My Uncle John always took lots of photographs. Nothing was too inconsequential.
A frame from a programme on television, newspaper clippings, hens, dogs, cats, buildings, landscapes. Generous time was also given to his nieces, nephews, brothers, in-laws and friends.
Last week I wondered if there were any photographs of the old National School (st Josephs) in Killasser. It was demolished sometime in the early 1990’s with a new school being built near the parish church.
So yesterday, Tony showed me a picture that John must have taken around that time. The school was originally built in 1916 (Sean Cunney put me right on this) – and you can see where the original door was at the top of the steps (boot scraper in situe).
Old National School, Killasser
What I might have taken at the time to be inconsequential (“why did he take that?”) now provides a visual link with the past, something that would have been otherwise lost forever.
VIZ 601 
Hi Kevin,
Nice to see picture of the old school. Just a word of thanks for letting me “cog” off you all those years ago – you never once got cross. Just on the date the school was built – i will never forget it, becasue I dreaded going every day and always looked towards the skies for help before going in – so i can picture the wall plate that said buitl in 1916. By the way, i hope Ipwichs form improves soon.
Best regards,
Sean
Hello Sean
how did you cog when you were sitting over their near the press?? 🙂 can remember it was Seamus, Padraig, Eugene and myself over near the encyclopedias. Your m.thatcher impressions are still remembered 🙂
nice to hear from you – not too many pictures of the school around, it seems to inspire a lot of dread in people alright.
Hello, Kevin. I’m the editor of MISYON,[www.misyononline.com] the online magazine of the Columbans in the Philippines. This morning I was at the funeral of Fr Joe Gallagher, a native of Killasser, who spent nearly 60 years in the Philippines. He died in Dalgan Park on 2 August.
I added some photos to an obituary prepared by Fr Cyril Lovett, editor of FAR EAST, and by googling came across a photo of the old school in Killasser here on your blog. I’ve taken the liberty of using it, with an acknowledgment and a link to your post above. You’ll find it in two locations: http://www.misyononline.com/blog/columban-fr-joseph-gallagher-rip and http://www.misyononline.com/misyonforum/fathersean/columban-fr-joseph-gallagher-rip7 . I hope you don’t mind.
I don’t know if you knew Father Joe but the one word used by almost everyone about him was ‘gentleman’. He was the Columban superior for the whole of the Philippines when I went there in 1971. May he rest in peace.
I hope that your health is now fine.
I would love to see Mayo win the Sam again but, as a ‘Dub’, not this year!
Thank you and God bless you
(Fr) Sean Coyle
Hello Sean
Thanks for getting in touch – delighted you could use the photo.My Uncle John and Joe knew each other very well – and kept in contact all down through the years. Our families lived closed to each other in Killasser – so I had heard of his passing at the weekend.
Kevin
Hello I believe my great grandfather Patrick O’Keane and grandmother Lila O’Keane taught at this school about 1920s would love to hear if any old photos or information.