Fighting the Church in cause of justice – Joe’s book casts new light on Fanore School Case

Women, drink, fighting, land-grabbing and interfering clergy are just some of the ingredients in Joe Queally’s fascinating book, The Fanore School Case 1914-22.

Based on the true story of a battle royal between parishioners and clergy in a rural outpost of the Diocese of Galway and Kilmacduagh, the book was originally published in 2004. Since then, the author has uncovered new material which he has included in the second edition of The Fanore School Case which is being launched in Ennis this Friday night, December 9.

Joe’s book covers one of the most extraordinary and troubling episodes in the history of Irish education.

At the centre of the case was Kerry-born Michael O’Shea, the principal teacher at Fanore National School in North Clare. O’Shea was dismissed from his post in 1914 by the school manager and parish priest, Fr Patrick Keran. According to local lore, the reason for O’Shea’s dismissal was his refusal to marry the assistant teacher in his school, Delia Leonard from Kilbeacanty outside Gort.

At the time, O’Shea was engaged to a local girl, whom he subsequently married. This outraged Fr Keran and the Bishop of Galway, Dr Tom O’Dea, and an all-out war broke out locally.

Although that’s not the full story, what is beyond doubt is that most people in Fanore sided with the sacked teacher. They built a hut-school for O’Shea and sent their children to him for education. However, when O’Shea presented his pupils to Bishop O’Dea for the Sacrament of Confirmation the Bishop would not confirm them. One affected father squared up O’Dea at the altar with a horse whip and removed his children, telling the Bishop to “keep your Commandments”.

The community was divided and there were regular battles between the children who attended the established, priest-controlled school and those who attended O’Shea’s school.

Rows broke out in the local pub, and even at Sunday Mass, when some parishioners walked out during the priest’s sermon.

Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh, Dr Thomas O’Dea, sided with Fr Keran, and advised O’Shea to take the temperance pledge – rumours abounded that the sacked teacher drank and kept ‘low company’.

Bishop O’Dea’s shabby behaviour included offering O’Shea another teaching position if he agreed to leave Fanore. O’Shea did agree, only to be offered a job in Rosmuc, in a school with very few pupils, which would have meant less money, as his income was based on capitation.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.