SNIPPET: "Killavoggy school (Dromahair, Co. Leitrim) stood on a hill above my Uncle Bernie's and dominated the lovely Leitrim vista that it overlooked. Within its walls, everything that shaped our lives was carefully nurtured by strict but kind teachers. In my time, those teachers were Mrs. Margaret FALLON, wife of the local Councillor, and Sean WHITE, my own father. Years before that, the Juniors' teacher was the adored Maimee HANLEY. She is still spoken of with great respect and affection by those who considered themselves privileged to have been taught by her. I had an even greater privilege. She was mother to myself and nine siblings. My earliest memory of school was the needlework class. My introduction to the intricacies of knit one, purl one was painful. I dropped more stitches than I knitted while sitting on the hob of the big open fire. Today I can knit an Aran sweater while watching TV. And the religious exam. Not alone did we know the 10 Commandments backwards I liked to think that they formed the foundation of which we built our code of life, irrespective of religion. Bible history was a favourite. I loved the story of Lot's wife, and how Sampson toppled the Temple, and how David killed Goliath. The religious examiner came once a year. He gave certificates of merit to the best in each class. My brother, Sean, usually came first. Doing sums - My downfall was compounded by the fact that I would steal the keys of the school off the hook where father kept them. Then I'd sneak into the room, get the answer book and copy the answers into my exercise book All went fine until Father got suspicious at my never getting my sums wrong. He asked to see my work and the game was up. I have struggled ever since with mathematics. Summer was magic. On May Eve, we were allowed out to gather Mayflowers on KELLY's hill. We spread them on the ground of all doors at school and home to make a mat for Our Lady to walk on and enter our homes with a blessing. We were also allowed to go bare-footed, and the weather, I remember, was always favourable During this time, the window sills were adorned with jam jars of fresh, wild flowers." -- Excerpt, Dympna McNamara, journalist.