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1860 Primary school rules 150 years ago In 1860, primary education in Athlone was well-established but it appears as if the local citizens became more involved in the running of parochial schools in that year. Heralding plans for new parochial schools, the Westmeath Independent said: "In these days of social progress and competitive examinations, there are few who will not admit the paramount importance and necessity of a really useful and sound education for all, but especially for the humbler classes of our community. "We would rather see our parochial schools filled than our county gaols, and we believe, there is no more effectual way of gradually emptying the latter,, than by keeping the former in a high stage of efficiency. The paper said it rejoiced to find that "local gentry and influential inhabitants of the town have formed themselves into a committee for the purpose of relieving their pastor of the secular portion of the management of the parish schools, a duty so incompatible with his sacred office". 20 rules were drawn up including the following: "Every boy to come to school with his hands and face clean and hair brushed and combed and any boy not coming so, to be made to clean himself etc, before taking his place, a basin jug etc being kept for the purpose. Any boy making a habit of coming dirty to be punished every day he so comes. The master to be provided with a cane for the purpose of punishing the boys when necessary and to punish with nothing else. Any offence requiring a severer punishment than a pandy, to be reported to the superintendent to be punished or as he may direct. "Boys to be punished for the following offences: for being more than a quarter of an hour late in the morning; for idleness during school hours, for not being prepared in their business when the times comes for them to be examined in it, for being absent a day without their parents' leave. But it wasn't just the pupils who were required to adhere to a strict regime; there were a number of rules relating to the schoolmaster too. Among them were: "The master to get a premium at Christmas of at least two shillings for every boy or girl who had a minimum attendance of at least 150 days. The master to forfeit two shillings at Christmas for every boy or girl not having this minimum, unless their absence from school has been caused by circumstances not under his control." There were similar rewards and fines levied on masters depending on the academic progress of pupils. 1910 Lunatic at large, armed with hay fork There was little evidence of sensitivity or privacy in newspaper reports of the early part of last century. Deaths were described in full, and often gruesome detail. Deaths by suicide were also reported openly as were the names of contributors and amount contributed to local fundraising events. This piece from the Westmeath Independent of April 1910 gives a flavour of the sort of no-holds-barred reporting which was favoured. Headlined: "Lunatic At Large - Armed With Hay Fork - Exciting Hunt And Capture", the story read: "On Saturday last considerable excitement was caused on the Leinster suburbs of Athlone by the appearance of a dangerous lunatic carrying a hay fork with which he threatened all who approached him. He was a man of fine physique and went bare-footed with his boots suspended on the fork. He was first noted in the Bonnavalley district and the police were apprised of his dangerous appearance. However, the unfortunate man made his way to by the Bower across the country to Coosan, where he made his last stand. "The police came into contact with him at this point and he showed a particular anxiety to get his fork into the uniform. The police were compelled to keep at a civil distance but the Coosan people turned out and closed on the maniac. One man succeeded in striking the hay fork out of his hand, and before he could recover his dangerous weapon, he was secured. The police took him in charge and handcuffed him, after which he gave but little trouble." The paper reported the family name of the man, who was from Loughrea, and said he would probably be sent to Ballinasloe lunatic asylum. 1960 Official opening of Pairc Chiarain Pairc Chiarain in Athlone officially opened on Sunday, April 24, 1960 - fifty years ago last week. The Westmeath Independent noted that a sum of £10,000 had been spent on the purchase and the development of the site so far, of which a debt of £4,692 remained to be cleared. The paper enthused: "Athlone can now, after many years of striving, take its rightful place on the map as a centre for Gaelic games of all grades and groupings." The facility was opened by Dr JJ Stuart, president of the GAA, after the grounds had been blessed by Rev. P. McGivney, Administrator, St Mary's parish. Some 5,000 people attended the opening. The paper said the pitch was 155 yards by 95 yards and the grounds also contained a practice pitch. Members of the club formed a procession and paraded to St Mary's Church where a mass was celebrated for the founders of the GAA. This was followed by a parade of bands through the town with the St Mary's Pipe Band then leading a parade of Westmeath and Roscommon footballers around the ground for a special challenge game. Also present were the Artant Boys Band and the Galway and Tipperary hurling teams, which took part in another challenge. A banquet took place in the Royal Hotel later that evening. Within a week the new ground hosted its first big match when St Finian's of Mullingar played St Jarlath's of Tuam in the All Ireland College final, attended by over 8,000 people. 1860 Primary school rules 150 years ago In 1860, primary education in Athlone was well-established but it appears as if the local citizens became more involved in the running of parochial schools in that year. Heralding plans for new parochial schools, the Westmeath Independent said: "In these days of social progress and competitive examinations, there are few who will not admit the paramount importance and necessity of a really useful and sound education for all, but especially for the humbler classes of our community. "We would rather see our parochial schools filled than our county gaols, and we believe, there is no more effectual way of gradually emptying the latter,, than by keeping the former in a high stage of efficiency. The paper said it rejoiced to find that "local gentry and influential inhabitants of the town have formed themselves into a committee for the purpose of relieving their pastor of the secular portion of the management of the parish schools, a duty so incompatible with his sacred office". 20 rules were drawn up including the following: "Every boy to come to school with his hands and face clean and hair brushed and combed and any boy not coming so, to be made to clean himself etc, before taking his place, a basin jug etc being kept for the purpose. Any boy making a habit of coming dirty to be punished every day he so comes. The master to be provided with a cane for the purpose of punishing the boys when necessary and to punish with nothing else. Any offence requiring a severer punishment than a pandy, to be reported to the superintendent to be punished or as he may direct. "Boys to be punished for the following offences: for being more than a quarter of an hour late in the morning; for idleness during school hours, for not being prepared in their business when the times comes for them to be examined in it, for being absent a day without their parents' leave. But it wasn't just the pupils who were required to adhere to a strict regime; there were a number of rules relating to the schoolmaster too. Among them were: "The master to get a premium at Christmas of at least two shillings for every boy or girl who had a minimum attendance of at least 150 days. The master to forfeit two shillings at Christmas for every boy or girl not having this minimum, unless their absence from school has been caused by circumstances not under his control." There were similar rewards and fines levied on masters depending on the academic progress of pupils. 1910 Lunatic at large, armed with hay fork There was little evidence of sensitivity or privacy in newspaper reports of the early part of last century. Deaths were described in full, and often gruesome detail. Deaths by suicide were also reported openly as were the names of contributors and amount contributed to local fundraising events. This piece from the Westmeath Independent of April 1910 gives a flavour of the sort of no-holds-barred reporting which was favoured. Headlined: "Lunatic At Large - Armed With Hay Fork - Exciting Hunt And Capture", the story read: "On Saturday last considerable excitement was caused on the Leinster suburbs of Athlone by the appearance of a dangerous lunatic carrying a hay fork with which he threatened all who approached him. He was a man of fine physique and went bare-footed with his boots suspended on the fork. He was first noted in the Bonnavalley district and the police were apprised of his dangerous appearance. However, the unfortunate man made his way to by the Bower across the country to Coosan, where he made his last stand. "The police came into contact with him at this point and he showed a particular anxiety to get his fork into the uniform. The police were compelled to keep at a civil distance but the Coosan people turned out and closed on the maniac. One man succeeded in striking the hay fork out of his hand, and before he could recover his dangerous weapon, he was secured. The police took him in charge and handcuffed him, after which he gave but little trouble." The paper reported the family name of the man, who was from Loughrea, and said he would probably be sent to Ballinasloe lunatic asylum. 1960 Official opening of Pairc Chiarain Pairc Chiarain in Athlone officially opened on Sunday, April 24, 1960 - fifty years ago last week. The Westmeath Independent noted that a sum of £10,000 had been spent on the purchase and the development of the site so far, of which a debt of £4,692 remained to be cleared. The paper enthused: "Athlone can now, after many years of striving, take its rightful place on the map as a centre for Gaelic games of all grades and groupings." The facility was opened by Dr JJ Stuart, president of the GAA, after the grounds had been blessed by Rev. P. McGivney, Administrator, St Mary's parish. Some 5,000 people attended the opening. The paper said the pitch was 155 yards by 95 yards and the grounds also contained a practice pitch. Members of the club formed a procession and paraded to St Mary's Church where a mass was celebrated for the founders of the GAA. This was followed by a parade of bands through the town with the St Mary's Pipe Band then leading a parade of Westmeath and Roscommon footballers around the ground for a special challenge game. Also present were the Artant Boys Band and the Galway and Tipperary hurling teams, which took part in another challenge. A banquet took place in the Royal Hotel later that evening. Within a week the new ground hosted its first big match when St Finian's of Mullingar played St Jarlath's of Tuam in the All Ireland College final, attended by over 8,000 people.