Page 36 - The Gonzaga Record 1986
P. 36
There were only two lay-masters in my time. Signor Volpi, a small, trim,
friendly Italian, had been there from the foundation and lent a cosmo-
politan air to the place. He taught us drill and tried to instil some appreci-
ation of art into us. I can still remember him extolling in succulent tones
the wonders of Leonardo and Michelangelo. He regaled his classes with
amazing tales about many things, including his early life. Cathal O'Gara
came later. He taught us mathematics. He brought the relaxed and
benign ways and manners of the western countryside into our 'jackeen'
lives. I shrivel yet when I recall the jests he had to endure, including crude
imitations of his voice, because he did not sound like a native
'southsider'. But he took it all in good part. He was that kind of man.
I am afraid he was not wholly satisfied with my performance as a pupil.
One of my final year reports noted that I seemed to lose interest in
mathematics. It was my loss.
Fr Joe Veale joined the staff at the beginning of my second year in
September 1954. His significance in the early history of Gonzaga was
immense. He taught English, founded An Chomhdhail (the Debating
Society) and took charge of the Sixth year post-matriculation course
which was the main special feature of the school curriculum. He had the
indispensable gift of a great teacher in that he inspired his pupils with
enthusiasm for their work. He gave of himself wholly and was a
dominating influence on generations of his pupils. But inevitably, he had
the weaknesses of his qualities. His commitment sometimes deprived him
of the detachment which a person in authority must retain in relation to
those under him. This was an emotional strain for him and it also caused
problems when particular boys crossed swords with him, especially as the
Jesuit training of that day did not condition him to accept dissent. He
has been a wonderful friend to me for many years, but I have to say that
we did not have an easy relationship while I was at Gonzaga. I remember
being reduced to tears by him on one occasion. It was probably my fault
as I was, I think, opinionated and obdurate. I know my English essays
did not impress him. My essay book, which I have retained, contains a
constant string of stinging rebukes. 'Your command of English will
remain poor', he wrote under one essay, 'until you begin to read books
of some literary merit'. Under another was written 'reads like a successful
parody of the worst kind of children's encyclopaedia or a passage written
to illustrate the use of cliches'. 'Read B. W. 's answer', I was told on
another occasion. BW. was Brendan Walsh who was by then the clear
leader of our class. He read voraciously and wrote with remarkable
clarity. He could also converse comfortably in Irish. It was to his credit
that despite all the praise he received from Fr Veale and other masters,
he never became overbearing or swollen headed. At the end of the Sixth
year he won the Entrance Scholarship into University College Dublin in
English and Irish. It was the school's first major academic success.
The Debating Society, called An Chomhdhail, was a very important
part of the school life from the time of its foundation in November 1955.
34
friendly Italian, had been there from the foundation and lent a cosmo-
politan air to the place. He taught us drill and tried to instil some appreci-
ation of art into us. I can still remember him extolling in succulent tones
the wonders of Leonardo and Michelangelo. He regaled his classes with
amazing tales about many things, including his early life. Cathal O'Gara
came later. He taught us mathematics. He brought the relaxed and
benign ways and manners of the western countryside into our 'jackeen'
lives. I shrivel yet when I recall the jests he had to endure, including crude
imitations of his voice, because he did not sound like a native
'southsider'. But he took it all in good part. He was that kind of man.
I am afraid he was not wholly satisfied with my performance as a pupil.
One of my final year reports noted that I seemed to lose interest in
mathematics. It was my loss.
Fr Joe Veale joined the staff at the beginning of my second year in
September 1954. His significance in the early history of Gonzaga was
immense. He taught English, founded An Chomhdhail (the Debating
Society) and took charge of the Sixth year post-matriculation course
which was the main special feature of the school curriculum. He had the
indispensable gift of a great teacher in that he inspired his pupils with
enthusiasm for their work. He gave of himself wholly and was a
dominating influence on generations of his pupils. But inevitably, he had
the weaknesses of his qualities. His commitment sometimes deprived him
of the detachment which a person in authority must retain in relation to
those under him. This was an emotional strain for him and it also caused
problems when particular boys crossed swords with him, especially as the
Jesuit training of that day did not condition him to accept dissent. He
has been a wonderful friend to me for many years, but I have to say that
we did not have an easy relationship while I was at Gonzaga. I remember
being reduced to tears by him on one occasion. It was probably my fault
as I was, I think, opinionated and obdurate. I know my English essays
did not impress him. My essay book, which I have retained, contains a
constant string of stinging rebukes. 'Your command of English will
remain poor', he wrote under one essay, 'until you begin to read books
of some literary merit'. Under another was written 'reads like a successful
parody of the worst kind of children's encyclopaedia or a passage written
to illustrate the use of cliches'. 'Read B. W. 's answer', I was told on
another occasion. BW. was Brendan Walsh who was by then the clear
leader of our class. He read voraciously and wrote with remarkable
clarity. He could also converse comfortably in Irish. It was to his credit
that despite all the praise he received from Fr Veale and other masters,
he never became overbearing or swollen headed. At the end of the Sixth
year he won the Entrance Scholarship into University College Dublin in
English and Irish. It was the school's first major academic success.
The Debating Society, called An Chomhdhail, was a very important
part of the school life from the time of its foundation in November 1955.
34
