Learning curve: celebs on their schooldays
As children up and down the country settle into new classrooms, Tanya Sweeney asks some Irish personalities to share their school memories
Whether school was the best time of your life, or you suffer recurring nightmares about sitting Maths Paper 1, there’s every chance the winds of autumn are bringing back many memories. Given the week that’s in it, we asked a few well-known faces to recall their first days of school.
Derry Clarke – Chef/restaurateur
“The one thing I remember from my first day of primary school was my lunchbox, which contained a jam sandwich made of batch bread. We got a little bottle of milk that the school gave out. I don’t remember too much at all, though I was probably nervous.
In later years, I went to boarding school (St George’s in Tipperary) and I always remember the crinkle cut chips, which I hate. We were served something weird once a week, like a curry or a stew with salty bacon in it. It was the rankest thing I ever ate. You were weighed at the beginning and end of term to make sure you never lost weight — I usually stayed the same. I got on pretty well in school as I’m easy-going overall, but the food didn’t really appeal.”
Frances Black – Singer/senator
“We lived in Charlemont Street and I went to school in Grantham Street. It was my brother’s first day — he had just turned five — and I went down to the school with him and my mother. The teacher went: ‘Why don’t you start her now as well?’ Suffice to say I was a little bit traumatised starting school at three years old when everyone else was four or five. I found it really tough.
“I had to repeat first year because I was too young to do the Inter Cert, though I thought at the time it was because I was too stupid. I hated every minute of school. I was hopeless at maths, and though I liked art and music and English, I always struggled.”
Frances plays the Cork Opera
House on September 13 alongside Sharon Shannon & Mary
Coughlan.
Darren Kennedy – Broadcaster/stylist
“I remember my first day of preschool very vividly because I came home with a black eye! I sat on some girl’s desk and she didn’t take kindly to it, and I got a dig. I also chased the dog to catch its tail and nearly got bitten. Added to that, I was screaming at the door for my mother to come get me. All in all, a very eventful day...
“I do remember I grew to love school. I had some really amazing teachers. Mr McAllister was a total hippie, looking back — he started every day making us do neck, arm and shoulder stretches, and would sing Simon & Garfunkel or The Beatles with us. He was so kind, mainly because he made me think I could sing for the longest time.”
Darren’s new range of eyewear at Specsavers, Darren Kennedy Recommends, is available in stores nationwide now.
Niamh Farrell – Singer, HamsandwicH
“I went to secondary school in Scotland, as my mum moved there when the Celtic Tiger was really starting to go off and everything was getting really expensive in Dublin. Life was much more affordable over there. I had glasses and braces, the whole shebang. I was a proper nerd! But I absolutely loved it. It was difficult to settle at the start, and I was very quiet and shy, but by around the equivalent of fifth or sixth year, I found my feet. I got my gang of friends and I got hugely into drama.”
Alana Kirk – Writer/blogger
“I had not one but four first days in primary school. My father was a journalist so we travelled a lot. My parents dropped me off and it was like, ‘Off you go’.
“In my last school, I went in at sixth class, so we all went into secondary school together. I was never super popular, or sporty, but neither was I a nerd. I just got on with everyone. I tell my daughters that getting on with everyone is the best way to be.”
To read Alana’s blog, see alanakirk.ie.
Caroline Grace Cassidy – Author/actress/broadcaster
“I did Junior Infants twice because we moved house and my parents wanted me to start in Junior Infants in our new area with everyone else. I remember seeing this little girl in line with two blonde pigtails, and I took her hand and didn’t even look back to say goodbye to my mum! Leontia and I are still best friends to this day.
“I loved school — I loved starting new things and loved exams. I was a real weirdo. Lots of us from primary school went to Santa Maria, so it was a very easy transition. I loved the new environment, meeting new people — I wasn’t intimidated one bit. I wasn’t the most academic, but I never took it too seriously.”
Cassie Stokes – Presenter, Xposé
“I spent my early school days in Toronto and I thought it was all very exciting. This might sound ridiculous but I remember one day it was snowing so bad that my mum brought me to school on a sled. When I got a bit older, I’d always be racing around with the guys. My girl friends would be playing house and I was always like, ‘No, why don’t we race?’.
“I moved back to Ireland for fifth class and my first day was absolutely terrifying. I was lucky by the time I got to secondary school in Mount Anville because my best friend was coming with me. I didn’t like the academic side of things at all. I loved English and languages. Everything else? No thanks.
Xposé is on Virgin Media One, weekdays at 6pm.
Tracy Clifford – RTÉ 2FM radio presenter
“On the very first day of primary school, I asked my teacher, ‘Where’s my mam gone?’, and she said, ‘She’s gone down the corridor to do the washing’. I didn’t realise for ages that it was all lies. I kept thinking, ‘Where’s this washroom that the mammies go to?’.
“For secondary school, I remember getting the bus home alone was a big deal, but my mum told me, ‘Behave yourself and don’t go upstairs. I know a woman who takes that bus and she’ll be keeping an eye on you’. I only found out three years ago that she basically never existed.”
Tracy’s show is on weekdays from 1pm on RTÉ 2FM.
Ciara Kelly – Doctor/ broadcaster on Newstalk 106-108
“I started school in 1975 with the nuns and it was quite a scary setting. It wasn’t very enjoyable. I didn’t enjoy the routine or the regime at all. I wasn’t too bad academically — I usually got pretty good results. I was referred to on more than one occasion as the cheekiest girl in school. I was forever on the naughty step. The thing I remember the most is the horrendous uniform along with the Dubarry’s shoes. But more than anything it was a challenge to stay on the right side of the line. I’ve never been great with authority.”
Lunchtime Live is on Newstalk 106-108 every weekday from midday.