My parents tried to turn me into a nerd from a very young age so school COULD have been a challenge.
Happily, I managed to circumnavigate the situation; I spent five years in the school orchestra without EVER actually playing the violin, and my Irish dancing at the school talent show COULD have been a disaster had it not been for the popularity of Riverdance at the time.
Other people’s school memories are ALWAYS amusing so we were delighted to get the opportunity to catch up with four authors, whose books are now on the shelves at Easons, about their best childhood school memories.
1.Pippa O’ Connor (Style Blogger and author of ‘Pippa, Simple Tips To Live Beautifully’)
“I actually remember Montessori really well as my Aunty was the Montessori teacher. She still has the Montessori school now in her home which is purpose built. It’s called “First Steps Montessori” in Punchestown. I went there when I was three and four; I have very vivid memories of being there. There were loads of nature walks, arts and crafts, I used to wear my little pink jumper and had my hair in pigtails.”
2. Paul Howard (Author of ‘Game of Throw-ins’ by Ross O’Carroll-Kelly)
“It’s really vivid. I’m putting together a jigsaw of an airport (sixteen pieces, so I was obviously very precocious) in St Vincent’s in Bedfordshire. The school is divided into quarters, with a kitchen and television room in the middle. In the kitchen, there is the smell of bread being baked by the older children. A woman in a red polo neck arrives and introduces herself as Ms. Perezynski. I loved that day.”
3. Mary O’Rourke (former Minister of Education and author of ‘Letters Of My Life‘)
“I remember being on the back of my mother’s bike going down to the school and I was crying and crying and crying. She stopped at a little shop and bought be a club milk biscuit, which soon silenced me. I remember being mesmerized by the huge number of students in the big outdoor concrete yard and I remember being overwhelmed by the schoolyard overrun with children while I clutched my little club milk.”
4. Jason Byrne (Comedian and author of ‘Adventures of Wonky Eyed Boy’)
” I wasn’t afraid. I remember loving the smell of the new shoes and new clothes that my mother had gotten in Frawley’s. The first day, no fear, I knew all the kids already, all the kids in the playground, the only person in the room on my first day in school that looked nervous was the teacher. She was the only one who didn’t know anyone. So for me, it was just another day with my mates, except we all smelled of new rubber. Leather you mean? No rubber shoes, and barbed wire jumpers.”
What are your fondest school memories?
All books now available through Easons
