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St. Peter's first teacher
For a number of years we had searched in vain for a photograph of Mr. and Mrs. David Joyce, the first teachers at St. Peter's National School in Snugboro. However, earlier this year Mrs. Ellie Staunton of Tullycommons met a couple taking photographs of the schoolhouse. She got chatting to them and discovered the lady was Mr. Joyce's granddaughter, Mrs. Bearsey, who was holidaying here from England. The couple told her Mrs. Joyce was born in Linenhall Street, Castlebar, and his wife was Margaret O'Connor from Richard Street, Castlebar. The couple lived in the old schoolhouse until 1918 along with their nine children. They had taught school in a shed where McGough's old house is now situated before moving into St. Peter's. There were 103 pupils in the school at the time. Later the Joyces moved to Newport. David Joyce is buried in Dublin and his wife is buried in Guildford, Surrey, England. We are pleased to have been able to trace the history of the Joyce family and are grateful to Mrs. Staunton for her help in the matter. Our thanks also to Mr. and Mrs. Bearsey.
Memories of a teacher
Martin Heverin taught in St. Peter's N.S. from 1935 to 1937. Here he recalls memories of his time there.
In May 1935 the late Henry Hoban, who had been teaching in Snugboro for some 17 years, was appointed principal of Derrywash N.S. and I was asked to replace him in Snugboro. When I arrived there the late James (O'Quigley), the principal, informed me
that the attendance would not warrant a permanent appointment for me, but if I remained he felt we could get the attendance up to the required figure in a few months. This happened, as he foretold, and I became the third teacher with Mr. and Mrs. O'Quigley who
were both the soul of kindness to me and helped me in every way.
I sure wanted help as at that time I hadn't a clue about teaching.
Discipline was everything in those days and the fact that two teachers were in the same room added to the workload and problems of teaching. But the small classroom where you taught alone for part of the day was a godsend and you got through the work without difficulty.
I have many pleasant memories of my two years in Snugboro, not alone of my fellow teachers, James and Mrs. O'Quigley, and their cons nnt help, but also of those first pupils of mine—the Walshes, Flannerys, Hopkins's, Scotts, Murrays, McHales, Morans, Burkes,
Mangans, Quinns, Deeres, Whites, and that gentleman par excellence, Dinny McLoughlin.
Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to reminisce with them of former days when we meet. Some, sadly, have passed to their heavenly reward, God rest them. Ni bheidh a leitheid ann go deo aris.
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