Book published on The Prep in Churchtown
It’s nice when a new book comes out about a school and Liam Muldowney has recently publish one such book about his years in school in Churchtown, particularly in “The Prep”.
The blurb written about the book is as follows:
The Prep
A Historical Reference and a Nostalgic Remembrance of Primary Education in De La Salle Preparatory School Churchtown
Inishmore House stands majestically in the townland of Whitehall overlooking Upper Churchtown Road and has done so since 1840. It has been home to some notable families but in 1952 its status changed when a directive from Archbishop John Charles McQuaid to the De La Salle Brothers asking them to establish an educational facility for boys saw the house transformed into a school.
Beginning life as both a primary and a secondary school the Prep became a stand alone primary school in 1957 when the College opened its doors at Landscape. Seeing many changes and several incarnations, each of the eight thousand boys who attended classes there have memories of their time at Inishmore.
From Drill classes in the yard with Captain O'Neill to Wicklow treks with Brother Maurice. Angelus prayers with Mrs. McCullagh, after swimming chips with Miss Ryan, rugby training with Brother Damian, elocution lessons with Mrs. Herlihy or simply chatting to the man who was Brother Patrick McCann, the recollections are many. The school bell is now silent and the chalk has been packed away but the sounds of the boys playing marbles under the big oak tree, playing football in the yard or running to take shelter from the rain in the long shed will forever be etched around Churchtown.
The book is available from lulu.com
Brothers Gabriel Whyte, Alphonsus Murphy, Gregory Ferguson and others are mentioned in the book. About the recently deceased Brother Gabriel Whyte, the author, Liam Muldowney writes:
“Brother Gabriel brought an air of fun into the Prep. He was the youngest headmaster in the short life of the school and his youthfulness and enthusiasm seemed to have an affect on both the teaching staff and the boys themselves. His constant smile was a joy for all to see and he was generous with his praise and support for everyone. The boys looked forward to his class visits and when he announced one day that he had acquired table tennis tables there was a wave of excitement among the students. Every boy hoped they would get their turn and show what they could do and the excitement grew further when Brother Gabriel told them there was going to be a championship…"