The Technical School

At a meeting of the VEC held on the 16th July 1935 the first mention of the ‘Tech’ can be found in the minutes of that meeting.
Present at that meeting were: Mr. Eugene Mahony (presiding). Canon R.P. Meredith, M.A., Revd. J.H. McKenna P.P. Revd. John O’Doherty P.P. Revd. J. McGilligan, C.C. Messrs. Neil Blaney, T.D., Samuel A. Baxter, Daniel E. O’Boyle, Patrick J. Cole, Charles Sweeney, Captain W.H. Wagentreiber and Captain John Scott.


They meeting referred to a sub committee who were appointed on the 21st November 1934 by the VEC to enquire into the general position of Vocational and Technical Education in the county and held two sessions on the 4th June and the 2nd July 1935 .

The terms of reference were sufficiently wide to permit the sub-committee to canvas the whole position of Vocational and Technical Education and to make such recommendations as would facilitate the development of the scheme already in operation.

At its first meeting the sub-committee narrowed the issues to: the provision of new additional buildings, and the examination of the position of the Continuation Centres. It was agreed to site a school at Annagry ‘or in that neighborhood’ and another at Stranorlar.

Mr. Daniel E. O’Boyle was asked to make enquiries regarding a suitable site at Crolly and it was suggested that he get Revd. J. McAteer, P.P. Burtonport, and Mr. Brian O’Donnell, Co. C., to act with him in this matter.

It was also agreed at ask the Department to increase the present Gaeltacht grant by a sum of £200 (from £600 to £800)


At the second meeting (2nd July 1935) Mr. Daniel E. O’Boyle having approached the Ministery in regard to taking over of the Crolly factory was informed that nothing could be done in this matter at the moment as the Ministry were conducting negotiations for the establishment of a factory in that area. Mr. O’Boyle was asked to enquire into the possibility of acquiring another suitable site in that neighbourhood.


It was also agreed at that meeting that over the next five years, six new schools should be built, the building of the Annagry and Stranorlar schools “to take place forthwith”.

Mr. Charles McLaughlin, Architect, Letterkenny was appointed and the County Council be asked at its meeting to be held on the 30th July 1935, to raise a loan of £6,500 – this being the estimated cost of the schools recommended to be built at Annagry and Stranorlar areas.


Selection of site
Mr. Daniel E. O’Boyle, who had been deputed to make enquiries regarding a suitable site in the Annagry area, reported as follows:

A. At Loughanure a splendid site is available immediately above the Loughanure Lake and within one hundred yards of the main road from Dungloe to Crolly.
B. At Crolly three sites are available convenient to the Crolly factory.
C. The great difficulty was experienced in the Annagry district as land in the immediate vicinity of Annagry village is at a high premium; one site was offered in the village but it was considered to be unsuitable owing to its uneven and rocky nature.

Fr. O’Doherty referred to the difficulty which might arise regarding the acquiring of sites for schools and said that should unreasonable delay occur in procuring a site in any selected area, the next centre in order should be dealt with so as to avoid undue delay and have the building scheme completed within the time mentioned in the report.

Offers of Sites
Offers of sites were received from: Peter Rodgers Meenacreeve; James Boyle (Hugh) Annagry; John O’Donnell, Glen Road Annagry; Mrs. Madge McFadden, Calhame; George Boyle, Calhame; Daniel Boyle, Annagry West; Mrs. Frank Duffy (B), Meenderrynasloe, Mrs. H.B. Duffy, Annagry (two sites); Patrick O’Donnell (Mór), Meenacreeve; John O’Donnell, Annagry West (two sites).

The meeting (of December 1935) agreed however that the most suitable location would be 1. Crolly or somewhere in the vicinity or 2. between Crolly and Loughanure.

It was agreed to ask Fr. Carr C.C., Fr. McAteer P.P, Daniel E. O’Boyle and Brian O’Donnell Co.C., to make enquiries regarding a suitable site.


At the meeting of 21st January 1936 Mr. M. Doogan of Gweedore and Mr. Patrick Gallagher, Crolly Bridge appeared before the committee as a deputation, from their respective districts and asked that ‘the school which it is proposed to build’ be erected ‘in a central locality to serve the parishes of Lower and Upper Rosses and Gweedore’, suggesting a site in the vicinity of Crolly Bridge.

The chairman stated that the site reports were not yet available and that a decision could not yet be made.


Brian O’Donnell Co.C who was present when the sites were inspected stated that it was probable the school would be built somewhere between Crolly Bridge and Loughanure. And said it was a matter for the inspectors of the Department and the architect.


The Big Decision
At a meeting of the 31 March 1936 the members present were as follows:

Mr. Eugene Mahony (presiding), V.Rev. J. Cannon McCafferty, P.P. Rev. Thomas Molloy, D.Ph., Rev. James McGilligan, C.C., Rev. Thomas J. Agnew, C.C., Messrs. Neil Blaney, T.D. Samuel Baxter, Patrick J. Cole, Daniel E. O’Boyle Brian O’Donnell, Charles Sweeney and Captain John Scott.
Daniel E. O’Boyle stated that he had seen the plots now reported on by the architect (including for new plots) and he was still convinced that the most suitable was site No8 owned by Denis, James and Owen Boyle at Loughanure. He accordingly moved the adoption of that site.
Capt. Scott seconded this proposal.
It was then decided to hear the views of a deputation present to advocate the erection of the school at Crolly.
Mr. Patrick Gallagher, spokesman for the deputation, said that at Crolly Bridge they had an everlasting water supply which would prove an advantage as far as sanitary equipment was concerned in the new school. He thought that site No7 owned by Nancy Sweeney, Crolly, ‘was a very suitable one and the only feasible one which would be certain to give the Committee no trouble hereafter’.
Mr. Daniel E. O’Boyle stated he understood from the architect that a splendid water supply for a school could be obtained from Loughanure Lake.
Mr. O’Donnell proposed a site in Annagry which was a large district with a population of 3,000 and where two classes had been well attended.
Mr. Sweeney seconded this proposal for the reason that the Lower Rosses should be considered.
A vote was then taken with the following result:
For Mr. Daniel E. O’Boyle’s proposal: - Dr. Molloy. Fr. Agnew. Messrs. Neil Blaney, Samuel A. Baxter, Patrick J. Cole, Eugene Mahony, Daniel E. O’Boyle and Capt Scott.
For Mr. O’Donnell’s proposal: - Messrs. Brian O’Donnell and Charles Sweeney.
The Chairman declared Mr. O’Boyle’s proposal carried by eight votes to two.
It was accordingly decided to acquire the site at Loughanure which consisted of one acre and twenty perches on the terms offered by the owners, Viz: £12 per rood.
Pa O’Donnell Solicitor was employed to do the necessary legal work in connection with the conveyance to the committee.


Tenders
On the 20th April 1937 the tenders for the erection of the Technical School at Loughanure were discussed by the VEC and were as follows:

Messrs Crawford & Eakin, Railway Road, Buncrana: George Irwin, Main Street Donegal: James W. Cunningham, Carrick: Robert Colhoun Ltd., The Port, Letterkenny: James McBride, Duncreggan Road , Derry

£ 2986 3700 3914 4493 7950

s 0 0 18 16 0

d 0 0 0 3 0

On the motion of Capt Scott, seconded by Mr. Cole it was unanimously agreed to accept the tender of Messrs. Crawford & Eakin and to appoint a Clerk of Works later.

Mr. McCaul pointed out that two schools built in the Mayo Gaeltacht qualified for full grants and as Loughanure was in the Fíor Gaeltacht, they should ask the Government for grant to cover the full capital cost. Capt. Scott pointed out however that as the sub-committee had dealt with Loughanure and Stranorlar, all that could be done was to ask the Government to increase the grant. It was agreed to ask for an increase.

At the 3rd August 1937 meeting Messrs Crawford & Eakin had written to the Committee stating that due to recent increased costs in materials ‘they would be obliged to increase their tender by 20%.

As it was still £ 116 cheaper than the next tender received, and to avoid delay in commencing building, it was agreed to accept the amended tender of £3583 4 s 0 d.

Men working with rock crusher on site of Technical School 1937

A letter of the 21st August 1937 (No 7419/37) from the Department of Education threatened the Committee that they may be surcharged for accepting the amended tender.

The committee however informed the Department that ‘the site had been cleared and laid out, building materials were deposited on the ground and considerable preparatory work had been done by the contractors. The Committee had regarded the case as exceptional, felt that if unnecessary delay is to be avoided in building the school there was no other course open to them as the possibility of obtaining a lower tender was remote. The architect had also approved the amended tender’.

(On 19th October 1937 the Acting County Surveyor applied to the committee for permission to encroach on the site for a length of five perches and a width of two feet to enable the Council to widen the Crolly-Loughanure road)

The contract to build the Technical School was signed by the chairman of the committee on the 14th December 1937.

On the 16th November 1937 , Daniel O’Donnell of Ranafast was appointed as Clerk of Works at an ‘inclusive remuneration of five guineas per week.

L-R: Dan ‘Bhrini Johnny’ O’Donnell, Dinny ‘Mhary’ McGarvey, Hughie ‘Eoghan Hudie’ Boyle, Dan ‘Mhicheail’ Gallagher, Ownie ‘Eoghain Hudie’ Boyle.

Furnishing the school was estimated at £235. 16s 0d and necessary plumbing was estimated at £65 12s 6d.

Messrs. Neil Gillespie & Co. Moville tendered at a cost of: £205 8s 6d. This tender was later withdrawn and the tender was then awarded to Messrs. Hearne & Co., Ltd., Waterford for £239. The plumbing was awarded to Crawford & Eakin at £102. They also supplied twelve Tilley Lamps and thirty four Windsor Chairs for £62.

In January 1939, eighty hat and coat hooks were requisitioned.


Caretaker

On the 21st June 1938 applications were received from the following for the post of Caretaker. Peter Duffy; Tony Boyle; Fergal Boyle; Daniel Gallagher; Bernard Boyle (Connell); and James Boyle, all of Loughanure.

On the motion of Mr. Brian O’Donnell, seconded by Daniel E. O’Boyle it was unanimously agreed ‘to appoint Bernard Boyle (Connell) for one year on probation at a weekly wage of 17/- plus cost-of-living bonus’. On 18th July 1939 he was appointed on a permanent basis.


Local Committee

At a meeting 21st June 1938 it was decided to appoint a local committee in connection with Loughanure Technical School , and Brian O’Donnell and Daniel E. O’Boyle were asked to have names of ten or a dozen suitable persons for submission to next meeting on the 23rd August. The following were appointed to the local committee at that meeting: The Rev.John McAteer P.P. Burtonport; the Rev. D. Sweeney C.C. Burtonport; the Rev. M. Carr C.C. Annagry Messrs. James O’Donnell Meenbanad; Patrick McBride N.T. Loughanure; Daniel Boyle N.T. Ranafast; John Gallagher N.T. Annagry; Hugh McGinley N.T. Mullaghduff; Brian O’Donnell Ranafast; and Daniel E. O’Boyle Kincaslagh.

However, at the September 20th Meeting Mr. Daniel E. O’Boyle asked that the names of the following be added (all ladies) and was unanimously agreed: Miss Shillidy, ‘Nead na Gé’ Burtonport; Mrs Gallagher N.T. Mullaghduff; Mrs Edward Sweeney N.T. Meenmore, Dungloe. This seemed to address the imbalance in favour of male members, but more appointments were to come.

On the 18th October 1938 , Mr. Brian O’Donnell proposed the following additional members:

Very Rev. J. Cannon McGroarty P.P., Derrybeg
Rev. Patrick Deeny C.C., Gweedore
Mr. Patrick Gallagher, Co-operative Stores, Dungloe
Mr. Neil Sweeney N.T., Meenamara
Mr. Hugh Doogan, Gweedore
Peter Greene, Loughanure
Dominic Kelly N.T., Kincaslagh
Michael Greene, Crolly
John McGroarty Ex-N.T., Meencorwick, Crolly
Cormac Breslin, T.D., Bunbeg
Daniel Walsh, Co. C., Dungloe


Later, at the November 1938 meeting the names of Mr. Patrick Gallagher (Paddy Óg) of Crolly Bridge and Rev. Francis McIntyre C.C. Dungloe were added.


Insurance

On 17th January 1939 the Technical School was insured for the sum of £4000 and were quoted £2 10s 0d annually or £1 17s 6d annually, if taken for 5 years.


Opening of Technical School

It was also agreed at the August 23rd meeting that the school be formally opened on a date between 28th Sept and 3rd October 1938 and to invite the Minister for Education to attend and perform the ceremony. It was also decided to invite the Bishop of Raphoe Most Rev. Dr. MacNeely ‘to attend at the same time and bless the building’. The date agreed for the official opening was 3rd October 1938 .

At the September meeting however the CEO reported that the Minister could not attend on that date and that the Bishop had kindly consented to perform that ceremony in addition to blessing the building. The contractors and architect agreed to provide a luncheon ‘in connection with the ceremony’.


Fees

Fees were agreed at the September meeting as follows:

Day Continuation Classes: 3/-
Evening Classes: 2/-


A donation of £10 was made available for pupils attending the Loughanure School and it was decided to dispose of as follows:

‘A sum of £5 for girls. The number of prizes in each section to be four and the amounts - £2; £1. 5s 0d;, £1., and 15/-

The donor indicated by letter, through Daniel E. O’Boyle that ‘any scheme devised by the committee should, if possible, benefit candidates from the parish of Lower Rosses’

The Committee agreed to confine the scheme to such pupils.


Further Development at Loughanure Technical School

In 1953 a tool shed was built at the rear of the school by a team of trainee woodwork teachers as part of their building experience combined with Irish classes.

In 1955 the VEC with Mr. Michael Cryan CEO, undertook a major expansion at Loughanure when it was agreed to build a multi purpose hall designed and supervised by Seán Sweeney Headmaster. (A team of twenty trainee woodwork teachers from all over Ireland were to spend the summers months in Loughanure working on the project. Many of them are remembered affectionately to this day by the older generation. People like Seán Dignan from Limerick , Joe Whelan from Dublin and Martin Bunce from Kerry). It would serve as a community hall and a woodwork classroom. Rural electrification had reached the area and the new hall was furnished with the most modern electrical woodwork tools. The official opening was held on the 17th August 1955 and a major treat was in store for those in attendance when Aisteóirí Gaoth Dobhair presented the drama ‘Neart na Córa’ in the new hall and a buffet in the Kitchen (classroom).


At weekends film shows were laid on for the local community with ‘Across the Great Divide, and ‘Call me Madame’ the first films to be shown. ‘Mise Éire’ was also shown there.

John Joe McFadden of Rosses Cycle Depot, Dungloe and his film projector operator Frank Brunnock supplied the fun.

Famous students of the ‘Tech’ as it was know where Packie Bonner and Daniel O’Donnell.

The VEC Committee at opening of new hall at Loughanure September 1955.

The Teachers

At the VEC meting of the 17th May 1938 arrangements for teachers for the Session 1938-39 was agreed as follows:

1. That Mr. Lucius Emerson be transferred from Ballyshannon School to Loughanure as teacher-in-charge and Manual Instructor.
2. That Miss Tessie Boyle, Domestic Science teacher at Ballyshannon be transferred to Loughanure.
3. That a teacher of Rural Science and General Subjects be advertised for and that he be assigned in the first place to Loughanure. (Mr. Patrick Gallagher was later to fill this position.)

On 15th October 1940 Mr. Emerson was appointed teacher-in charge to the Stranorlar School and Mr. Patrick Gallagher was appointed teacher-in-charge at Loughanure for the 1940/41 term and Mr. Seán Sweeney took up duties as Manual Instructor. For the 41/42 season Mr. Sweeney went out on centres duties and Mr. Hugh McDaid came to Loughanure.

In November 1940 a petition signed by twenty residents of Dungloe asking that provision be made for the teaching of commercial subjects and Miss Margaret Colhoun, Creeslough was appointed as part-time teacher of Commerce for the 41/42 term.

In September 1942 Miss Margaret T. Campbell Drumstevlin, Donegal came to Loughanure as teacher of Irish and Commerce, Miss Colhoun having taken up a full time position elsewhere. Miss Mary McDyer replaced Miss Tessie Boyle as Domestic Science teacher, who went on sick leave.

In November 1942 Mr. Owen Gallagher (Oweney Eoghan Chonaill) was appointed to give Irish classes at Loughanure.

In January 1944 Mr. Patrick Gallagher was transferred to Letterkenny and Mr. Patrick Rooney (Rural Science) was transferred from Letterkenny to Loughanure as teacher-in-charge. Miss Annie Boyle (Domestic Science) replaced Miss McDyre and Mr. John F. Sweeney (Seán Sweeney) Manual Instructor replaced Mr. Hugh McDaid, who went on centres work, with effect from the 20th March 1944 .

In 1953 Mr. Rooney was appointed as headmaster to Donegal Technical School and Seán Sweeney was appointed as head master of Loughanure. Also on the teaching staff at that time was Daniel Sweeney, rural science, Miss Kathleen Breslin, commerce, Miss Teresa Boyle Domestic Economy. In 1954 Miss K. O Donnell domestic economy replaced Miss Boyle and in turn Miss J. Boyce (Miss A. Campbell) replaced Miss O Donnell.

Salaries in those days in the early fifties: Headmasters £690 per annum with £450 to £500 for teachers. By the late fifties headmasters were paid £980.00 per annum.

Other teachers who taught in Loughanure for short spells in the 1950’s were Mr. Oliver Plunkett, Mr. Michael Spilanne, Mr. J Cronin (all woodwork) and Miss Mary Tarpey, domestic economy.

On the 7th October 1958 , Mr. Con O Donnell was appointed from Carrick to Loughanure to replace Mr. Seán Sweeney who died suddenly in August 1958. Mr. Gerard Breslin was transferred from Loughanure where he was acting headmaster to Carrick.

Also attached to Loughanure in the sixties were Irene MacElwane, (Mrs. Paddy Campbell) Ann Veesy (Mrs. Chas. Greene) and Miss Maura Sweeney all domestic science. Mr. Pat McLoone (woodwork). On the retirement of Mr. Con O’Donnell, Mr. Thomas McGee was appointed principal.

The Loughanure Technical School was amalgamated with the Rosses Community School in 1973 but the building was used in its new role until 1978, when in June of that year the doors were finally closed on a school, the first Technical School to be built in a Gaeltacht area in Ireland and that served the entire North West faithfully since the September 1938.

Loughanure became a ‘ghost town’ when no longer the laughter of the students at play in the football field was to be heard. The heart had been cut out of Loughanure.


The Irish College.

According to the minutes of the April 1945 monthly meeting of the VEC:

‘Mr. P. McNamee on behalf of Comhaltas Uladh applied for the use of Loughanure Technical School as an Irish College for the period 16th July to the 10th of August 1945 . The school would be used by about 80 children drawn mainly from County Armagh and would be in charge of Mr. P. Hamill Iona St. , Armagh . He would be acting under the authority of Comhaltas Uladh and would be assisted by a staff of three teachers from Loughanure district. A guarantee that the school premises would not suffer injury would be given. The CEO (Mr. O’Neill) stated he had written to Mr. McNamee pointing out that classes continued at the school until the end of July when it was usual to arrange for an exhibition of work so that the school would not be available for the period mentioned. Father Marron C.C., Bundoran, called with him and said he was anxious that the school should be made available even at a later date.

On the motion of Mr. Daniel E. O’Boyle, seconded by Revd. Dr. Molloy it was unanimously agreed (1) to grant the use of the school from the first week in August and for the remainder of the month, (2) to suggest that the caretaker be given an honorarium by the Gaelic League Authorities to compensate for extra work that will devolve on him, and (3) to inform the Insurance Company concerned of the arrangement made’.

Thus saw the beginning of the Irish College (Colaiste Mhuire) in Loughanure and continues to this day with student intake of about three hundred students per course with courses in June, July and August as well as Easter each year.

In 1951 a Technical School was mooted on the Gweedore Road Dungloe after pressure from the people of Dungloe. A local committee donated a site and offered to build the Technical school by voluntary labour. Rev. Cannon Molloy P.P. Mr. Packie ‘The Cope’ Gallagher, Fr Kerr C.C., Leo Brennan, Arthur Friel, Dom Bonnar, Anthony O Donnell, and Seán Kennedy were some of the main driving forces behind the idea. The VEC asked Mr. Seán Sweeney head master of Loughanure School and building instructor, to draw up the plans and supervise the operation. Local skilled tradesmen Frank Roarty and Johnny Curran were employed by the committee to assist and the school was built in record time.

It was officially opened on the 20th October 1952 by the then Minister for Education Mr. Seán Moylan T.D. A feature of the school was a mural which was painted by well know artist Bernard MacDonagh on the wall of the woodwork room. The School served as a night class centre for many years and in September 1956 became base for the newly established Dungloe High School or Ard Scoil Colmcille as it was known in Irish. It served until 1962 when the Secondary School building was completed on Chapel Road .

Trainee student teachers with front row L-R: Seamus Mac Giolla Dé, Irish Teacher, Michael Cryan, CEO, Seamus Power, Course Supervisor, Fr. James McGinley, C.C. Derrybeg and Seán Sweeney, overall project supervisor.

by John Sweeney
©10/09/07