Chalk Talk St Oliver's Special: 'Mrs Collins gave us 10p if we learnt a poem and recited it in front of the class' - Peadar Tóibín

PEADAR TÓIBÍN

I STARTED in St Oliver’s in 1979 when it was just a new school. Even though I was from the other side of Navan, my mother had chosen it because as a teacher, she knew Mr Howard and it was clear it was going to be a good school.

I have mighty memories from that time. From Mr Howard on the intercom telling us ‘níl cead ag na páistí dul amach inniu mar tá sé ag cur baistí’ to great teachers like Ms Smith, Ms McMahon and Ms Daly.

Mrs Collins was an old-style teacher, who was strict but fair and she gave us a good foundation. Mrs Collins gave us 10p if we learnt a poem and recited it in front of the class. Patrick O’Donnell, a classmate, friend and now actor, claims that this was his first paid gig!

Ms Gibbons sticks in my mind for her kindness. She empowered children and gave us a great love of reading and books. Every Friday she grew our imagination with a chapter of Charlotte’s Web.

Mr Ward took us to a Meath County final win in hurling which was again a great confidence builder. Many of the friends I made then, are still my good friends today. I want to mention two, who are unfortunately no longer with us, the great Paul Howard and Alan Callaghan. Two great characters who were also positively shaped by their time in St Oliver’s.

My father used to slag me about when I was 7 years old. He claims I was asked by Mr Howard, as to what I wanted to be when I was older. I seemingly answered, Taoiseach! Whether that’s true or not, from a young age I was interested in Irish history, the Irish language and even politics. I have no doubt that for the first two, St Oliver’s inspired.

I left in 1987, heartbroken that a tight class of friends would be no more. From there I went to St Pat’s and then onto UCD to study economics and politics. I still love to canvass the north side of Navan as, more often than not, I run into old school mates, with all the craic that that brings.

I am raising the 3rd generation of Tóibíns that live in Navan and as they take their steps through primary school and beyond it often returns me to the epic lunch time soccer matches on the pitch behind the school, the Christmas plays, the big days like Holy Communion and Confirmation and the teachers that prepared us to take on the world.