Riobard, This email made me just smile from ear to ear. Wha a wonderful teacher you must have been....and I might add....still are. Thank you thank you thank you for your wonderful wit, great knowledge and just plain joy of life! Loretta McDermott McGinn In a message dated 12/1/2015 10:15:45 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, beara@rootsweb.com writes: By the way, the name of Michael's book of short, but fascinating, poems is called "Waltzing With Eternity". The first poem sets the scene ". It goes like this: "When we were young and went to school, we used to sit together. I couldn't do a single sum if I were there forever. And then the teacher copped it on. He tanned my hide with leather. He made us sit in different seats. He even changed the weather." In case you think that I was the teacher, I hasten to add that I never hit a child in Kilmacowen School. Michael, you are a mighty rascal !! It must have been the fellow who was there before me !! I remember the day I came teaching to Kilmacowen School. I asked the children where was the rod with which a former teacher used unsparingly if he happened to be in the humour. Immediately, I got plenty help to find it. It happened to be hidden in a cupboard. Out it came. There was a little stream flowing by the back of the school. "Throw that stick down into it" says I. Needless to say, I was not short of hands to help me see the last of the stick sailing off in the water. I never believed in frightening the life out of children when teaching them. I always believed that a child learns alot more when happy. And Michael did. Telling you that he couldn't do a single sum, who was he codding ? Michael was a scholarly mathematician. It must be that he is trying to have a joke at the expence of the poor "ould" Master. Wait until I catch you, you scamp !! Riobard. On 1 December 2015 at 12:52, Riobard O' Dwyer <bearariobard@gmail.com> wrote: > Joan & I have been honoured to receive a gift of Michael Dwyer's new > book of poems. Michael has been the outstanding Officer, for many > years, of the Beara Association, based in Boston ----- but known about > in many parts of the world. A native of Inches in the Eyeries Parish > at home in Beara, he has lived for years in Boston, and has lectured > far and wide. I had the honour of teaching him while in Kilmacowen > Primary School, and I must say that he was one of my brightest pupils > ----- a young fellow of considerable talent, a talent which has lived > on to the present day ---- and I hope for many years to come. God > bless you, Michael, and also your lovely wife and family. From the > "ould Master", Riobard (and also Joan, and the accordeon). Talking > about the accordeon, I remember one day in Kilmacowen School, beside > the fire, with my pupils enjoying the "crack", and I playing the > accordeon with Irish jigs, reels, and hornpipes. I had my head down, > playing with fire on my fingers hopping off the keyboard. When I > looked up, there was the Schools' Inspector standing in the door, with > a huge smile on his face. I was lucky ----- because he happened to be > one of the lads with me in the Teachers' Training College in > Drumcondra, Dublin. When school time was over, we spent the rest of > the evening up on the hill overlooking the school, and showing him all > the interesting Townlands and telling him about all the people who > lived, and were living, there in the olden and present times. He and I > went home happy. You know the old saying: "The Devil you know, is > better than the Devil you don't know". I was lucky to have met the > right "Devil" !! I'm sure that Mick won't mind me telling the story. > Riobard. -- Riobard (O'Dwyer) ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BEARA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message