illustrate: when I had garnered my
skills to ladybird level, I resolved to make a great
leap forward. My pupils had been assigned a lesson
by the class teacher on The Hindenburg Disaster.
First I set out the main information in blackboard
format and then linked to the internet to show the
Page 22 - COMHNASC
-
famous live footage of the disaster at Lakehurst,
New Jersey. Wonderful and all as it was, I was
determined not to become its servant; the teacher
must always be the influential instructor.
Subbing in many ways was a delight as it
demanded no ongoing responsibility and one was
usually not subjected to close parental scrutiny. The
temp was to be tolerated until the class teacher
returned. If the replacement was good and liked,
all the better. The key: make a big impression
immediately and tolerate no nonesense. Brownie
points accumulated if demanding and fairly
extensive homework was set and individually
corrected. The rules of engagement dictated that
one followed the class teacher’s procedures and
plans and no grandstanding. Criticism of the school
or its management could not be voiced. If, on
occasions, the staff grumbled, one ignored and
played deaf. The principal had to be massaged in
the traditional and only way: do a good job in the
room and everything in the garden remained rosy.
Fail or fall short and the remedy was to hand, no
further phone calls.
As the few years passed dark clouds began to gather
when the era of cutbacks inexorably encroached.
One could quantify the winds of change: no
problems getting the maximum days allowed - 90
- up to 2010 and then a noticeable falling off,
perhaps to 30 or so, by 2011-12. What started in
mewling fashion grew to a thunderous bellow and
witch-hunt: the prey was the retired sub, now
demonised in the media as a person of insatiable
cupidity, a rapacious interloper. Nothing short of
extirpation from every school in the land was
acceptable. The 2011 circular proved to be the
death warrant though I survived on reduced rations
until June 2012. Since then no more calls on
Monday, or indeed, any day.
We were swept away by the tide of history. A greatly
reduced employment market only absorbed a
fraction of the young teachers, highly skilled with
a new vision and energy. The absolute equity and
inevitability of the old stepping aside cannot be
gainsaid.
My last subbing day was in lovely Edmondstown in
the Dublin mountains. The first two hours were
spent in class . When the end of term concert
began, I was dispatched to mind the parents’ cars!
ACTION MAN
Cyril Kelly (Dublin North Branch)
There are few buildings that harbour as many
echoes and ghosts as an empty school. Pause in a
corridor of an evening, watch late autumn light
slanting through the windows. Motes, like
memories, twinkle in the beams. Memories, like
motes, swirl up and subside. Apparitions from
the past flit and prowl between light and shade.
The occasional draught rattles some door with a
hollow, spectral sound.
Atmosphere and incident clog the empty
classrooms nearby. The corridor is more conducive
to clarity. Its long converging lines and concrete
walls pare image and sound back to bare essentials.
A snatch of Ó Ró ‘Sé Do Bheatha Bhaile swells and
fades. There’s a distant, staccato chant of
multiplication tables. Sleeves rolled up, Stainless
Steve swerves into his scholarship class. As the din
dies, he slowly shuts the door. Bachelor Pat sidles
into sultry Miss Clinton’s class for the morning
break.
The wall on the side of the corridor is covered with
a chronology of Communion photographs. Choirs
of angelic faces, year on year. Those toothless grins
are like omens; they mark the end of the age of
innocence, the start of the age of reason.
When those little lads arrived at eight years of age
to begin the senior cycle in primary, they usually
remained anonymous around the school for
months. But there was one who was known by
almost everybody on his very first day. From the
beginning, that lad answered not to his name,
Tony, only to his nickname, Action Man.
Without ever courting or revelling in it, Action Man
became the
centre
of
attention.
There
was
something
about the kid,
some guileless
vulnerability.
It added a
twinge
of
sadness to the
hilarious things he did and managed to wring
hilarity from his rare moments of sadness.
Among his classmates in the Communion
photograph, Action Man is wearing a beige suit and
a wide gap-toothed, jaw jutting grin. In the
corresponding Confirmation photograph, taken
five years later, he is missing. The word ‘missing’ is
but a euphemism, as if he might have been ‘on the
mitch’. Unfortunately, nothing as convenient as
that. By the time Confirmation came around, Action
Man was ... well ... gone.
In third class he got meningitis. The condition
deteriorated rapidly. Within a very short time, he
was on life support. His distraught mother asked
me to go into the hospital, sit beside his bed; For
God’s sake, talk to him. She had heard about some
child who was in a coma and who had responded to
a familiar voice.
A young teacher at the time, my initial efforts were
abysmal. I was overwhelmed by the task. Totally
distracted by the hoarse, rhythmic breaths of the
respirator, by the pallor of the child’s skin, I
struggled through self-conscious efforts at
conversation. Unsure whether to use nickname or
Christian name, at times it was Action Man, then
again, with various pleading ... joking ...
summoning inflections, it was ... Tony? Tony. Tony!
As day followed day, I fought my awkwardness.
Galvanised by the desperation of fading hope, I
arrived at his bedside equipped with a roll call of
friend’s names, anecdotes to relate. I even tried a
few faltering lines of Ó Ró ‘Sé Do Bheatha Bhaile.
COMHNASC -
But still Action Man lay motionless on the bed. The
sheet remained starched, stretched and still
beneath his hands. Sometimes, staring at his face,
I imagined the euphoria if I could only spot the
flicker of an eyelid, a twitch from those mauve lips.
I can’t recall how often I sat by that bedside. Can’t
even recall how long it took before his mother,
almost berserk, agreed to have the respirator
switched off. I do, however, remember the
bewilderment and grief I felt at the time. The empty
desk in the classroom challenged me every day.
All these years later, I still have Tony’s memorial
card. From time to time, I come across it. There he
is, on his Holy Communion day. There is Action Man,
smiling out at me, still only seven years old.
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Separate kitchen, equipped with fridge, washing machine, cooker, microwave
and all necessary kitchen equipment.
Lounge has parquet flooring, very comfortable furniture, TV, DVD and ample
CDs and reading material to while away the hours.
The balcony leads onto a courtyard and is a lovely area for eating and relaxing. There is a separate bathroom and toilet.
The studio has a gated entrance and is 3 minutes from the beach. More than adequate buses serve the area so there is no need to
rent a car. The airport bus number 98 stops 4 minutes from the studio.
For more information please contact Sally
Page 24 - COMHNASC
-
on 087 750 8298
AN INSPECTOR ALWAYS KNOCKS TWICE
Seán Ó Gormáin (Wicklow Branch)
An inspector's visit is part and parcel of life in a
primary school. Generally in my time they were
men and their visits were not always seen as the
happiest of occasions.
Back in the 1970's and up to quite recent times, the
front and the back doors of our school were
opposite each other. On a windy day, one door
could not be open at the same time as the other. If
they were, there was an almighty bang as both
slammed closed together and the wall photos
rattled back and forth along the corridor. So it was
decided to keep the front door locked at all times.
There was an unplanned benefit to this. I occupied
the classroom closest to the front door so I could
see all visitors as they arrived. An inspector came to
the front door which was locked and then knocked
twice on my window to 'alert' me to his presence.
A boy on my nod had already taken off for the other
rooms with a warning cry of "Tá an cigire anseo!"
Every teacher has his or her own experience of
these visits. On one occasion we had an inspector's
child in our school in the 1970's. This man was at
the time an assistant chief inspector and lived in
Dalkey. He was frequently in the school and visited
each teacher on these informal visits. He visited my
room and was talking to me as the pupils worked
away. Very suddenly he said to me, "Take your
hands out of your pockets when you're talking to
someone older than you". As I reacted to his
demands, he said, "Don't do it too quickly as the
pupils might notice!"
I was now standing facing him with my hands
clasped behind my back and he said, "Why don't
you buy yourself a suit?" I was wearing a jumper
and jeans. His whole approach to me, and this was
the first time I had ever met him, was to let me
know he was an important person and that I should
be aware of this. In further conversation with him,
he told me that when he retired he was going to buy
a little farm in Meath. He never did and died in
Dalkey some years ago.
Another teacher who had a large fungus growing
near the ceiling of his room because of dampness
was expecting a Board of Works inspector to
investigate. A man arrived at the door and was
welcomed in. Everyone's attention was focused on
the fungus when the gentleman announced, "I'm
an inspector from the Department of Education and
not a fungus expert!"
On another occasion, an inspector was in the
school. As you entered my room there was a step
down of about six inches. He was not aware of this
and suddenly the door opened and he crashed
forward into the room! He looked back at the step
as if it was to blame and his humour was not
improved. He decided to take my class to
demonstrate his method of teaching Maths. He
took off his short coat to reveal that he was
wearing a pair of wide red braces. The boys burst
out laughing! He
turned to me and
said, "Discipline
in this class is not
good". I didn't
explain to him the
cause of the
indiscipline.
All
in
all,
inspectors were
helpful
and
interested but the
knock on the
window did add a
certain buzz to
any day…
COMHNASC -
SUDOKU
EASY
7
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HARD
MEDIUM
2
3
3
1
Solution to Sudoku page 39
SCRIBBLE PAD
Comhnasc Crossword No. 8 by Pastmaster.
A draw for €50.00 will be made from all correct entries.
Simply complete the crossword and send to
Comhnasc, R.T.A.I., Vere Foster House, 35 Parnell Square, Dublin 1,
before close of business on Friday 7th June 2013.
1
3
2
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
14
16
15
17
18
19
20
21
23.
25.
27.
29.
23
22
24
25
1.
3.
6.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
16.
18.
21.
22.
13
12
Across:
27
26
28
30.
31.
32.
33.
I gave up 33 across during this time! (4)
Not what you ever want to read about yourself in the paper! (4)
Open that bottle! I’m feeling totally unrestricted! (5)
Levies make me want to go and vomit but I can’t! I’m retired! (4,5)
Revenue is trying to take the head of me! (5)
Politicians - a class of individuals - I’d like to teach a lesson to! (7)
To hammer the French, espicially in Paris! (7)
That man’s outrageously funny but he’s never caused a public distrubance! (4)
If you go too far in this direction, you’ll end up gone west! Maybe in 17 across?
(6)
The home of the free? (3)
I looked back to see it still there! (3)
Wouldn’t you like to have bean able to tear a strip off one of those agents of
finance! (6)
Are we really second only to the Greeks! (4)
Now that’s a memory I can live with for a long, long time! (7)
It’s a jaw shaking experience chatting to you! (4-3)
Not a familiarity for the Irish manager, more somethings you dont want to fall
into! (5)
Can we all agree to be of one mind? (9)
Are you absolutely sure, if I put H in, it will stay rock hard? (5)
Sounds a bit like 16 across was celebrating with 33 across! (4)
I’m cheesed off! It was all Greek to me! (4)
Down:
29
30
31
32
33
Name: ..............................................................................................................................
Address:..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
Payroll No.:....................................................................................................................
Page 26 - COMHNASC
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1.
2.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
15.
17.
19.
20.
24.
25.
26.
28.
Solution to Crossword No. 7 on page 39
That’s it now! I’m at the end of my tether! (4,5)
I’ve found my rightful place, at last! (5)
Is this country lad all at sea? (9)
Now this is a pure English eejit! (5)
This is not where the servants live! (8)
The sweetest of French songstresses? (9)
Wrap up the news! (5)
Whatever you assert - It’s my entitlement! (5)
As dogged as a mule! (9)
That’s a clearcut furrow for an insect! (9)
I’m feeling no pain! (9)
He did well to teach that collection of articles to run parallel! (5,3)
I can’t put my finger on it! (5)
Central Mexico is a bit ruined! (5)
Those goat’s bleats sound a bit hoarse! (5)
That’s all she put on paper! (5)
A Not So Ordinary Day
Celine Mescall (Kilkenny Branch)
July 3rd, 1976, began like any other day as I road in the entire
climbed out of my hammock. It was six am and place
though
though the night had been cold I knew we were maps showed the
in for another blistering day. Donna Amelia had Belem Brasilia
the coffee brewing and its gritty sweetness was highway cutting
enough to rouse the senses and get the heart through the area
pumping.
and
passing
Twenty-five young student teachers from the city through
Manhad volunteered to spend three weeks of their darino where we
holidays teaching in the interior of Bahia where were based.
there were no schools. My task was to bring the
That day as we
student teachers from Fortaleza, some 900 miles delivered the last
away, and deliver them to isolated communities of the student teachers to a remote community I
throughout the parish. I was ably assisted by was asked if I could help a woman who had gone
Padre Ned Gowing, a Redemptorist priest from Co. into premature labour. Protesting my ignorance of
Laois, and we were accompanied by Jonathan, a all things obstetrical and gynaecological, I was
gap year student from London, who was travelling prevailed upon to at least visit and see if I could
through Brazil.
help. Mary, my co-worker in Brazil, was an
For many families these brief weeks of schooling experienced nurse and midwife but she was not
were the highlight of the year. The younger with us. The track to the woman’s house was
children attended class early in the day followed impassable for the jeep and I was offered an old
by the older ones in the afternoon. Sometimes bicycle while Jonathan ran alongside. As we
classes for adults took place at night but had to be rounded a bend in the bush we startled a mule
done by the light of home-made kerosene lamps. carrying a little girl of maybe 7 or 8. She was
Their thirst for education and the benefit they got thrown roughly to the ground when the mule
from the few weeks teaching each year astounded bolted. Jonathan rushed to pick her up and I saw
me.
that her arm was broken just above the wrist.
Jonathan’s eyes met mine in a look of panic and
disbelief but we had no time to think further as the
child was by now screaming in pain. We cut some
twigs from the bush, peeled the bark from them
and set her arm as best we could using my
bandana.
When we eventually arrived at the tiny adobe
house we were greeted by four or five small
children who smiled shyly at the strangers who
had come to see their mother. I had visited many
houses in the interior but this was surely one of
the poorest. I can still remember the smell in the
The parish of Pilao Arcado where I worked spread small dark room where the ailing woman lay on a
north from the banks of the Sao Francisco River make- shift pallet. It was a mixture of intense
and covered an area roughly the size of the south heat, dry blood and poverty. Still attached to her,
of Ireland if you were to draw a line from Galway lay a perfectly formed infant in its translucent
across to Dublin. There was not an inch of asphalt sack. The placenta had not come away and from
COMHNASC -
somewhere in the recesses of my mind I knew that
this spelled trouble. We tied the cord with a
shoelace and cut the lifeless baby from her
mother. We did our best to reassure the woman but
I sometimes wonder if she could see the fear and
inexperience in my eyes. I asked for something to
wrap the baby in and the father brought me the
middle pages torn from a child’s copybook, the
only paper in the house. I noticed that the tiny
feet extended just beyond the edge of the lined
pages.
Our only option was to take the woman to the
nearest clinic five or six hours away. By now
darkness had fallen. We made up a bed in the back
of the jeep for the patient and her husband and
the local midwife wedged in beside her. It was a
small jeep supplied to us by Oxfam with seating for
three. Driving a jeep on dirt roads was a skill I
mastered early on but only after many hours spent
digging it out of mud during the short rainy
season and negotiating it through sand and
cavernous holes at other times. Up front the child
with the broken arm sat on her grandmother’s lap
and as there was only room for two others, Ned,
Jonathan and I took turns standing on the back
bumper clinging on for dear life as the jeep
bumped and rolled over unfamiliar terrain.
At one point we had to detour through a dry river
bed which had almost horizontal sides. Everybody
had to get out and negotiate the steep sides on
foot and the patient was carried in turn by each of
the men. Unfortunately for me I was nominated to
drive the jeep and light the way. Looking at the
motley crew ahead of me in the beams of the
headlights I prayed desperately to God to guide
me and I asked myself what my father would do in
Page 28 - COMHNASC
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this situation. My arms ached from grasping the
wheel too tightly and I could feel the tension
behind my eyes as I squinted in an effort to dispel
the dark. ‘Take it nice and easy,’ I could hear my
father say, ‘don’t fight the road.’
Ned started singing to keep us awake. We did all
the musicals and plenty of Irish rebel songs too to
the bemusement of a very English Jonathan. The
needle on the fuel gauge was falling steadily while
the situation in the back was becoming critical.
The midwife shouted at us to drive faster as the
patient’s husband shouted directions. The little
girl up front in her granny’s arms slept peacefully
throughout most of the journey. It was almost 4am
when we reached the town only to find that the
doctor had left for the weekend. The fuel tank was
empty and the patient had been bleeding for an
hour. Her husband roused the only car owner in
the small town and the motley group set off again
without delay.
The trip had
taken nine
hours in all
and I lay
down
on
the parched
earth then
and wept
tears
of
tiredness,
frustration
and relief.
Ned went in
search of
the local
priest’s
house and we managed a few hours sleep before
setting off again - there was work to be done and
the time was not on our side.
Three weeks later when we returned to collect our
student teacher we learned that the group had
made it to the next town where the ailing woman
had received treatment. She was alive and well and
back home in the bosom of her family. We were
amused also to hear that the doctor was impressed
with how the little girl’s arm had been set and she
was now in plaster and on the road to recovery.
Comhnasc Cryptic Crossword No. 4 by Pastmistress.
2
1
3
4
8
5
6
7
Across:
9
12
1.
4.
8.
9.
11.
12.
13.
19
14.
16.
18.
20.
21.
10
11
13
14
16
15
17
18
20
21
23.
22
24.
25.
26.
24
23
Just the time to wear 4 across! (6)
I raise my hat to a good French mesh! (6)
Did you do this all your working life? (7)
What’s so active about my radio? (7)
He’s dishonest, devious and not dependable! (10)
It’s not an unusual way to eat meat in the end! (4)
What Henry VIII might have been called as king of
Greece! (5)
Floated and bloated and tainted! (8)
Just what I wanted to get from the doctor! (3,5)
Thats a rotten thing to have on your leg! (5)
A petty quarrel to expectorate over! (4)
These Wombles are seen regularly on Wimbeldon
Common! (10)
He may reason adroitly but his argument is
specious! (7)
He’s got a lot of neck to be preying on me! (7)
Charge! (6)
Not my idea of a nice rich latte? (6)
26
25
Solution to Cryptic Crossword No. 3
1
8
F
B
O O
L
M E
10
L
13
L
18
R
O W
O G
19
N
R
G
A
S
B
26
A
31
U
H
E
S
T
O
3
F
O W
A
22
S
2
R
L
14
Y
Y
Y
O
27
K
A
Y
A
D M
F
R
I
N
G
L
R
E
Y
A
28
T
A
L
20
L
4
A
11
S
T
S
R
E
A
L
U
9
A
G
U
S
O
P
T
C
29
I
N
32
E
A
D
O
N
I
U
N
H
O
L
Y
7
R
I
Y
U
N M
O
G
L
E
S
T
T
O M
E
E
N
E
S
N
A
17
A
21
L
U
N
12
S
24
D
6
N
I
A
N
T
16
15
23
I
S
5
T
30
U
O N
K
G
C
E
A
C
25
L
O W
S
E
D
R
Down:
1.
2.
3.
5.
6.
7.
10.
13.
15.
17.
19.
21.
22.
Duck or drake? One or the other? (5)
Sounds a bit dry and salacious and best left in the
closet! (7)
I’ve been travelling with the same companions for
all my life! (9)
Where were you at the start of the film? (5)
Is is commonplace to start a national movement in
some Russian mountains? (7)
Not where the bride keeps her wedding goods. It’s
much posher than that (3-6)
The one who acted it out properly. (9)
This I can use to picture you far away. (9)
An immature Eurasian advocating reforms with
gusto! (5,4)
Can he still play baseball after quaffing in the rye
whiskey? (7)
Has fried bread made the team heavy? (7)
Dont know, if there’s a safe haven, away from this
pop group? (5)
Looking back at the smallest of birds, sounds like
little Vivienne is jittery! (5)
SCRIBBLE PAD
COMHNASC -
Let Them Eat Cake
Geraldine Gough (Dublin North Branch)
There is nothing quite like the smell of baking. Each one
of us has an abiding memory of a beautiful smell from
childhood, whether it is a particular bread or pancakes
or - in my case - my granny’s griddle scones.
The whiff of chocolate cake is so powerful that teenagers
will leave their screens to investigate what is in the oven.
House vendors are recommended to have something baking
when prospective buyers come to view. It signals
homeliness and comfort.
On the 10th of February, I flew to Frankfurt to attend the
Cake module week in the International Baking Academy in
Weinheim, Germany. They run a five week Diploma Course
in German Bread. Baking enthusiasts come from all over
the world for the hands-on training. It is delivered in
English by four Master Bakers. Situated in the Black Forest
region, the Academy provides top class accommodation for
the students on site. The bakery was naturally warm from
the ovens but outside the forest was a cold snow-covered
wonderland.
There was no expense spared while equipping this fabulous
bakery. Every machine needed for each stage of baking
large quantities of products was available to us to achieve
perfection in our efforts. We learned how to make
Berlinners, German Buttercream Cake, Stollen, Sachertorte
and Streusel Tray Cakes.
For the world famous Black Forest Gateaux, a flat uniformly
risen chocolate sponge is needed. We were shown how to
cut it into three layers. Cherry juice and Kirsch are sprinkled
on it. Then one litre of whipped cream, and the cherries are
arranged on the layers to produce the ultimate in
temptation. They are delightfully decorated with piped
cream rosettes and chocolate filigree, with the bright
cherry on each serving.
One mouthful reveals a taste of melting chocolate followed
by cherry flavoured buttery sponge and creamy
smoothness.
The experts demonstrated first and then we carried out the
process under supervision. Top class ingredients were used.
As you passed the sack of Belgium chocolate chips, you got
the waft. The bucket of roasted hazelnuts cast out its own
Geraldine with her class of bakers in Weinheim and some of their
creations.
unmistakeably rich smell. The orange and lemon peel was
piquant in flavour. With the baking smells of delicious
sponges and deep-fried donuts coated in cinnamon sugar,
olfactory heaven is guaranteed! Here is the place to learn
all the tricks of the trade and ensure you end up with the
perfect cake.
The last day of the course was devoted to assessment of
baking skills. Each team were challenged to make German
bread, breakfast rolls and a finished cake. No help was given
at this stage. The resulting displays were fabulous loaves,
breads and outstanding cakes. Every item was examined
and tasted for texture, colour, flavour and shape. The
Master Bakers cut, tasted and evaluated each item and
luckily for us, they were happy that every recipe was
executed true to recipe and presentation.
Each candidate was presented with a Certificate, so that all
over the globe the craft of German baking will be carried
out to perfection.
Fortunately for Irish bakers, this level of expertise is
available here in Dublin. Mr Derek O’Brien, Master Baker,
has an Irish Baking Academy in Palmerstown and there he
delivers an equally high standard of baking tuition, with
appropriate modifications for the domestic market. He was
largely instrumental in designing the course in Weinheim
and is part of their team of Master Bakers. The twenty four
course attendees will carry the craft of German baking all
over the world and so will enrich wonderfully the lives of
many people with really top quality breads and cakes.
COMHNASC -
Stabat Mater and Messiah
A concert comprising Pergolesi’s ‘Stabat Mater’
and highlights from ‘Messiah’ will take place on
Sunday afternoon 7th July in St. Ann’s Church
Dawson Street, Dublin at 3.30pm.
The soloists will be soprano Mari Moriya, winner
of the 2007 Veronica Dunne International
Singing Competition, and counter-tenor Daichi
Fujiki, winner of the Hans Gabor Prize at the
2012 Hans Gabor Belvedere International
Singing Competition, Vienna. They will be
accompanied by a small group of strings and
contrabasso organo. It promises to be a
memorable afernoon of superb baroque musicmaking.
The aim is to encourage as many Dublin choral
society members as possible who enjoy singing
‘Messiah’ to buy tickets and come along with
their scores to sing selected choruses as
members of the audience to rousing
accompaniment on a fine organ by Charles
Marshall, Director of Music at St. Ann’s. They will
in fact have the unusual opportunity to sing in a
shortened version of this work with a soprano
who has performed at the Metropolitan Opera
New York under James Levine.
It will be an exciting, live, interactive
experience. Everyone in the audience will stand
for the choruses, and whoever wants to sing can
do so, from wherever they are standing.
Sopranos and tenors will be asked to sit on one
Page 32 - COMHNASC
-
side of the church, altos and basses on the other.
There will be a limited number of tickets reserved
at a reduced rate for choral society members
willing to come early for a brief run-through of
the choruses. The idea is that the other singers
who arrive later for the concert will follow their
lead.
Biographical details of the two soloists, who
share a deep appreciation and understanding of
baroque music, appear below.
I would be grateful if you would bring this
concert and invitation for chorus participation
to the attention of your choral society members.
Details of the choruses selected will be sent
shortly.
It would of course be very helpful as
we plan the event further to hear as
soon as possible from choral society
secretaries how many members
have expressed interest in a)
attending the concert at 3.30pm to
join in singing during the event and
b) attending an informal rehearsal
earlier that afternoon at 2pm. (The
rehearsal will be followed by
complimentary tea and coffee in St.
Ann’s before the concert).
Tickets for the concert will be 20
euro with a reduced
rate for rehearsal
attendees of 15
euro.
I look forward to
hearing
the
response of your
members to this
exciting proposal.
Thank you for your assistance.
With best wishes,
Pauline Dalzell
[email protected]
RTAI Bursaries 2013
The NEC of RTAI decided last year to institute an
award of bursaries to members. Its aim in doing
this is to promote lifelong learning among our
members and to help with costs and expenses
incurred in worthy projects.
Two members were chosen for the awards – Mary
O’Reilly (Mayo Branch) and Gerry Daly (Galway
Branch).
Mary is currently in her second and final year of a
Diploma in Scientific Studies (Gemmology) at NUIG,
while Gerry is completing his MA in NUIG, working on
the Schools Folklore Collection 1938.
The awards were presented at a joint Bursary
Ceremony with the INTO and Comhar Linn INTO Credit
Union Ltd, in Club na Múinteoirí this February past.
L to R: Denis Desmond (Gen. Sec.), Anne Fay (Pres. INTO),
Gerry Daly, Galway Branch (Bursary winner),
Mary O’Reilly Mayo Branch (Bursary winner),
Joe Conway (NEC, RTAI).
S.O.S.S.
Dan O’Dowd (Westmeath Branch)
Another Congress has come and gone –
another Minister has walked the line,
As he declared that Smaller Rural Schools belong
to another time.
They have served us well all down the years,
And now their passing is causing many tears.
With army barracks and garda stations closing
because Big is Best,
These schools will join them in Ruairi’s Retirement Home of Rest.
Will they all meet together at the Pearly Gate,
To offer silent prayers for those politicians who decide their fate.
Ruairi has a vision – Ruairi has a plan
To transport school children on Magical Mystery Tours
all over the land,
Will we protest – will our flags fly at half mast?
Will there be a day of mourning as we are relegated to the Past?
Is this the price to be paid for the Troika’s austerity,
And the teachers’ great work consigned to posterity.
Angela’s acolytes in Ireland have a policy called Ruairification,
To have these small schools targeted for premature
Mummification.
Will our small schools join the list of distressed Properties?
Will they get a mention in the Celtic Tiger book
of great Monstrosities?
Will the new Super Schools retain their ethos and
status in the community?
Will ownership of these schools lead only to
discord and disunity?
Do you teachers not realise that your job is a Vocation,
And to work more for less is for the good of the Nation.
Do you not realise that it is your patriotic duty
To forego all your allowances to bolster the EU/IMF booty.
For €30,000 and a company car your C.E.C. Rep. Bryan O’Reilly
is Lidl bound,
So in the classroom he’ll never again be found.
But for the rest of you teachers – what can you do
To escape from further cuts, stealth taxes, bailouts and blues.
Is it right that politicians increase their perks and pensions
Surely the plight of Small Rural Schools deserve more attention.
But we are so docile and they’ll be no rioting on the streets
Because after all we are Irish and not like our fellow Greeks.
Have our Small Rural Schools reached their sell-by-date,
Can nameless bureaucrats really decide their fate.
Is Howlin’s Memorandum of Understanding
the only show in town,
Why are they so determined to shut us down.
So it will be left to you to tell their story,
Of how our Small Schools shone in all their glory,
And as the keys turn and the last pupils have gone,
Only to be remembered in Folklore and Song.
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?
Ruairi told Sheila Noonan – teachers don’t understand
the financial situation,
And that more cuts to pay and allowances are
now up for consideration.
Unfortunately our teachers are now on different pay
And the Croke Park agreement has extended their working day.
COMHNASC -
The Schools’ Folklore Collection Revisited
Gerry Daly* (Galway Branch)
Introduction
The purpose of this article is to examine the
background to the 1937-38 Schools Folklore
Collection and to describe the process of
collecting and preserving the material and to
recommend uses for the collection in the
curriculum of primary and secondary schools.
The Early Years
Folklore is as old as the human race. Ireland has a
rich heritage of folklore but much has been lost
over the centuries. Some nineteenth century
writers published works on Irish Folklore when the
study of folklore was still in its infancy worldwide.
Towards the close of the century many people in
Ireland became disillusioned with politics after the
fall of Parnell and some of them turned their
attention instead to Gaelic culture which was being
forgotten. This resulted in the formation of
organisations like the GAA, The Gaelic League and
Sinn Féin, and the growth of the Labour Movement
and The Co-Operative Movement.
The Irish Literary Revival took place around this
time also with the result that the Abbey Theatre was
founded to stage plays featuring Irish themes. One
of the founders of the Abbey Theatre, Lady Gregory,
who was a native of Kilchreest, was an enthusiastic
collector and publisher of folklore in South Galway
in the early years of the twentieth century. The
Gaelic League collected folklore also and there was
a folklore competition each year as part of the
Oireachtas which was run by the League.
The 20th Century
The first quarter of the twentieth century in Ireland
was not conducive to cultural pursuits and it was
not until 1926 that the first organisation was
established to “collect what still remains of the
folklore of our country”. This was The Folklore of
Ireland Society and one of the driving forces was
Seamus O Duilearga who would later become
synonymous with folklore collection and
preservation in Ireland. One of the legacies of this
organisation is the journal Bealoideas which still
flourishes.
Soon the enormity
of the task was
realised and as it
became obvious
that this task could
not be accomplished by a voluntary organisation
in
1930
the
government set up
the Irish Folklore
Institute . This organisation
set
about its task and
had it links with other folklore organ-isations in the
Scandanavian countries where folklore collecting
and preservation was well established. As a result
of intense lobbying the government voted a sum of
£100 per county for the collection of folklore. In
1935 Cumann Béaloideas Éireann-The Irish Folklore
Commission was set up as a State Institute to
collect, preserve, classify and study all aspects of
folk tradition. In the following decades the
Commission would assemble the second biggest
folklore archive in the world. Folklore has it that
this archive weighs twenty two tons.
The Schools Scheme
The Schools’ Folklore Scheme was the brainchild of
the founding fathers of the Commission-Seán O
Súilleabháin and Seamus O Duilearga.
In the autumn of 1937 a booklet was prepared by O
Súilleabháin and issued to all principals and
managers of national schools. It contained fifty
five suggested headings that might be used for
collecting folklore. We must remember that at that
time Ireland was still a predominantly rural nation
and that there were more than 5,000 national
schools in the country. This was the beginning of
the Schools’ Folklore Collection Scheme and it was
to be an outstanding success.
The INTO embraced the scheme with a passion
rarely seen in the long history of the Organisation
and it is something of which primary teachers
should be proud of and which should be celebrated
COMHNASC -
as we reach the 75th anniversary of the scheme.
The basic idea was that the senior pupils would be
absolved from writing their weekly essay in order to
collect folklore from their families and neighbours.
The material would be transcribed into special copy
books. It would be entered later into the
‘coipleabhar mór oifigiúil’ supplied by the
Department of Education who were a party to the
scheme. This work was done by select pupils who
had clear legible handwriting. All the material was
not transcribed as some of it involved repetition.
Such was the success of the scheme that the
deadline was extended from June1938 until the
end of the calendar year.
Early in 1939 all the material including the small
copybooks was returned to the Commission which
had its base in Earlsfort Terrace. 331, 000 pages of
material was collected, 35, 000 pages being
collected in Co. Galway alone. During World War 2
the material was removed to a safe house and it was
returned in 1949 to the new home of the
Commission on St. Stephen’s Green
The material was later bound into 1,100 volumes
and classified according to county, barony, parish
and school.
Today the material is housed in the de Largy Centre
at Belfield Campus UCD.
Microfilm copies for a particular county are
available at the Headquarters of the County
Libraries.
Conclusions
Perhaps it is time we revisited the Schools’ Folklore
Collection for a number of reasons:
• 2012-2013 marks the 75th anniversary of the
scheme. The pupils who contributed to the
collection were born circa 1924-25 and they are
fast slipping away from us. Some live abroad as
many of them emigrated. It is reasonably safe to
assume that all the tradition bearers and all the
teachers involved have passed on. Paddy Greene
a well-known teacher and folklorist from Co.
Longford who reached 100 in the millennium
year died in 2006.
• The Collection is an invaluable resource for local
studies in the SESE strands of the Revised
Curriculum in Primary Schools.
Page 36 - COMHNASC
-
• It is also a very valuable primary source for the
study of History in the curriculum in Second
Level Schools.
• The INTO had a major input into the project
which has been described as the greatest archive
of folklore collected anywhere in the world over
a short sustained period.
• It ranks with the Annals of The Four Masters in
terms of our national heritage.
The writer* was one of the recipients of the recent Bursary
Awards from the RTAI to promote lifelong learning.
Gambia Ireland Volunteers in Education (GIVE)
Volunteer Teachers Needed
Retired, Career Break Etc.
For a Rewarding Teaching Experience
in
The Gambia at Primary/Secondary Level or Skills Centre
6 Weeks Jan/Feb or Feb/March 2014 (4 Hours a day)
Choose from the following Options:1. Manage Workshops/Class Work with Infant Teachers
2. Classroom mentoring and assistance for Trainee Teachers.
3. Second chance Vocational Educatioin in Skill Centres
(Girls aged between 14 and 22 approx.)
4. Individual/Small group support for Students in English and Mathematics.
Info Meeting: Saturday May 11th at 2.00pm in the Teachers’ Club, Parnell Square, Dublin.
For more information please email:
E: [email protected] • W: http://www.giveireland.ie
COMHNASC -
The Winner of Crossword No. 7 was:
Denis Shannon (Carlow Branch),
Co. Carlow.
1
M A L
2
Answers to
CROSSWORD No. 7
I G N E R
3
5
4
O
A
E
A
O
D
E
I
S
C
N
O
P
R
A
C A M E L
10
N
9
C
V E R
11
W E N C E S L A S
12
H
17
H U S H U P
14
O R D
18
G
23
D
20
I
M
L
H
E
C
I T A B L E
E G R E T
13
C
16
N
E
S
H
O
O
S
S
21
U N D E R C O A T
H
N
G
A
A
K
E
M
N O S T A L G I
Y A M M E R
8
7
N
S
27
6
O
24
O
25
U P D A T E
E X T O R T
19
A
P
26
U
N
U
I N U P
E
I
W E A S E L E D
28
HARD
EASY
S C A M P E R
15
I N A L
M E A L S
22
Solutions
7
1
2
5
9
4
3
8
6
4
5
6
9
7
1
8
2
3
1
8
3
6
4
5
9
7
8
9
3
7
6
1
5
4
2
2
5
4
6
3
2
8
9
1
7
9
3
7
2
8
5
4
6
1
4
3
7
2
6
1
5
9
1
2
5
8
3
7
4
6
9
8
9
6
7
4
5
2
8
3
1
6
2
5
4
1
9
7
3
8
9
1
5
3
8
6
4
2
3
8
4
6
1
9
7
2
5
7
2
3
1
9
8
5
6
7
4
3
6
2
1
5
7
9
8
4
8
4
6
9
3
2
7
5
7
9
8
4
2
3
1
6
4
5
8
1
7
6
2
9
3
1
6
7
9
2
4
3
1
5
8
5
6
2
8
4
1
3
5
7
9
3
7
5
2
6
9
1
8
4
4
1
9
7
8
5
6
3
2
8
6
1
9
3
2
7
4
5
9
3
4
5
7
1
2
6
8
2
5
7
6
4
8
3
9
1
1
4
2
3
9
6
8
5
7
5
9
3
8
2
7
4
1
6
7
8
6
1
5
4
9
2
3
MEDIUM
Scribble Pad
GUIDED TOURS
FROM CORK
Italy - 2 Escorted Tours
7 Nights B/B plus Evening Meals
3 Full Day Tours with Guide for the Week
Lake Como - July 24th to 31st
Lake Maggiore - August 18th to 25th
Contact Patsy Foley,
RTAI Member, Cork Branch
021-7337159 / 087-6798810
COMHNASC -

Comhnasc Spring / April 2013 - Retired Teachers` Association of

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