No. XV. GRINAN SCHOOL. "'Tis education forms the common mind ; POPE. “It is a melancholy sight when children are seen running about seemingly neglected as to education. I used often to meet fine chubby little fellows in my neighbourhood, as merry as grigs, with bare feet and heads; they would take their top-lock in the right hand, and make a bow half-way to the ground. Arra,' I would ask, and who taught you to make that fashionable bow?'-'Och, it was Mr. Turley, sure your honour,' was generally my answer. "I found that Mr. Turley had been educated for a schoolmaster, and had kept a school in Grinan during prosperous times. Indeed, he still endeavoured to labour in an unprofitable vineyard; for the petty farmers around him were so much reduced in their circumstances in 1822, that, generally speaking, they were quite unable to pay his demand of three-pence a week for their children's instruct on in reading, writing, and arithmetic. As there was no charity school nearer the townland of Grinan than two miles, the boys and girls were growing up in ignorance, and poor Turley exhibited in his external appearance a sad picture of agricultural distress. "Whilst I was deploring this melancholy state of things in my neighbourhood, I had the happiness to become acquainted with Mrs. Livingston, of Greenwood Park, who is the Lady Bountiful of Grainan rocks. It had long been her intention to establish a school in the townland, on the Lancasterian plan. I most willingly offered my services to carry her benevolent views into effect. We formed a committee of ladies to conduct our school; and, on my applying to the Kildare-street Society, a considerable grant was made to us, for the purpose of building and furnishing a schoolhouse. "To the active co-operation of Mr. Thompson, of Greenwood Park, the Grinan School owes much. We had many obstacles to overcome in its establishment; but it is now in a most flourishing state, attended by about one hundred and twenty scholars. Mr. Turley is the happy Domine. He is a natural curiosity. Forced to go on crutches, from having been born with an impotent leg and thigh, in stature he appears very diminutive, and his countenance out of proportion to his bodily size. However, it is full of intelligence and fire; and his mind appears to have received from nature all the balance due to his person. He has a strong uncultivated poetic imagination. Fully sensible of the importance of his vocation, he considers himself a king in the school, and governs with all the pride of power. Under him the children improve rapidly; for he loves letters; and, by teaching, he is every day learning; having a very useful collection of books, as a lending library, furnished by the Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor of Ireland, at his disposal. "When I saw the Grinan School finished, I cannot describe the satisfaction I felt. The benevolent aspect of the good Mrs. Livingston seemed to smile as an air-drawn picture; and I exclaimed "Blest be her days in honour and repose, At whose suggestion these young walls arose ; Who long will live the theme of many a grateful mind." |