Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article
Cork Independent, 3 March 2011
Coming of Age
This year Cork celebrates 200 years of the North Monastery or the North Mon School being opened in 1811. Recently, I was privileged to be able to speak at the first commemoration event and wanted to write something in this column to mark the centenary as well.
At the beginning, I can’t speak from being a North Mon boy but like many people I have personal connections to this great school. Hanging on the wall next to my stairs at home is a picture taken in 1958 of several past pupils of a class from the North Mon. In the centre of the photograph is my grandfather, Donal Sexton – his former classmates were Jack Lynch, Tadgh Carey of UCC, Gus Healy of Cork Corporation, Lt. Collins Powell, nephew of Michael Collins – all distinguished Corkonians in their own right – each of whom made their mark on this city and further afield.
The picture has remained in position in my house since 1958 next to the sacred heart picture and the coat stand – in a sense illuminating every exit and entrance from my house for 53 years. The caption of the picture is entitled Coming of Age, which is also quite an apt title to describe a 200 year celebration. The North Mon has once more has reached a milestone in its life, which rightly needs to be reflected on. Two hundred years of the North Mon is a really long time made up of thousands of young people, teachers, comings and goings and many a debate about the future of different generations. The North Mon is a place deeply rooted in Cork’s cultural identity. Indeed one is dealing with a long standing culture of hard slog, struggle, hardship, discipline, ambition and determination that has brought the North Mon to this point in its life. It has been no easy road.
The picture on my hall wall is just one picture that shines a light on past pupils and past experiences. A glance through the old roll books also reveals thousands of names of students that attended there. One cannot avoid thinking of all the trials and tribulations of past students and teachers who are not on any role of honour and who came through the school. All those that passed through its doors have given the place a continuity and have kept values going and standards high. Perhaps one can ask the big question, how many of these young people’s lives were saved through their attendance at the North Mon? How many were inspired to make a difference, to use their talents?
The North Mon School was established as a response to rampant poverty in the city. Way back 200 years ago John Carr, an Englishman, a travel writer of sorts in 1805, describes Cork’s economic fabric and social life. Cork was the largest butchery in Ireland and living conditions for the poorer classes in Cork were terrible and shocking. Many of the impoverished homes were located in narrow lanes and varied from cabins to cellars. It was realised in the early 1800s that the above problems could not be stopped but could be controlled as best as possible. Charity and education were key to curtailing some of the poverty. The North Monastery School was founded on 9 November 1811 when two Christian Brothers Brother Jerome O’Connor and Brother John Baptist Leonard were given charge of a school in Chapel Lane by the North Cathedral by the Bishop of Cork, Rev. Dr. Moylan. Seventeen students attended on the first day. In 1814 a fourteen acre sloping site was acquired from a wealthy catholic businessman, Sir George Gould Bart, and a new school was built. The North Monastery had found its permanent home. For the teachers in those days, it would have been no easy task and one of hard slog and hardship. Education and opportunity for them would have become mainly about giving relief, hope, dignity and faith. There were days of darkness and frustration and I have no doubt days of light.
During the difficult days of the late nineteenth century, three individuals brought the school to another level of contribution to Cork society more so than a response to poverty. The North Mon was to become a place of literary thought, experimentation and invention. Br. Gerald Griffin, the celebrated poet and novelist became a member of the North Monastery in 1839. In 1857 Br. James Dominic Burke arrived at the North Monastery and under his guidance the students began the study of natural philosophy (science). Br. Burke is widely acknowledged as the father of vocational education in Ireland and made the North Mon a centre of excellence in scientific and technical education. At this time Br. John P. Holland (inventor of the submarine) studied in the ‘Mon’ under the guidance of Br. Burke. These three individuals would provide the creative foundations for the North Mon going forward.
As a Corkman, I’d like to say thank you to the North Mon and all it stands for, for its contribution to Cork and Irish society. Here’s to the next 200!
Check out North Mon Past Pupils on Facebook plus check out their bicentenary book for more memories of the school.
Captions:
580a. North Monastery Past Pupils Union “Coming of Age”, 19 April 1958
Back row; D. Cullinane, Prof. T. Carey, UCC, A.O’Mahony, K.V. Downing, Rev. D. Canon Connolly; Third row: Rev. J. Canon Kelly, Chief Sup. Dowd, Donal Sexton, Lt. Col. Collins Powell, Rev. Br. Nolan; Second Row: W.V. Dynan, Hon. Secretary, M. O’Brien, Hon. Treasurer, S. O’Connell, A.A. Healy, T.D., P.J. O’Leary, Vice President, C. Young; First row: R.Br. Clancy, Superior General, J. Lynch, Minister for Education, C. Murphy, President, North Mon Past Pupils Union, Bishop Dr. C. Lucey, Br. Mc Conville, Ald. R.V. Jago, Prof. H. St. J. Atkins, Br. O’Brien (picture: K. McCarthy)
580b. Brother James Dominic Burke (picture: North Mon, Cork)
