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It was 20 years ago today, that Sergeant Pepper taught the band to play!” Well it’s something like 55 really. About a month ago, though, it was 20 years since I visited Tullow, where I went into the room where the Founder of the Brigidine Sisters, Bishop Daniel Delany, died. I sat on his bed and tried on his glasses, all of which would be frowned upon these days, I’m sure. I suppose I could’ve been excommunicated. On arriving there, Sisters Annunciata, Ambrose and Vianney, who had no idea that Kilbreda even existed, were dubious about my credentials, until I was saved by a photo of recently elected Congregational Leader, Sister Louise Cleary, on one of the dining room tables. “Do you know her?” I was asked. As soon as I answered in the affirmative, I was treated like royalty, invited for lunch or afternoon tea and treated to a tour of the Heritage Room, Chapel and famous oak tree. 

Later, we travelled to Mountrath, where, at that time, the last Brigidine School in Ireland was still running. It celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2009 and then reopened after the Summer break as Mountrath Community School. I was shown around by Joan Hallissey and together we instigated a pen-pal project which is now celebrating 20 years of contact between our schools.

In the first few years, girls eagerly awaited actual letters from their correspondents. These days, while we do send some hard copies, many of the students use email or other forms of social media. I’ve had the pleasure of reading some of these letters over the years and one thing the Irish kids often talk about is their upcoming “Junior Cert”, an exam set by the government, which, if not passed successfully, means they repeat. As a result, it is taken very seriously. 

Another discussion, which often flummoxes our students, is when the Irish girls speak of Camogie. Luckily for current students, we were treated to an exhibition and practice session of Camogie as part of Kilbreda’s Irish Club, Club Òige last Friday, so these students at least, will know what they’re talking about! 

While it was only relatively recently that we introduced Irish names around Kilbreda, such as Cuirt Saoirse, (Peace Courtyard) and Ait Brid (Brigid’s Place), the language has permeated our College throughout its history, our very name coming from the Irish language. In the 1940s, our student newspaper was called Tuaisisc, “News”. In the early 2000s, Tony Dalton and I joined a number of students learning the language after school once a week. Our teacher was the mother of former student Grainne White and aunt of former Hawthorn star Dermott Brereton. Our textbook had the thrilling title Buntús Cainte “Rudiments of speech”.

Damian Smith 

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