Friends reunited by former teacher

Friends from the Castletown Girls’ School were reunited with their much-loved teacher thanks to an appeal in the Argus earlier this year.

In February this year, former teacher May Toal contacted the Argus with a picture of the first class she taught at the school in 1959/60. There were 41 girls in her fourth class and Ms Toal, who is originally from Co. Kerry, was appointed by Canon Campbell.

After spending seven years at the school, Ms Toal taught in Realt na Mara and finished her career, in 1997, in Blackrock after 38 years. Ms Toal said she would love to meet up with some of the women from this fourth class, to have a reunion and talk about old times. Remarkably, she was able to remember the names of each and every one of the girls in the class.

And thanks to the appeal, a number of women got in touch with the paper and Ms Toal contacted them to organise the reunion, which took place at Sexton’s in Blackrock, close to the teacher’s home, last Saturday week.

Ms Toal said: ‘We had a great day on Saturday. There were ten ladies and myself who went along. We talked at length and remembered those who had died prematurely.

‘We told stories and read poetry and philosophised about the future. It had been 50 years since we had met and it was brilliant to do so. Everyone spoke of the Argus and how good it was to see the picture in the paper and how it helped bring everyone together. I want to thank all those who came’.