The First Marriage

Novcmber 29th., 1851, I married this day, John Hamel and Mary Graham, in presence of James Smith and Catherine Graham.

M. Reynolds The Bishop Baptizes

After the death of Father Von Blerh, and before the appointment 0 1' Father James Aeneas McDonald, His Lordship Peter MacIntyre, Bishop of the Diocese, came to offer Mass for the people, and at the same time in baptize the following children, September 2nd, 1877:

Bridge: Gertrude Daughter of Edward Traynor and Mary McMurrer

Margaret. Ann — Daughter of James Callaghan and Catherine Callaghan John Thomas — Son of John Donovan and Mary Monaghan

Catherine Ann — Daughter of Hugh Campbell and Mary Clarkin

THE SCHOOLS

It is very difficult to obtain detailed information about the early schools since there were no permanent records kept or they have been misplaced or the reports themselves left much to be desired.

The earliest school opened in Kelly’s Cross parish was that of DeSable in 1833. This is understandable since the first settlers made their homes in that area.

When the settlers moved inland to Kelly’s Cross, or Treagh as it was then called, they saw that the numbers of their children was increas— ing, and there was a great need for a teacher since either the parents were not properly trained to teach or they did not have the time as they cleared the land and tried to cultivate it.

So in 1854 efforts were made to build a school to house all the children. This was not an easy task, as 84 children enrolled when the school opened in 1855 with Joseph Ince as teacher.

The number of children decreased to 71 in 1956, and the school report indicated that even that number was too large for the school, and presented great difficulty for the teacher to do a good job in teaching the basic subjects of reading, writing and arithmetic.

So in the intervening years from 1860 until 1874, the number of pupils continued to decline, and the report says that the teacher Miss E. A. Donnelly, “is faithful and energetic.”

When in 1877 the number of pupils increased to 66, the education authorities favored the appointment of two teachers, and the division into two classrooms. This division of classrooms continued to exist until the school closed in 1972, with only a slight change in 1886, 1889 and 1902 when it became necessary to hire a third teacher.

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