Hi Danny Dunne here a Rochfortbridge native, from the nearby Kilbride area. Bríd, what was you maiden name? I went to Dalystown School and later to St. Josephs Secondary School. I am a Primary School Principal today in Clonard in Co. Meath but I live in Gaybrook, Mullingar. The nuns who taught at the convent in those halycon days are still going strong. Miss Alford was from Tyrrellspass. Mary Alford and her sister Ann Taught at The Convent Primary School. Rochfortbridge. Ann moved when she became principal of Tyrrellspass N.S. She married Martin Buckley from Mullingar and they are the owners of Tyrrellspass Castle today. Mary whom you mentioned married a Rochfortbridge man, John Gavin and she is living there still. Ann and Mary are both retired now. A past pupil of the Convent School Ann Eighan (nee Reidy) is principal there now and it is a very progressive school. the corporal punishment days are long gone thank God and school is a much happier place.
Fr. McManus used to bring cans of sweets to all the parish primary schools. At Dalystown where I went, the can was always raffled and it was always very useful. It was a treasured item on the local farms. It had a very airtight lid and there were no spills when carrying water or milk. People in the country looked out for each other. When a cow calved, there was always a glut of milk and often a can of fresh milk was welcome at a neighbours house when there was a scarcity of milk there, the complement was returned when there was a shortage at home. Churning took place once a week. The milk was skimmed each day and the cream was stored in a delph crock. When this was done the sour cream was added to the churn and each person took a turn turning the handle till the butter formed. The remaining liquid was drawn off into a bucket. this buttermilk was used as a drink for thirst and was also used for baking bread. The can was sued to deliver buttermilk to the neighbours

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