Founded on Fear Page 6

  During my first eighteen months, or two years at school, there had been three different people in charge of the kitchen and the refectory. Mr Hogan, Mr Ackle and Brother O’Rourke. Hogan and Ackle had been inmates of Letterfrack. Mr Hogan was a thorough gentleman. I heard it said that he had been a soldier in the British Army. Ackle always carried an ash plant and often flogged the very young children during meal times. Brother O’Rourke was very good and kind, and would give extra food when requested, he had ginger hair and was young, about twenty-five.

  We are now about six months at school and it’s summer time, additional desks are provided at the back of the school. We have up until now been in the band room, but are now back again with Brother Walsh. As I sit at my desk, I see my brother Paddy and others being savagely beaten on the back, the head and face. They are now doing mental arithmetic, as they are asked a question, they must answer immediately, or be beaten. At first the lads used to leave their desk and line up to be slapped, but now they are beaten at their desk to save time. The lesson is over, we are dismissed, and I run to speak to Paddy and ask him if the strap hurt very much. He just laughs and says it was nothing, but I can see that his right eye is swollen and almost closed.

  It’s now the month of June, and everyone is talking about the holidays. The first four Brothers will be going away for six weeks very soon, the three in charge of the classrooms and dormitories, and the office Brother usually leave together. The boys are also on holiday at this time, which means that the classrooms close down for lessons, and the boys are at play during the school period, but go to the workshops in the usual way. Every one looks forward to this time of year. It is the time that the pets get beaten up, by the other lads. The pets are the Christian Brothers’ favourites, almost all Brothers have at least one pet. The pets are with the Brothers at most times except when they are going about looking for information. They are expected to spy on other children and carry stories to their masters. When the boys notice a pet nearby, the word ‘nix’ was passed round, and everyone was now on their guard. But the pets were useful in some ways, if we wanted something, say for example a new pair of braces, or a change of boots, we could buy the pet over for a penny or a few sweets, he would then speak to the Brother concerned, this method was usually successful and we got what we wanted.

  During the holiday period we were not beaten except by the superior Brother Keegan. He used to come down to the yard every day about ten o’clock, he carried a long heavy stick. Brother Keegan was a big man and he usually wore leggings. I never seen him beat the very young children, but he would often take two or three lads away and beat them with their pants off. On one occasion I noticed two boys, after such a beating, their legs were cut and bleeding. There never was any reason given for this beating, but I heard that it was the result of information carried by the pets.

  I myself can’t remember being beaten in this manner, but I have been beaten on other occasions by Keegan. He would come around sometimes on a Saturday morning when we were not at school lessons, and would blow his whistle, we would fall in, in the usual manner and he would examine the head and hands, he would then make us take off our jersey and shirt and examine them for body lice. Children who had lice in their hair or clothing would be ‘skinned’ which was the word for being beaten with the pants off. Keegan in spite of all this was a very religious man, his brother was a priest and came to the school on two occasions.

  Keegan was just as strict with the Brothers as with the children, he never allowed late nights, nor did he allow the Brothers to have girlfriends. Brother Rairdon was in charge of the farm for seventy years, he never came near the yard. He was very severe with the boys under him. ‘Bulldog’, one of the boys on the farm, told me that Rairdon was in the habit of making the boys kneel down before beating them on the back and legs with a blackthorn stick which he always carried.

  Brother Scully was the farm Brother after Rairdon, he was very good to the children. I remember him taking us to Diamond Hill about a mile east of the school one Sunday. He gave us bread and jam and then told us stories. He then sang us a song the words were, ‘work boys, work’, and he continued, ‘as long as you’ve enough to buy a meal, you’ll be happy, bye and bye, you’ll be happy, bye and bye, if you only put your shoulder to the wheel.’ He then gave us a pinch of snuff which made us sneeze. Next day we got a parcel from home and a letter from Mother with a half crown in it. We couldn’t agree on how much we were to get each so we went to Mr Griffin for advice.

  Mr Griffin was a schoolteacher at Letterfrack for more than forty years, he was present in the yard every day, and was good to the children, he would read and write their letters for them. When the Brothers were on holiday, Mr Griffin often took us for a walk to the sea front about a mile away. We could go in the sea or not, as we desired. We would then all sit around and he would tell us stories. He once told us about when he and another teacher came to Letterfrack in the year 1882. They were then paid eight shillings a week, and his friend left to join the army, because he wouldn’t get another shilling. Life is good during the holidays. We can pick blackberries in the football field. We can play in the school room when it’s raining, or we can leave the yard without being beaten. Yesterday I went to the kitchen and asked Mr Logan for a crust and he gave me a big piece of bread and sweet tea.

  Cunningham, a big boy in infants, can make a rag ball to bounce just like a rubber ball. He has lots of cloth, which he got from the tailor’s shop, he gets a small piece of cloth and sews it together folding it up as small as possible, and continues to sew until it is perfectly round, he has an old inner tube of a bicycle which he cuts into very narrow strips. This thin rubber is now wound round the rag ball and is kept very tight. It is wound in many different directions and then fastened securely. It is then covered with another piece of material and again sewn until it is perfectly round. He also made spin-tops which were as good as any from the shop. The Letterfrack boys made their own toys. Cunningham was eleven years old and still in infants, he never learned to read or write.

  The holidays are now almost over, the Brothers will be back in another week. The children no longer smile, very few of them play, they just stand around in small groups, they just whisper to each other, they are afraid to be overheard. That frightened look has returned to their faces. The next few days are spent polishing and cleaning the dormitory. Every boy sweeps under his own bed, it is then polished. The wash basins are cleaned thoroughly and the taps are cleaned with Brasso every day. Our boots must be repaired before next week. There will be an inspection on Monday. It’s now Sunday. We go to Mass in silence. After breakfast we go to the football field. Our last day of freedom for another year. We have lunch. Mr Hogan is in charge and he is responsible for the cooking, he is a good cook and he gives extra potatoes and cabbage if asked for. Brother O’Rourke has been in charge until recently, some say he is ill in hospital, others say he has gone away to another school. Mr Hogan comes to the school quite often. There was a story that he is going to marry the nurse. After lunch Brother Keegan, the superior, comes to the yard, he always carries that big stick. He doesn’t often beat the lads, but we are afraid of him.

  He brings his dog Spot, a cocker spaniel, and Mr Griffin has his little dog Toby, a ginger crossbreed. Keegan now lifts Spot and throws him at Toby and they start to fight. Keegan often does this because his dog always wins. Keegan’s dog Spot now has little Toby by the throat, and is shaking him. Brother Keegan is now clapping his hands and laughing loudly. One of the older boys now lifts Spot off the ground by catching him by the hind legs. Spot now looses his grip, Toby is now badly hurt and some of the boys are crying, because Mr Griffin lets them play with Toby. Mr Griffin now carries his dog away to the glasshouse where it is warm.

  Brother Keegan now takes us to the football field for an hour. There are two footballs for the whole school, so that the majority either watch the game, or play Cowboys and Indians. We return for tea. After tea Brother Kelly reads a letter, from a m
an who has left the school more than ten years before (Brother Kelly the office Brother has been on holiday and just returned). This man writes of conditions in Letterfrack from 1910 until 1916 during which time he was an inmate of the school. This man writes saying that escapes were so common, that both gates were kept locked day and night and a monitor kept watch on the terrace all the time. Escapes were attempted in spite of the fact that when caught children were skinned every day until they were removed to a reform school for several years. Brother Kelly never beats the children himself, nor does he know they are being beaten on the head and face.

  The following morning, Monday, we report back to school after six weeks. Brother Dooley in charge of 5th and 6th standards, Brother Byrne 4th and 3rd, and Brother Walsh, infants, first and second. Our school is in silence. As Walsh walks in we jump to our feet. The entrance to our school is at the rear, and it is an offence for anyone to glance round when the door opens. Two boys are called up and warned but not beaten, Walsh never carries the strap the first day, everyone knows this.

  We don’t do very much at lessons. We say our prayers, and Mr Moran teaches us Irish. He is a native of Letterfrack. Brother Walsh then takes over, and asks questions about what happened during the time he was away.

  We are now reminded of the coming exams, that we must work hard in the future, and that backward children will be severely beaten. We must not speak or whisper or look around during classes. We must not speak in the Dormitory, our beds must be kept clean and tidy. All beds must be kept in line, every boy is held responsible for the floor under his bed, it must be swept every day and kept polished. We must use insect powder on our clothes in order to kill the vermin.

  Pants and jerseys would be inspected every night before going to bed. Any boys found to have lice on their clothes would be beaten. Every night we would spend fifteen minutes picking lice from our clothes and bedding. In future all boys must ask permission before going on to the terrace for a drink of water, as the pump is on the terrace. The same day at school Mr McAntaggart has now left, and a new band master, Dan Kelly, has replaced him. Mr Kelly is a very small man, he is now teaching the infants, he also uses the drumstick to beat us, but he only slaps us on the hands. We stand around the blackboard for sums, and get slapped as usual when the answer is not correct. I and most of the infants now look round as Brother Walsh beats the boys in first standard. He stands at the back of each one as he is asked a question, and beats them on the back if he does not answer as soon as the question is put. Walsh now rushes down and shouts at Mr Kelly for allowing us to look round, he then lined us up against the wall and slaps each one three times. Mr Moran now takes charge of first standard and Walsh goes back to his own class, second. He starts off by giving everyone two slaps because someone was talking, and no one will say who it is.

  He then starts off with catechism. No one is able to answer the questions quick enough, so they are ordered to lay their hands on the desk palm downward, and are beaten on the backs of the hands. Brother Walsh then says everyone is asleep so he orders every one to stand up for the remainder of the morning.

  My brother Jack and I are in infants. Jack and I always manage to be together, and Cunningham the boy of eleven is on my other side. He is very backward and is beaten several times during every lesson. We are now preparing for an exam which is to be in a month or so. After the exam, most of the boys are promoted to a higher class. Jack and I now go to first. Cunningham remains with infants. My other brother Paddy goes to another school next door under Mr Griffin. I am very happy now because Paddy has left second class. It was painful to see him being beaten every day. Paddy was always good at school when we were at home.

  My older brother Joe now has finished with school except for one hour in the evening from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. I see Paddy every day now after school and he is getting on very well. He likes Mr Griffin who is an old man and everyone says he is the best teacher in the school. When Brother Dooley, who is in charge of the senior boys, is unable to do a sum he sends for Mr Griffin. Mr Moran who is our teacher in first is very nice, he never slaps us unless Walsh tells him to do so. Mr Moran leaves us for an hour each day because he has to teach Irish in the other school. Walsh now takes over our class while second class is learning a subject from their books. Walsh stands behind each boy whilst he asks a question. He beats everyone at the end of half an hour. We now get another letter and a cake from Mother, this is the 3rd since we left home. Everyone at home is well, Dad has got a contract to supply stone for the mental Hospital at Ballinasloe at 2 shillings and six pence a ton. Mother says Dad has put in the two windows in the old house and he will soon make a concrete floor.

  It’s Sunday and after Mass we have drill in the yard, Brother Dooley takes charge. We are all lined up, the boots are inspected, and many boys are beaten for worn boots. We are now taught exercises, bending the arms, forward sideways upwards and downwards, we are taught to bend the body to the left and right, keeping the hands on the hips. Then we do full knees bend, and touching the toes with the fingers, keeping the knees and legs perfectly straight. We are taught how to turn to the left the right and about. We now do marching in single file, in twos and fours.

  Brother Dooley beats the senior boys on the back and the legs with a walking stick. He beats John Cane so severely that he leaves the ranks and runs screaming out of the yard, he goes to the lavatory and refuses to leave. He is now being beaten for a long time, four boys are ordered to carry him to the infirmary. He is bleeding from the mouth and nose. John Cane is sixteen and due to leave the school very soon. We are now marching around the square, and Brother Dooley rushes through the ranks and hits big Scally with the stick on the back, for being out of step. We are now dismissed. That evening we are given a lecture lasting an hour, we then say the Rosary. Brother Dooley asks us all to pray for him as he is suffering from rheumatism. The next morning, I am awake early. Brother Walsh has just returned from the chapel, and he is taking six or seven lads away for being awake. It’s now about 6 a.m. I can hear the children screaming. He has taken them to the washroom and flogged them with a stick. It is a crime to be awake before we are called.

  During the months that follow life does not alter very much, boys come and go at the rate of about two a month. We now have a new boy called John Coyne, he has been sent to the school because his father has murdered his mother, and his father is in prison. There is a very young lad, he is only three and a half. His Mother has just died. He is the youngest boy ever to arrive at Letterfrack. Most of the Brothers come every day to see this little lad, and they make a fuss of him. He is not beaten for several months. It’s now dark very early in the evenings, it’s almost winter. All the lads are looking forward to the time when they get apples and nuts. We will get an apple and a handful of nuts. Big Tom Baker told me that nobody gets beaten that day, unless they leave the yard or do something very bad. Tom Baker is over fifteen. Tom also said that we will be allowed to talk at meals that day, just like Christmas, or Easter. Last Easter we got a letter from home and a cake. For breakfast we got a boiled egg and a slice of currant cake.

  3

  The Second Year

  My brothers now play with lads of their own age and I have made friends with Con Murphy, Tommy Gordon and Martin Mullins. We are all in the same class.

  We play together with a rag ball, which Cunningham has made. This ball is really wonderful. It will bounce straight up. Other lads have tried making a rag ball but they are not round enough, so they bounce to one side. I often wonder why Cunningham is unable to learn at school because he is so good at making toys, the other day Tony Hewitt gave him a cotton reel he got from the tailor’s shop and he made a lovely spinning top by cutting the wide rim off with a piece of glass and then pointing one end. He then pushed a piece of wood through the centre and then got a coffin nail, which he hammered into the narrow end. Cunningham will make a toy for anyone for a half slice of bread. Last week he made a car with four wheels, and two seats from a piece of
wood and cotton reels. He promised to make me a boat for Christmas because I help him with the sums.

  I am now in first standard and he is in infants so he can’t copy off me, but he has a small piece of chalk and we go to the lavatory, and do the sums on the floor. He is now beginning to understand simple addition and yesterday he got two sums correct, and he was only beaten once. Tommy Gordon has promised to teach him the alphabet. It will be wonderful when Cunningham learns to read and write, his ears are cut and bleeding from being beaten. Brother Walsh now spends a half hour a day with first and infants when his own class are learning Irish. Walsh now beats everyone on the head and ears with the strap. Dick Hunt is called cauliflower ears, because they are very badly swollen and festered, they were almost healed last month, but now they look awful.

  It’s now Sunday morning and about twelve of us are lined up to be beaten in the washroom at the end of St Michael’s dormitory. We are ordered to take off our pants. Walsh now goes away to his room and returns with a stick. It’s a new stick, which he cut a few days ago. I am at the very end and I have to see all the others flogged before me. The Murtaugh boy is now being beaten and he is screaming loudly, it’s frightening to hear this almost daily. It’s my turn next, after about six blows I manage to run away, down the stairs and into the bathroom. Walsh now follows me down, he is now hitting me on the head and face and back, as I put up my right hand to ward off a blow he hits me a heavy blow on the arm. My arm is broken. I spend two weeks in the infirmary. A Doctor called Lavelle is now in Letterfrack. Old Dr John who lived on the hill is now dead. Lavelle comes to the school once a month. Walsh now comes to tell me to say I fell down the stairs. There is only one other boy in the infirmary, Caleba. He is suffering from sleeping sickness. The nurse has now left Letterfrack, and Brother Byrne visits us every morning and evening. The food is sent from the main kitchen and the cocoa is cold by the time we get it.