Kieran’s Our City, Our Town Article,

Cork Independent, 9 May 2013

Technical Memories (Part 53) – A Princely Contribution

“There was a splendid gathering, who filled the spacious hall of the new School when at 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon, Mr Thomas Derrig, Minister for Education performed the opening ceremony of the new School of Commerce and Domestic Science at Morrison’s Island, Cork. Among them were many  ladies, clergymen, professional and business men of the city, together with representatives of Cork public bodies, educational, labour, and other organisations” (Journalist, Cork Examiner, 8 June 1938).

The official opening of the new Cork School of Commerce building on 7 June 1938 marked another stage in the development of vocational education in the city. On the day, having opened the main door with a gold key, Minister Thomas Derrig entered the new building, and then Fr J Canon assisted by Canon E Fitzgerald blessed the entire building. With the Minister and the Lord Mayor James Hickey, Canon Scannell entered the Assembly Hall, where the large audience had gathered and where the blessing ceremony concluded.

Once the chairman of the VEC committee Mr Ellis introduced the Minister, the choir sang the National Anthem. The Chairman said that it was a happy occasion for the citizens of Cork and for the progress of Vocational Education generally and that future generations should praise the memory of the benefactor of the site, William T Green for his “princely contribution in the noble cause of education”. Continuing Mr Ellis noted: “The citizens of the Cork of today and tomorrow are fortunate-far more fortunate- than we of the Cork of yesterday were, in that they now possess not only facilities for cultural studies but no less important facilities for fitting and training themselves to be leaders of industry and commerce”.

The Minister noted the importance of the occasion and highlighted that the site of any school should be carefully chosen, especially if it is being used for both day and evening classes. A school should be central and free as possible from the disturbances of traffic. He thanked Thomas Green for his generous gift of land: “The building is really a fine one and will remain as a standing monument of the genius of the architect and the efficiency and skill of the contractor and his craftsmen…it gives to the citizens of Cork a school worthy of the traditions to which it is heir and admirably adapted to the training of young people of the city in the various branches of commerce and domestic science”.

The Minister was particularly interested in the Assembly Hall in which the group were gathered. He commented that it would give excellent facilities for school meetings, lectures and dramatic performances and that it was also fitted for the display of educational firms. The Assembly Hall could also be used as a gymnasium for the students, and provision had been made for dressing rooms with hot and cold showers.

The Minister commented on the work by Seamus Murphy of the relief panels at each side of the main entrance to the school. They were symbolic of the two aspects of the Vocational Education, for which the school was intended. “I should like to see other committees imitate the example of Cork is this respect, and incorporate in their school buildings, some distinctive piece of artistic work. This might take the form of a mural decoration, illustrative of a period of local history, or an example of a craft for which the locality is noted. I believe that there is no more suitable place for fine paintings or sculptures than in a school building, where the merit of the artistry makes a ready appeal to the active imagination and creative instincts of the young”.

In a fine building the Minister believed that progress would be as rapid as it was under the old and less favourable conditions in the former building on the South Mall. He called for the authorities of the school to provide for special studies that were of importance to a great commercial centre- studies in economics, insurance, salesmanship, advertising, industrial design, and the display of goods: “Not only should the school train the rank and file of the commercial life of the city, but it should provide a programme of studies that will induce every student to advance to the fullest extent of his capacity. Without this specialisation, you cannot satisfy the student of ambition and ability, who is marked out for leadership and on whom enterprise and progress so largely depend”.

In concluding his address, the Minister paid a special tribute to the City of Cork Vocational Education Committee for its whole-hearted acceptance of his request to undertake an educational experiment in connection with raising the school leaving age. As from 1 September 1938, every young person in Cork, under the age of 16 was to be required to attend some form of school. The attendance of those in employment was to be restricted to five hours weekly: “The results of the experiment over the next few years will largely determine our policy on the general issue and be the subject of much interest in educational circles”.

To be continued…

Captions:

690a. Front entrance of Cork College of Commerce showing Seamus Murphy sculptures (picture: Kieran McCarthy)