Paddy Walsh (the past principal) and Johnny O’Friel (a former deputy principal) recently came to our school to talk to a few of the classes about what the school was like when they were teaching there. They talked about the history of Rathmore N.S. They also told us lots of funny stories about their school tours and adventures they had with their classes. When they taught the school was in much worse condition than the way it is now. We were told that rodents would enter the building and that there were leaks in the walls and roofs! In fact at the time it was so cold because there was no heating that the pupils had to do jumping jacks to keep warm!

Mr. O’Friel and Mr. Walsh made lots of connections with children because their parents, aunties or uncles would have been taught by them if they went to school in Rathmore. If they did make a connection, they would most likely have a story to tell us about them. Mr. O’Friel and Mr. Walsh knew lots of the parents and some grandparents.

At the time girls weren’t allowed play football for the school, which wasn’t fair. But, there were two girls that were amazing at football, and they were so good that they were better than most of the boys! Then Johnny O’Friel and Paddy Walsh realised how good they were and they let them play in the tournament. He put them in midfield and the football team ended up winning the trophy, so they started a girls football team and then girls were allowed play in every school later on.

Overall, we loved the visit and we learned a lot about the school history.

By Éabha Malone and Isla Kidd