A Short History of Aspects of Adult Education
in Newcastle West by Connie Murphy
Connie Murphy
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The vocational education act 1930 specifically mentioned continuing education. The act was quickly implemented in Co. Limerick. Night classes were organised in Newcastle West in the Carnegie library and the Gaelic League Hall (now parish hall).
In these early days the classes were mainly in woodwork, metal work, domestic science, typewriting and Irish. A major expansion in the night class area occurred in the 1940’s when the then president of University College Cork (UCC), Dr. Alfred O’Rahilly decided to organise diploma classes in various towns in Munster.
Mr. Eamon O’Connell, headmaster of the vocational school realised the importance of these courses and there followed years of co-operation with UCC. The members of the first class (1950-1952) were presented with their diplomas in December 1952.
Unique Ceremony in Co. Limerick
Farmer Students Get University Diplomas
Extract from Farmers Journal, 13th of December 1952
A ceremony unique in the history of Irish adult education, took place in Newcastle West, Co. Limerick, on last Wednesday night, when Dr. Alfred O͛ Rahilly, President of University College, Cork presented Diplomas in Social and Rural Science to fifteen students who had successfully completed the two year course at the Newcastle West Vocational School. In his address, Dr. O͛ Rahilly said that the young men of rural Ireland hitherto had lacked the opportunity of systematic training.
Further diploma courses were held at the vocational school as follows:
Social and rural science 1954—1956
Social and home science 1956—1958
Social study 1968—1970
Social study 1977—1979
Social Study1983 – 1985
In relation to the 1956-1958 social and home science class the following extract appeared in the local paper.
1977-79
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1983/85
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University Extension Course for West Limerick Ladies
Limerick Leader
Twenty-five West Limerick Ladies drawn mainly from the rural areas will make educational history at Newcastle West Technical School on the 11th of October 1954 when they commence studies in the university extension course for diplomas in Social and Home Science.
The course will be unique in the sense that it will be the first of its kind ever introduced in Limerick City or County and that it will accord to women the recognition hitherto given only to men under the great national experiment in adult education.
Twenty-five ladies from all parts of the west of the county will take part in the course, which is being conducted under the supervision of the Adult Education Department of Cork University. Over a period of two years the students will attend lectures and practical demonstrations at Newcastle West Technical School, twice a week at evening classes.
In the early 1950͛s the Department of Education trained suitable people as instructors in building construction. These were employed by the VECs to help local people with plans for the construction of houses, extensions, farm buildings etc. Michael Kenneally of Shanagolden was employed by Co. Limerick VEC to cover the West Limerick area. Michael taught woodwork in NCW in the early 1970s.
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Pictured with their certificates on completion of their course in Self Development in Management.
Also pictured seated L to R: Pat Harnett, Donal and Breda Horgan, Jackie Hennessy (Instructors) and Willie Crowe, Education Officer, VEC.
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Newcastle West Head Looks to the Future
Limerick Leader October 1971
On his return from a series of meetings with educational bodies in Dublin, on the provision of advanced courses in adult education for County Limerick, Mr. Ed. O’Connell, Adult Education Officer with Limerick County Vocational Education Committee, and headmaster of Newcastle West Vocational School said:
“We are moving towards an education democracy when ten years from now, every occupation will be a profession. He declared ͚Education has not been moving at full power because it has dead ideas and people are confused as to what it is all about.Is it man or the material world? Young people have imagination, but old people have experience. Children go to school as it is the best place for them, but it is now established that adults can learn twenty times faster because they have maturity and experience.
One hundred years ago, 60% of the people in Limerick were illiterate. Now you have a college of higher education opening with 100 students and in 20 years there will be 8,000 students studying there. Education that people, are satisfied with now, they will not be satisfied with in the future. What comes after 18 years will be all important, because adult education is a continuous process.
It is after 30 years and 50 years of age that you begin to get the real value from education because you have got the experience.”
In October 1971 a two day residential course on managing finance in small firms was organised by Mr. O’Connell. It took place at the River Room Motel and was delivered by personnel from the Irish Management Institute.
The school and the VEC were always willing to help local industry as shown by these extracts from local papers in the 1970s. Request by Principal A request by the Principal of Newcastlewest Vocational School on behalf of Deel Vale Cheese factory that the Co. VEC should organise a laboratory technician͛s course in dairy science is being considered.
Mr. Rush the C.E.O said that he understood the firm was anxious such a course should start for technicians on their staff who would come from Charleville, Newcastlewest and elsewhere.
Vocational School may cater for Scanglo employees
Scanglo International Newcastle West has requested the county VEC to investigate the possibility of conducting training courses for young employees. The company manufactures radiator valves. The engineering course would cover mechanical drawing, metalwork etc and both the principal and metalwork teacher in the vocational school are anxious that the company be facilitated.
ICA News December 1972
On Thursday night last Mrs. Moloney lectured to a big attendance of ladies at the Technical School in the first of a series of ten lectures on deportment and social behaviour. The series will cover art and music appreciation, beauty culture, public speaking, first aid etc. A grant for the course has been secured from the Shaw Trust through Foras Éireann.
Traveller Training centres opened in Newcastle West.
Cllr. Liam Hickey (chairman of Limerick CC) cuts the tape at the official opening of the Training Centre at South Quay, Newcastle West. Martin McNamara can be seen on the extreme left, and Michael Noonan from Ardagh 3rd from left, Mr. Haslam Co. Manager is 3rd from right.
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Councillor Hickey said that the project was quite new to him but he felt it was a very interesting one, and that marvellous work was capable of being done at the centre.
Mr. Richard Haslam, Limerick County Manager, paid tribute to all involved and said that they were indebted to the county VEC for the support for the scheme.
“I would say to the girls who are involved in the course, you are getting a great start, and you can build on this foundation”.
Training centres for girls who have missed out on the benefit of normal school education was officially opened in Newcastle West.
It is part of a national scheme launched six years ago involving local authorities, AnCo and vocational education committees. The county council have purchased a single storey building at Cullinagh, Newcastle West.
The purpose of the scheme is two-tiered – the majority of the girls who must be over the age of 15 have left school before attaining a certificate standard of education and we hope to bring up their education standard so that when they finish they can take up a job and stand alongside their contemporaries.
Leaders on this course were Marie Neary, Theresa McMahon and Agnes Walsh.
Appointment of Adult Education Officers
In the late 1970s the Department of Education sanctioned the appointment of an Adult Education Officer to each VEC. Mr. Seán Burke was appointed by Co. Limerick VEC. The VEC in turn appointed a teacher in each school to take charge of adult education.
I (Con Murphy) was appointed in Newcastlewest. I was later joined by Pat Harnett in the mid 1980s and Anne Linehan Keane joined in 2003 following my retirement.
Willie Crowe replaced Seán Burke as county Adult Education Officer. These appointments led to a revival in the provision of night classes. Research showed that there was an interest in personal development and hobby type classes, language classes, public administration type classes and literacy classes.
Computer classes were also starting to expand in a big way, take up was phenomenal – queues formed for enrolment and at one stage through 1980s in excess of 440 were attending night classes in Newcastle West. Classes were also organised in out centres such as Castlemahon, Raheenagh, Ardagh, Clouncagh and Monagea.
Classes were organised in conjunction with the institute of bankers for members of bank staff in west limerick and also in conjunction with the Irish management institute for supervisors in industry in the greater limerick area. A magnetism and electricity class for employees of Telecom Éireann also took place.
Seán Burke, Adult Education Officer at the time
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On the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Vocational Education Act 1930 Seán Burke had this to say:
“It is appropriate that special mention should be made of adult education particularly in relation to the pioneering role adopted by the VECS in the provision of adult education facilities over the last half century.
Traditionally, adult education was accorded a very low priority rating within the educational system as is evident from the absence of any well defined national education policy.
Consequently, down through the years, the creation of educational opportunities for the adult or non school going sector of our population was mainly left to the discretion of local statutory and voluntary bodies and it was in this context that vocational educational committees quickly stepped into the breach.
Happily, the outmoded and misguided attitude that adult education is a phenomenon that is peripheral and somewhat irrelevant to the mainstream of former education activities is slowly but surely being eroded.
This has been mainly due to the gradual realisation among educators all over the world that an individual retains a relatively undiminished capacity for learning right through life.
Consequently, the old concept, which employed that man͛s aptitude for assimilating facts, was confined to his years of childhood and adolescence and that the store of knowledge accumulated during that formal school period would equip and prepare him sufficiently for adult life, is no longer acceptable.”
A group of ladies in Newcastle West Vocational School attending the UCC class on Womens Affairs
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Some ladies who were presented with UCC Certificates at the Vocational School, Newcastle West, on the completion of their ‘Women in Society’ Course with Pamela Kelleher M.A. who conducted the course.
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This 1985 photo shows the group which attended the Photography course in the school.
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By Connie Murphy