Commemoration of closure of Mayo's Errew Monastery school in 1975
by Tom Gillespie
THE 50th anniversary of the closure of Errew Monastery Boys’ School, outside Castlebar, will be commemorate on Wednesday (July 2).
The community are invited to attend the occasion at 7 p.m. where they, and past pupils, will be photographed in front of the historical Franciscan Monastery which was built in 1842 as a centre for Catholic education and worship.
Following this the third Errew Prayer Service, to remember deceased members of the community, will take pace at the adjoining Franciscan Brothers cemetery, led by Brother Conal Thomas.
He grew up in the house right next door to Errew Monastery and currently lives in Corundulla.
Brother Conal has led the remembrance service for the last two years after completing his book ‘Errew Now and Then’.
The occasion is being organised by the Errew Community Council.
Ms. Janine Hoban, a member of the committee, said: “Errew Monastery Boys’ School closed 50 years ago this year. To mark the occasion past pupils are invite to attend at the monastery to mark the ccason.
“It will give them an opportunity to come together, meet up with old friends and reminisce on times past.”
In October 1839 Brothers Bernard Garry and Paul O’Connell arrived in Errew from Ballyglunin. Many others followed when the building work began.
Local land owner James Hardiman donated 10 acres and a sizeable monetary donation to get the monastery project off the ground.
In good times the Brothers were able to grow most of their own food that was required to feed the community. The remains of the old wide mortared walls from the Hardiman house were still visible in the lifetime of Brother Thomas whose family now own the site where the Harridman house once stood. It was sheltered from the prevailing winds by mature beech trees, many of which predate the monastery.
Miss Hoban said parking for the July 2 commemoration will be strictly at the nearby community centre, unless dropping off those with restricted mobility.