Chapter 10 — Carriglea

Emotional abuse and neglect

Another scheme in which the School became involved was the provision of secondary technical education onsite. This appears to have arisen out of a proposal by the Department, which was, according to the agenda for the meeting of Christian Brothers Managers dated 23rd April 1949, ‘to have the instruction in the upper classes in Industrial Schools given a technical bias by the inclusion of Woodwork and Drawing’. It is not clear when the scheme was implemented in the School, but the minutes of the Christian Brothers’ Resident Managers’ meeting held on 12th January recorded that boys in Carriglea were at that time being prepared for the ‘Junior Tech. Examinations’. The teaching staff was supplied by the Vocational Education Committee, and the Resident Manager was supplying ‘everything else’.

One witness, who had been in the School from the mid-1940s to the early 1950s, recounted in evidence that he could read and write when he left Carriglea and that he did the Primary Certificate. He conceded that the education he received ‘was passable’. In fact, he went further and added, ‘In actual fact, I was a little above, when I went over to the army a few years later I was kind of more educated than, like my English counterparts ...’

Another witness recalled being in class from 9.30 in the morning until 2.30 in the afternoon. He learnt classical poems, which he did not consider very beneficial, ‘I learnt some very classical poems, for what good they did me, I could quote them now if you want me to’.

Another witness stated that he did not get a good education. However, he admitted that he was a bit behind educationally when he first arrived in Carriglea and, as a result, he never went beyond second class and so did not do his Primary Certificate.

The national school education provided at Carriglea appears to have been of a comparatively high standard. The initiative of preparing boys for the Post Office examination was a useful practical measure to take advantage of an employment opportunity. If this was School policy, the Superior and management are to be commended. If it was the enterprise of a particular Brother, which appears to be more likely, it shows what could be achieved by one motivated teacher by way of practical assistance. The practice continued when a lay teacher took on the task in succession to the original Brother. It is regrettable that the practice of sending brighter boys to the Christian Brothers’ secondary school was discontinued. It greatly enhanced the chances of securing employment and was in accordance with the recommendations of the Cussen Report. The school failed those pupils who could have taken advantage of further academic education.

Unlike Artane, there were only two trades available in Carriglea: boot-making and tailoring. In addition, there was an extensive farm and, latterly, a band. The practice, as with all industrial schools, was that from the age of 14, boys who had finished their formal education were put to learn a trade that would enable them to gain employment upon their discharge from the School. These boys were also given literary and religious classes for an hour and a half each day.

Although the two trades of boot-making and tailoring appear to have been well run, very few boys were engaged in them at any time.

In 1944, when there were 255 boys in the Institution, the situation was as follows: Farm – 4; Tailor’s shop – 15; and Bootmaker’s – 15.

The Visitor in 1944 was critical of the fact that the number of boys working on the farm had dropped to four, considering that this was the occupation that ‘most of them will follow’. The Visitor commented: These trades are essential for the school as all the clothing and boots required by the boys are made here under the direction of two capable foremen. Many of the boys reach a good stage of proficiency in these two trades before leaving the school.

In 1946, the Visitor gave the following numbers working in the trades: Farm – about 15; Tailor’s shop – 20; Bootmaker’s – about 20.

The 1946 Visitation Report stated: As the Institution should be vocational it is desirable that the Trades should be restored ... Laundry and knitting are the immediate requirements. Carpentry and painting could be introduced later.

The Visitor in that year also felt that: The Band should also be restored as it would give a tone to the Institution and give the pupils an interest in Music and culture.

The band had been discontinued at the end of the 1930s. However, in 1947 a retired Garda superintendent, a former past pupil and former director of the Garda Band, was engaged to direct musical training.

By 1948, apart from the re-establishment of the band, there were three trade shops in operation, with the addition of the knitting school, which was for the occupation of the younger boys. The farm, consisting of 115 acres (62 acres of which had been recently purchased), supplied the Industrial School with plenty of milk and vegetables.

One witness, who was resident in the School from the mid-1940s to the early 1950s, said that he had worked in the tailor’s shop in Carriglea after completing his Primary Certificate, and this had enabled him to obtain employment in a tailor’s shop upon his discharge.