Figure 1.--.

HBC readers have provided various small snipets about their schools over time. There is not enough information yet to vreate separate pages, but their comments are worth noteing.

Private Boarding School (1960s)

I attended a boarding school about 20 miles from Dublin. I had attended a state primary school. My boarding School was a Secondary School run by a religious order. We had blazers, but they only had to be worn on Sundays and special days, although they could be worn during the week. Our blazer was a shade of purple, which most of us thought was not very attractive. This was latter changed to black which was much more acceptable and the style change to a blazer which could be worn as a coat jacket (with the school badge removed). On regular days sport jackets with grey trousers were the norm. A school tie had to be worn every day. Whilst a school cap was available they were not that common, except with, perhaps the first year boys. Apparently some of the new boys, or more likely their parents, thought the cap was a required part of the uniform. Caps were, however, not required. Only about five or six boys mosstly first year boys wore short trousers at that time, and by the middle or end of their second year they were all in long trousers. In the summer term, Sunday attire was the School blazer, white shirt, school tie and whites (cricket whites) with black shoes. No extremes of haircuts were permitted, indeed short fringes were frowned upon, although hair had to be neat and tidy at all times. Indeed if your hair was considered too long you would be taken to the local village to have it cut rather than wait for the barber's regular visit.There was some consternation, with the powers that be, when an American boy, whose father was in the diplomatic corp. arrived, sporting a crew-cut. An unusual sight in Ireland in those days. Again, sportswear was very similar to the British Counterpart. For p.e. white vest (singlet) white shorts and black or white plimsolls. Soccer was not an approved sport and there was no facility for it. At that time (mid-1960s), however, soccer was being introduced, mainly by the English Boarders and they effectively took over the cricket pitch, out of season, and eventually, some of the Rugby pitches were adapted to cater for the increasing demand. Indeed on free days when it was required to go for long walks in the countryside you could, if you wished, wear a hat or cap (not neccesarily a school cap) of your choice (nothing too outrageous would be allowed).

Created: July 21, 2001
Last updated: July 21, 2001