Curragh Camp School's Winners - Irish Speaking - 1959

[Matt McNamara]

The following photograph was sent to me by Peter McGlynn and shows the winners of an Irish speaking competition heading off to on a trip to the Gaeltacht in Galway in 1959.

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[Matt McNamara]

[jjcurran]

Hi Matt,
Great photo. I recognise some of my old school mates. Peter McGlynn (extreme left) and Eamon Dillon and more but can't put a name on them. The old grey matter needs rejuvenation.
Regards
JJ

[carmelkearney]

Hi Matt all older than me but would love to know the names, third from the left front row looks like he might be a Stacey, hopefully all the names will come in, i am probably wrong about front row.

Carmel Kearney

[michaelkelly]

Hi Matt,
I have just looking at the Picture, and it brings back great memories . Every year, each of the NCO's Messes in the Curragh Camp, would sponsor 1 Boy and 1 Girl for a Scholarship to the Gaelteacht in Galway for a Month. There would be an Oral- Irish Interview , and the person who impressed most would win . Unfortunately I never made the grade . I think that I can recognise some of the people in the Photograph as follows:-

Front Row L/R:
Dick Roche, John Joe Doyle (Who went on a few occasions), Tony Stokes, Sean Flynn, Eddie Dillon and Dick Keogh.

2nd Row L/R:
Peter McGlynn, Aileen Power (7th from left) ?, Mary Dolan (9th from Left) ?

Back Row: The office is Capt Michael McGreil . He was a native Irish Speaker, and he was Stationed I think in The 3rd Bn, Connolly Bks . He used to publish an Irish version of the Curragh Bulletin every Month called "An Claidmh Solus" This was originally introduced by Padraig Pearse during his time at St.Enda's College in Dublin.
He used to organise Irish Speaking Forums in the Old Dance Hall in McDermott Barracks . (It was a red corrugated Iron building). I remember that my late Father used to make sure that both myself and my Sister Kathleen attended them . He Retired from the Army around 1960 to enter the Priesthood as a member of the Jesuit Order . He was the Author of a number of Books, and among them is one called "Prejudice and Tolerance in Ireland" . He was a very eminent Scholar and he was a Lecturer at Maynooth College . He was very popular during his short time in the Curragh , and he came back to the Curragh to celebrate the Anniversary Mass for the Deceased members of the O.N.E. for a number of years . I will study the Photograph more closely to see if I can put names to anyone else .

[barbaramullins]

Aileen Power has come up with the following names:

Back row L-R
Peter McGlynn, Pauline McGlynn, Joan Harper, ?, June Dempsey, Ann Casey, Aileen Power,?, Noleen Dolan,
? O'Brien, ?, Kay Dignam, ?, ?.

Front row L-R
?, Ollie Doyle, Tony Stokes, ?,Edward Dillon, Dick Keogh, ?, Billy McDonald, ? McDonald, ? McDonald, ?,?

Aileen went in 1959 and 1960 and stayed with the same family.

Barbara

[dmcglynn1506]

Pauline McGlynn is actually 4th from left in the back row. I'm her younger Brother.