St. Columba's National School

ST. COLUMBA'S NATIONAL SCHOOL - 175 YEARS OF EDUCATION IN TULLOW
by William F. Paton, M.A.

The Doyne Family
If Daniel Delany, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin is synonymous with Scoil Mhuire Lourdes and The Monastery Boys' National School as founder of the Brigidine Sisters and the Patrician Brothers, then the Doyne Family is synonymous with the foundation of St. Columba's National School, Tullow.

While the exact origins of St. Columba's National School are somewhat shrouded by the passage of time, an extract from the Vestry Minute Book of St. Columba's Church (1853 to 1922) throws some light on the origins of the school. Revd. John L. Drapes, Rector of Tullow (1860-1896) recorded the following on the back pages of the minute book.

"In 1825 the Revd. Charles Doyne, the Curate of the Parish, applied to the Lord Lieutenant for a grant for building it (St. Columba's N.S.) £150 was granted provided a like sum was raised by local subscriptions and on condition that the house and provided (passage) should be given over by Mr. Doyne, the landlord, father of the late Charles H. Doyne Esq., for ever, for the purposes of the education of the Protestant children of the Parish."

The extract in the minute book goes on to qualify this information. "This information was obtained by Mr. John Carroll, the present teacher from the Endowed School Commissioners, Marquis of Kildare, Chairman, when they visited the Parish."

However, despite the Lord Lieutenant having laid down the condition that the ownership of the property and school building be transferred to the parish, this condition was not adhered to by Mr. Doyne and it would cause much heartache to future generations of managers of the school, right up to the present day.

An examination of the authoritative reference work "Burke's Irish Family Records" reveals the lineage of the Doyne family. The family claimed descent from the sept whose chieftains formerly ruled over Hy-Regain (a territory now comprised of County Laois) and which was of the same race as O'Conor, Failghe, O'More and O'Dempsey, The Doyne family tree can be traced back to the early 15^th century. But of concern to us in exploring the history of St. Columba's National School is the Doyne Family from Wells, Gorey, Co. Wexford.

Robert Doyne (Jnr.) of Wells, Co. Wexford was born on March 2^nd 1782 son of Robert Doyne (Snr.) and Mary Humphries Ram. He married Annette Constantia Beresford (daughter of the Earl of Waterford) on July 2^nd 1805 and they had two sons Robert Stephen and Charles Henry as well as two daughters Mary and Annette. He died in December 1850 aged 68 years.

If John Carroll's account of the origins of St. Columba's National School is correct and there is no reason not to believe so, then the landlord referred to by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland is Robert Doyne (Jnr.). Thus in 1825 began a longstanding family connection with the education of the Protestant children of Tullow Parish. The Rector of Tullow at this time was the Revd. Thomas Davis (1803-1832).

The family was not aristocratic or titled but it was certainly landed gentry. They were large and wealthy landowners and well connected, as evidence by the marriages many of the sons of the family made into the great titled families of Ireland.  Bateman's book the "Great Landowners of Great Britain" lists Charles Mervyn Doyne of Wells, Gorey, Co. Wexford as the owner of the following lands:

Jimmy O'Toole in his excellent book "The Carlow Gentry" tells us more of the Doyne family history. "It was during the reign of Queen Anne (1703 - 1713) that the Doynes were granted estates of 3,200 acres in County Carlow and St. Austin's Abbey (now in ruin) was built in the 1850's by Charles Henry Doyne youngest son of Robert Doyne. The architects were Sir Thomas Newenham Deane and Benjamin Woodward." When Charles Henry died in 1867 with no male heirs St. Austin's Abbey passed to his nephew James W.C. Doyne.

The failure of Robert Doyne to transfer the ownership of the school to St. Columba's was to have strange consequences. Again we return to St. Columba's Vestry Minute Book where according to Revd. Drapes extract, "the late J.B. Johnstone, Rector of Tullow (1832-1860) ceased to visit the school for some years, as the teachers refused to recognise his authority."

Revd. Drapes continues, "The late Charles Henry Doyle told me that they had a bad teacher for some time, who kept possession of the house and that he, Mr. Doyne, recovered possession of it by getting a bailiff in through the window."

Charles Henry Doyne not a man to be trifled with took matters into his own hands. Again Revd. Drapes tells us "that thence forward he took the management into his (own) hands, appointed a new master and acted as Treasurer, Revd. J.B. Johnstone being absent at the time. Even after Mr. Johnstone returned to the Parish, Mr. Doyne acted as Treasurer until his death on March 19^th 1867."

Tangible evidence of the Doyne family connection with St. Columba's N.S. is on view at the school for all to see. Every day pupils, parents and teachers alike pass by under the watchful photographic portrait of James Walter Chaloner Doyne (1851 - 1898) of St. Austin's Abbey, Tullow. It was his grandfather who founded St. Columba's N.S.

James W.C. Doyne was born on April 25^th 1851 son of Robert Stephen Doyne and Sarah Emily Tynte. He was a Justice of the Peace for County Wicklow and was High Sheriff of County Carlow in 1881. He died unmarried on March 22^nd 1898.

Other members of the Doyne family were to continue to have an active interest in the fate of St. Columba's National School. Mrs. Georgina Louisa Doyne wife of Charles Henry Doyne left a substantial bequest to the school in her will when she died in 1893.

Her bequest reads, "I give and bequeath out of my pure personalty the sum of five hundred pounds to the Representative Body of the Church of Ireland upon trust to invest the same and apply the income arising therefrom for the purpose of providing Scriptural Instruction according to the principles of the Protestant Church of Ireland during times permitted by the National Board of Education at Tullow (County Carlow) National School No.2 and for the purpose of providing instruction of Needlework to be taught to the girls at the same school."

The legacy of £500 was reduced to £447.14.8 on the payment of £50 Legacy Duty and costs of advertisement of £2.5.4.

Masters at Tullow Protestant Free School
Unfortunately, during my research for this article I was unable to find a full list of masters who worked at St. Columba's N.S.  However, extracts from Salter's Directory held at Carlow Central Library would prove a valuable source of information regarding the names of some of the early masters at the school.

The 1841 edition (this date is taken from the census mentioned in the extracts from Slater's Directory) listed George Roberts as Master and Margaret Butler as Mistress of the Protestant Free School, Tullow. Elizabeth Butler is listed as the Mistress of the Protestant Infants School. Revd. J.B. Johnstone is listed as Rector of Tullow at this time. Population of Tullow - 3,097.

The 1851 edition (again dated by the census) lists John Carroll as Master and Maria Butler as Mistress of the Protestant Free School. Revd. J.B. Johnstone is listed as Rector of Tullow. Population of Tullow - 2,963.

The 1861 edition of Slater's Directory lists John Carroll as Master and Charlotte Carroll (presumably his wife) as Mistress of the Protestant Free School. Revd. J.L. Drapes is listed as Rector of Tullow. Population of Tullow - 1,086. The Potato Famine hit the Tullow area hard, its population fell by two thirds over ten years.

The 1871 edition of Slater's Directory lists John Carroll as Master of the Protestant Free School. Revd. J.L. Drapes is listed as Rector of Tullow. Population of Tullow - 951.

The Official School folder contains a duplicate of a contract signed by Revd. Drapes (Manager of the school) and Thomas W. Gibson following his appointment as Principal Teacher to the school on 5^th May 1888. Gibson's salary would consist of the National School Board's grant, local contribution of £20 per annum and school fees.

District Inspector, Mac Donnell praised this new appointee in his report following his visit to the school on May 21^st 1889. The report states that "Since Mr. Gibson got charge of the school in May last, he has discharged his duties in a very satisfactory manner. The general proficiency of his classes is good, order and discipline are well maintained and the moral tone of the school is high. The school accounts are properly kept and the house and premises are in good order. Taking the school as a whole I was much pleased with it."

The return for the school dated April 1^st 1893 shows that the total amount of fees received from all pupils within the 12 months ended 31^st December 1892 was £3.15.9.

Revd. Drapes was notified by the Office of National Education on August 24^th 1893 that Thomas Gibson having been examined at the Annual Examination of Teachers was to be promoted to the 1^st division of 1^st class with effect from April 1^st, 1893.

The appointment of William McCullagh
When the position of master at St. Columba's became free around the spring of 1894, following the resignation of Thomas Gibson, one William McCullagh applied for the position. Mr. McCullagh in Killarney and Revd John Drapes in Tullow exchanged a flurry of correspondence regarding the position. We are fortunate that much of this correspondence survives today.

From the Parochial National School in Killarney on June 12th 1894, William McCullagh writes, “Revd. Sir, Having seen by advertisement that you require a teacher for Tullow National School I beg to offer myself as a candidate for the post. I am a Churchman and was trained in the Church of Ireland Training College. My class under the Board is 2nd division of First and I hold a second class certificate in Religious Knowledge under the General Synod. I have also certificates in Mathematics and Mechanics from the Science and Art Department.”

He continues “I have a good knowledge of the Tonic Solfa system but know nothing of instrumental music. I am 39 years of age. My wife is certified as workmistress by the National Board and is employed as such in this school. I enclose copies of testimonials....... "

"Should you be disposed to entertain my application kindly let me know if the average attendance of girls is sufficient (20) to secure a salary for workmistress from the Board. Also the amount of local aid and of school fees if any.” 

The appointment of a teacher to St. Columba’s N.S. was an important matter to Revd. Drapes. He kept copies of the references which Mr. McCullagh included with his letter of application.  The first is written by Revd. Robert Doupe, Rector of Hacketstown who was full of praise for McCullagh and regretted his leaving to take a post at Killarney in order “to better himself”.

Dr. G. Robert Wynne, Archdeacon of Aghadoe, was similar in his praise for McCullagh and said that “he has always been most willing to help in Choir, Sunday School, Temperance society” and was only leaving as the numbers at Killarney were falling and with it his salary.

The matter of the number of girls attending St. Columba’s National School was of major importance to Mr. McCullagh. Twenty girls were required to secure a paid post for his wife as workmistress. But he had his own novel solution to any shortfall for the required twenty girls, as we shall see later.

On June 20th 1894, William McCullagh confirmed his candidacy by letter to Revd. Drapes. He told Revd. Drapes that “the answering at this school (Killarney N.S.) was pronounced by the Diocesan Examiners to be the best in the Diocese and I was awarded a prize by the Diocesan Board.”

Ever mindful of the need to have twenty girls at the school to employ his wife as a paid workmistress, he told Revd. Drapes that “An attendance of 16 girls would be sufficient in my case to secure a salary for a workmistress from the National Board as I have four children (girls) who would bring the number up to twenty.”

In his final letter of June 25th 1894 to Revd. Drapes, he writes, “I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter informing me that you appointed me teacher of your school and to say that I accept the appointment.”

Discipline
The Corporal Punishment Book reveals that William McCullagh was not averse to enforcing discipline in the school. On June 5^th 1905, 6^th class pupil Herbert Mitchell was caught pelting a bird's nest in the playground and for his troubles received two slaps on the hand with a cane.

Jack Willoughby received two slaps with the cane on the hand for annoying other boys in the classroom.  Walter Ryan received the same punishment when he annoyed the other boys in class by daubing them with ink.

The Class of 1888
The Roll Book of St. Columba's National School began on Monday 2^nd April 1888 when 56 children attended the school.

Infant Class (13) - James Henderson, Arthur Thompson, James Henderson, William Hopkins, John Smith, Henry Byrne, Harriet Percy, Emma Burgess, Ellen Hopkins, Sarah Caldbeck, Maggie Thompson, Louisa Tyrrell, and Frances Byrne.

First Class (10) - James Hopkins, Albert Smith, Thomas Bolton, James Hopkins, Lily Burland, Margaret Percy, Ada Smith, Lily Leslie, May Caldbeck, and Anne Hopkins.

Second Class (5) - Lames Sunderland, Charles Tyrrell, Charles Dowse, Anna Bolton and Mary A. Lucas.

Third Class (13) - Thomas Dagg, Robert Dagg, Michael Tyrrell, John Dowse, John Burgess, Mary Hopkins, Alicia Hopkins, Matilda Percy, Sarah Thompson, Sarah Hopkins, Frances Dagg, Mary Smith, and Anna Smith.

Fourth Class (3) - William Percy, Thomas Tyrrell and Herbert Baulke.

Fifth Class (12) - John Bolton, Thomas Smith, Ben Hopkins, William Gilbert, Thomas Gilbert, Joseph Smith, Frances Burgess, Bessie Thompson, Mary Gilbert, Maggie Burland, Mary Percy and Jane Bolton