FRED McELROY, NAVAN, BORN 1923

Fred McElroy is a native of Dundalk who was reared by his grandmother, a strict disciplinarian, very much of her time. After completing his schooling he trained as a primary teacher in Marino, and he recalls the various schools in which he taught. In 1951 he was appointed principal at Boyerstown, where he spent twenty-one happy years as teacher and principal. He was later principal of Bohermeen National School in the same parish. He discusses the primitive conditions in schools in the early days and the improvements as time went by. He recalls the school inspectors, his own teaching methods and says he misses teaching very much in his retirement.