Ní raibh aon scoil sa Ghleann seo fadó ná i ngleannta nach é, ná aon

mháistir scoile ann ach chomh beag. Ach pé uair a gheohadh scoláire

bocht tímpeall lena dhoirnín leabhar mhúinfeadh sé ábhar dóibh, an

cuid a dhéanfadh rud air.

I gcoinn tamaill bhuail Riobard Hairis an tslí – duine acu san ab ea é.

An mhuintir a bhí ag teacht chuige bhíodar fásta suas. Bhí scoil aige ar

Chnocán an Iúir. Tigh beag a deineadh ann ar chnocán deas tirim.

Bhuail Tadhg Balbh ón Oileán Mór isteach chucu lá. Ní raibh sé balbh

in aon chor mar bhí an-líofacht cainte aige.

Agus é ag techt isteach an doras chum sé an bhéarsa seo.

“Ar Chnocáinín an Iúir atá an tuairim ar léann.

Bainseóigín drúchta is a aghaidh soir ar an ngréin.

Bailídh anois chugainn tá na h-údair le léamh

Is tabharfam díbh cúnamh más fiú libh orm glaoch”

D’fhreagar Rioard é  -

“Go deimhin duit, a fhir mhúinte, dob fhiú linn ort glaoch.

Is dob fhearr linn do shiúl a bheith chugainn in aghaidh an lae,

Dob fhearrde don trúp seo bheith múinte uainn araon,

Mar níl ins an dúthaigh aon tutor chomh tréan.”

Mícheál Ó hAileasa a d’inis an scéal seo.

The Hedge School on the Hillock of the Yew Tree

Long ago there was no school in Glenmore or in any other Glen, nor any

schoolmaster either. But any time a “poor scholar” came the way with

his bundle of books he would teach the scholars if they wanted to learn.

After a while Riobárd Harris came to Glenmore. He was one of the

“poor scholars”. He taught in a hedge school on Cnocáinín an Iúir in

Gortnamackanee. It was a small, thached stone house on a dry hillock.

The scholars were all in their teens preparing to go down the country to

Cork to Limerick to earn “the passage” to America and were very

anxious to learn English and the three R’S and any other subjects he

could teach them.

One day Tadhg Balbh O’Connor, who was not dumb or slow of speech

but very fluent, strolled up from Oileán Mór near the Capall Lake to visit

Riobárd. As he came into the school he composed the following verse-

“On the knoll of the yew tree they have regard for learning.

A dewy green hillock facing east to the sun.

Gather round us ye scholars and we’ll read all the authors

And I’ll give ye help if ye wish me to come.”

Riobárd answered.

“Indeed my good man we would like to accept you

And would welcome your help if you come every day.

This troop of scoláirí will be the better for two of us,

For therr’s not in the valley a tutor so brave.”

Mike Hallissey