Chapter 12 — Salthill

Neglect and emotional abuse

In 1939, Dr Anna McCabe30 conducted her first general inspection of Salthill. She noted that the School looked untidy, as did the children. Otherwise, she found the boys were healthy.

The following year, the Visitor remarked that, ‘this is the one of our institutions that has impressed me least’. The Institution gave a dirty, drab impression and ‘tidiness is not a feature of the place’.

The boys’ kitchen was renovated in 1942, as it was in a particularly offensive condition because of rats’ nests, a fact that was not commented on by the Department of Education Inspector.

Dr McCabe wrote to the Resident Manager, after her inspection in July 1942, complaining about: the unsatisfactory conditions in which I found the beds and bedding, dormitories and corridors, in the matter of general cleanliness, also the need for painting and plastering of some of the walls.

Br Vachel,31 the Manager, defended the condition of the Institution, and blamed Dr McCabe’s poor impression on the bad timing of her visit.

The Visitor in May 1943 was shocked at the state of disrepair and low standard of cleanliness of the premises, which he put down to wartime conditions, low finances, and a certain lack of energy on the part of the Superior due to his ill-health. The Report noted a lack of cleanliness in the boys’ bedclothes, but reserved its main criticism for their eating facilities and implements: The boys’ refectory is the part of the institution most lacking in cleanliness. The floor is in a bad condition. The oil cloth covering the tables is old dirty and in places ragged. The forms are dirty and badly need scrubbing. The plates and mugs are of aluminium and have the undersides dirty and greasy. Some of the mugs are of tin showing signs of rust. The plates that were once enamelled have a wretched appearance. The Brother in charge has too little to do but he is dirty and lazy ... The impression produced is that St. Joseph’s is a neglected place inhabited by people devoid of a sense of cleanliness. Some cleanup may have been done in preparation for the visitor and the ordinary condition may be worse that what I describe so that if a Government Inspector came unannounced and made a close inspection his report would be very damaging and would bring shame upon us.

The Visitor was of the view that the situation in Salthill was so serious that a visit from the Brother Provincial would be necessary in order to drive home the gravity of the matter to the Superior.

A similar theme pervaded the Visitation Reports of the 1940s, and the shocking state of the Institution was referred to again and again.

The 1944 Visitation Report noted the shabby state of the boys’ refectory and dilapidated condition of the outbuildings.

Dr McCabe conducted a General Inspection of the School in June 1944 and, once again, noted the tattered and patched state of the children’s clothing and footwear. The Resident Manager complained about the difficulty in obtaining supplies and the prohibitive cost of material. He criticised the practice under which children were discharged into the care of their parents after spending only a short time in the Institution. This had a destabilising effect on the other children. He also regarded it as unfair that the Brothers fit these children out with new clothes, only for them to leave a short time later. Dr McCabe also noted that the premises were badly in need of repair.

In 1946, the Visitor expressed concern at the dangerous state of the workshops. He noted that there were seven boys employed in the bakery, which supplied the needs of the School. This workshop was dirty, with cobwebs everywhere. Five boys were employed in the laundry. He was critical of the laundry facilities, the torn bedclothes and the clothing of the boys.

The Visitor in 1947 noted that a series of long overdue renovations were underway.

The following year, the Visitor noted a number of improvements to the premises, including the dormitories, infirmary, bathroom, recreation hall and dining hall.

Despite the improvements introduced at the end of the 1940s, the Visitation Report for 1950 was still critical of the conditions for the boys and the Brothers. The Visitor observed that there was little in the way of recreation for the boys and that ‘life is rather drab here for boys and Brothers. The boys can have little healthy to talk about’. He noted that the schoolyard was in a deplorable condition, the concrete being badly broken. He suggested the introduction of two young Brothers to the Community to inject some life into the Institution.

The Visitation Report for 1950 stated that ‘a wave of immorality’ had been discovered, which was dealt with by means of a four-day retreat for the boys.