Long ago the old people of Newtown Ballinasloe taught school in the country houses. Coffey's house at the Cross-roads was once a school . O'Brien with one hand taught there.
He slept there as there was a room adjoining the school. 2 1/2 a week was paid by each pupil. There was an English Book called the Green Seagull and that was the book they learned.
They were also taught sums. They wrote on a slate with slate pencil.
There were tablets made of cardboard and there was writing on them they were hung up on the wall and the children learned off them.
They also had a blackboard on an easel.