Fragments of History - Part 2.

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In last years essay we looked at some local parish newspapers from Co. Roscommon and I mentioned that this year we might look at parish and school magazines. Since then the collection has increased somewhat and therefore I have decided to concentrate only on school annuals this year (not school histories, these will be looked at separately) and leave the parish magazines to next time. By Liam Byrne I have not been able to determine exactly who was first to publish a school annual in Co. Roscommon. In the Foreword to the CBS School Record of 1953 2 the editor states The School Record differs from the general run of School Magazines in so far as pride of place goes to the picture gallery From this we can presume that there were other school magazines around at the time, though not necessarily in Co. Roscommon, and that they were mostly text based, rather that photographic, in nature. Though not the earliest of the genre, a very early magazine was produced by students of St. Marys College (Coliste Mhuire), Boyle in June 1970. The magazine was called St. Marys College Annual. In the foreword Vincent Hanly, Bishop of Elphin congratulated the senior boys on their initiative. He continues The decision to publish a school magazine is itself a practical one. The people served by the school like to know what is going on within its walls. Parents can look to a school magazine for quite an amount of information they have a right to expect As an accessible record of happenings during the year the school magazine can be very important. No less important is the opportunity it gives to students to express themselves on various topics. 3 These sentiments have been echoed down through the years in the many school annuals that have followed. St. Marys College produced another volume, No. 2 in June 1971. Both measured 24.5 cm by 19 cm, smaller than No. 3 of June 1972 which measured 28.5 cm by 21 cm, which was itself slightly smaller than the standard A4 (29.5 cm by 21 cm) format adapted in subsequent years and by all other school magazines in the county. No. 4 appeared in October 1973 and this seems to be the last of the original series. In 1985 St. Marys College produced a souvenir for their 30th. anniversary reunion and in 1988 another magazine was produced for a reunion of past pupils to be held in London at Easter. Both of these publications were edited by teacher Tony Conboy. In his introduction to the 1985 edition the editor comments on the fact that the earlier annuals were a fine record of those years 4. Today the entire series is a remarkable reminder, in pictures and in words, of the history of the College in the 1970s and 1980s. The earliest school annual so far found for Roscommon comes from Roscommon town and is perhaps the longest continuous publication of its type in the county. The magazine is called Rosc Chomin and has appeared almost every year since 1966. 5 Produced by Roscommon Christian Brothers School (CBS) the magazine was originally produced by 5th. year students but later became a Transition Year project. The name derives from the words Rosc meaning exclamation, battle cry or slogan, and Chomin after St. Coman of Roscommon. The translation as given in issue No. 6, The Declaration of Comin 6 might be better rendered as The Cry of Comin as

reflected in the purpose of the magazine as a communications tool, (similar to the term Town Crier etc). In the 1976 edition the editorial committee tried to explain the thinking behind the magazine. They wrote, .. Rosc Chomin is a means of communication. It contains the results of research of pupils in the CBS. This is put forward through the media of the articles and stories. 7 Bishop Hanly would, Im sure, have been pleased. Initially the annuals were numbered and the sequence is No. 1 (1966), Nos 2 (1967) and No. 3 (1967), No. 4 (1968), No. 5 (1969 or 1970) 8, No. 6 (1971), No. 7 (1972), and then Volume 8 (1973), June 1974, June 1975 etc. until finally the month was dropped and all subsequent issues had the year only. The latest edition is 2007. Each magazine contains stories by student writers on various topics of interest, many relevant to Roscommon, and photographs of the various classes, teams etc. in the school at the time. School tours, competitions and colour photographs have been added over time and this general scheme has been followed by all of the school publications represented in this essay. The next for mention came from Scoil Chriost an R in Boyle. The first edition appears to be from 1978 or 1979.9 To date I know of issues for 1981,10 1985, 1986 and 1987. (I would be grateful to anyone who can fill in any further details for this publication). About the same time another school annual was making an appearance. The name of this publication was originally Reflections and an edition under this title appeared in 1979 but it is under the title Macalla that it has stood the test of time. The latest edition is 2007. The magazine is produced by the girls of The Convent of Mercy in Roscommon town. Early editions were managed by teacher James Hoban but the girls soon took charge and the publication has been produced almost every year since. With the success of magazines like Rosc Chomin and Macalla in celebrating school life and student talent is it any wonder that many other schools followed suit. Inspirations was produced by the students of Roscommon Vocational School and I am aware of three issues, for 1981, 1882 and 1983. 11 Another edition appeared in 1994 and was titled Inspirations 1984 1994, so it would appear to be the next in sequence. A newspaper called Newsview was also produced in 1984. 12 Twenty-first century production methods mean that high-class colour publications are now well within the means of schools and students can learn writing, editorial, fundraising and other skills, while also enjoying themselves. Scoil Mhuire, Strokestown has produced at least three annuals under the titles Sources in 2001, Horizons in 2003 and Firinne in 2005 and there may be others I am unaware of. Elphin Community College produced a Transition Year Magazine in 2003. It was called Clover in 2004, Im a Student Get me out of Here in 2005 and Elphin Community College School Annual 2006. Abbey Community College in Boyle produced Echoes From the Abbey 2003 2004, The Abbey Times 05 06 and Abbey Community College Yearbook. Class of 06. Finally the latest to join the illustrious band is Roscommon Community College which, at time of writing, had produced their Eolas in 2006. Why are these publications important and why would anyone want to collect them, study them and write about them? The answer can be found in Bishop Hanlys

introduction to St. Marys College Annual back in 1970. He wrote Quite a lot of what happens in or in connection with school has a news value. Some will appear piecemeal over the year in the local press. Some may not have been published at all. (authors emphasis) 13 Here he expresses the conundrum of history. If things are not written down they are forgotten and once forgotten, never happened! So many things happen and are forgotten, but thanks to the industry and efforts of students throughout the county, much has been preserved. For this, if for no other reason, these annual magazines must be preserved. This essay is intended to arouse interest and comment. The author would be delighted to hear from anyone who can add, correct or comment on any aspect of the subject. The author has a good collection of original Roscommon school magazines and photocopies of others. He would be delighted to hear from anyone who might have copies of old school annuals that they no longer require and might contribute to the collection. He sincerely thanks all those who have commented on, provided information, provided material for copying or contributed material to the collection, as a result of previous articles and he hopes that you find this one interesting. Please call him on 090 6489 555 or 087 2431 240 or email roscommonhistory@eircom.net with your views etc.
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This is the third essay by the author on collecting Roscommon books, magazines, newspapers and ephemera to appear in Roscommon Life. It is the second to have this title. 2 Irish Christian Brothers, Roscommon School Record 1937 1953. Thanks to Sean Mulligan for allowing me to photocopy the magazine. 3 St. Marys College Annual. No. 1. 1969 1970. June 1970. Thanks to Tony Conboy for this and other issues of St. Marys Annual. 4 St. Marys College, Boyle. Commemorative Souvenir. 1955 1985 Edited by Tony Conboy. 5 The earliest edition I have is a photocopy of issue 2 which appeared in 1967. Issue 3 also appeared in 1967, so I presume issue 1 was in 1966. I would be grateful if anyone who has issue No. 1 would contact me. My thanks to Willie Gacquin for help with copies of this publication. 6 Rosc Chomin No. 6 June 1971 page 3. Thanks to James Hoban for help with this publication. 7 Rosc Chomin June 1976. page 3. 8 I dont have a copy of this issue and therefore do not know what year it appeared. I would be grateful if anyone who has issue No. 5 would contact me. 9 The copy I have is damaged and has no cover but internal evidence seems to suggest such a date. Thanks to Tony Conboy for copies in my posession. 10 I dont have this issue but a photograph that appeared in The Roscommon Herald of 26 th. Sept 2006 shows a class reunion with the girls reading a copy. Please contact me if you have a copy. 11 I only have the 1983 edition, which mentions that it is issue 3, so I am guessing that the earlier ones were in the preceding two years. Does anyone have copies of Issue 1 and 2? 12 I only have a photocopy of this issue. I am not aware of other issues but there might have been some. Information or copies of these would be welcome. Thanks to Tom Costello for his help. 13 St. Marys College Annual. No. 1. 1969 1970. June 1970. ______________________________________

Liam Byrne is a native of Co. Offaly but now resides in Lecarrow in Co. Roscommon. He has a passion for Roscommon history and collects books, magazines, documents and ephemera relating to the County. He has edited Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 of The Rindoon Journal and is currently involved with the publication of a history on St. Dominics GAA Club.