Reunion Drumshanbo NS

Certain unfortunate circumstances made my senior year of high (secondary) school a time I had rather forget. I graduated with a fake diploma and had to work like hell for a year to complete my credits. So when I received an announcement early in '07 of the reunion of the class of 1957, I had no inclination to attend. But something changed my mind: an experience in Ireland this summer.

I stumbled on a little booklet, a collective memoir, of those who had attended the Drumshanbo National School from the mid-30's to the mid-'70's, and I met the man, Noel McPartland, born in 1939 just like me, who inspired and edited it. National School in those days, ended at grade seven. Yet I held in my hand personal remembrances of classmates who graduated in the 40's and 50's after completing only seven years of school and who were coming from far and near in August of '97 for their reunion.

Many submitted fond memories. Stella Carney wrote from Canada where she had spent the past forty years: "My younger sister was to be the infant in the manger for the nativity scene of the Christmas concert. All was well until the curtain went up. Then my sister let out a loud holler. 'I want my daddy.' My father, a shy man at the best of times, was at the back and had to walk the length of the hall to retrieve his infant. The concert went ahead without her."

Mick Heron wrote from London where he had lived for the past twenty years: "My fondest memories of any teacher were of Miss Flanagan. I can never recall her being in bad humor. Master Dohery was another. He bought our first leather football (Gaelic football) for £4-12-6, and he started the school league. Happy days."

But all was not totally warm and rosy as another remembrance revealed: "I started National School in Drumshanbo when I was barely four. I enjoyed mathmatics. We always got homework in those days. Ten sums was what I was told to do. In my enthusiasm I did fifty. This caused a problem for me. I got the cane for not doing what I was told and came home with a nice whelt on my wrist. If I expected sympathy, I quickly learned whose side my parents were on."

On August 23rd, 1997, the first evening of the reunion, many old friendships were renewed. But a classmate was conspicuously missing, one who had never left his home town. Many had inquired, 'Where is John? Why isn't he here?' Late that evening, Noel went to his house and knocked at the door. 'John,' he asked, 'Why have you not joined us? Everyone has wanted to see you.' John lowered head. 'I can't talk about it,' he muttered. 'Too many bad memories.' Noel remembered. John had been ridiculed and humiliated for several years...by one teacher in particular. Noel continued, 'John, your classmates have come from distant cities. They have asked about you. They want to see you. You must come to the gathering tomorrow. Come and say hello before our old friends have to leave. We will not let you refuse. We will come for you tomorrow if we must.' John hid his face in his hands.

Two of my classmates have done much the same for me. Mary Joy and Harriet, members of the Central High reunion committee, Class of '57, would not take "no" for an answer. One, her hand at my back, the other pulling me by the arm so to speak...they "knocked at my door" with their constant emails. Then Noel, out of the blue, showed me the reunion book of the Drumshanbo National School and told me about John. Thank you all.

Written by Paul Davis - Summer of Travel 2007