industrialschool

Interesting histories of the 'Sobraon' - www.gunplot.net/colonialnavy/hmastingira1.htm and www.navyhistory.org.au/the-history-of-hmas-tingira/ (2 pages).

14 years later the Sobraon cadets used their swimming skills to demonstrate the self-righting design of the life boat the Alice Rawson, launched at Cockatoo Island. See Don Shearman's recent additions to his family album -

beachcomber australia Thanks for posting those links to the history of the Sobraon. pellethepoet Great photos, thanks for including them. Other Sobraon related info can be found on our Kieran Gallery - the story of Barney Kieran, Championn Swimmer of the World. He took up swimming when he was sent to the Sobraon industrial school and reformatory at the age of 13. AB

The sad end of a great ship (as usual I was searching for something else) -

There is an early (Feb 1871) photo of the 'Sobraon' at west Circular Quay in her days as a "tea clipper" - www.photosau.com.au/cos/scripts/ExtSearch.asp?SearchTerm=...

Lovely photo ..... Letterfrack ?

OSI 25" map: maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V2,470976,757615,11,9

Streetview: goo.gl/maps/ZvTwgoGkVFM2

One of the most notorious and feared places in the country ...

Ger Cos Remote, inaccessible and with a fearsome reputation! Even going there was an expedition and for boys snatched from their families it was a living nightmare! A very fine shot but the history makes it terribly sad viewing! Wikipedia traces the origins of the place: Origins A wealthy Quaker couple, James and Mary Ellis, moved to Letterfrack in 1849 from the north of England, bought a large tract of land, developed it, built a residence and also a school for local children.[ After the Ellises left, the school was run by Protestant Irish Church Missions to Roman Catholics. The ICM's proselytising efforts continued up until 1882. The Catholic Archbishop of Tuam, Dr. John McEvilly bought the property in 1884. Opening The Archbishop wrote to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Earl Spencer suggesting that the property was 'admirably suited for a boys’ industrial school so sadly needed in that district'. However, the Lord Lieutenants' advisors were against the establishment of the school on the grounds that there was unlikely to be enough children requiring such an institution in the area and the existing schools were adequate for the educational needs of the area. Despite support from the Inspector of Industrial Schools, Sir Arthur Lentaigne the application was refused. The Archbishop continued to lobby the Lord Lieutenant and the school received support from the Lord Lieutenant in August 1885. The school was initially certified for 75 boys and the Archbishop entered into negotiations with the Christian Brothers. The Christian Brothers agreed and after building work added to the property, the schools opened on 12 October 1887.

One of the worst, evidently - "St Michael’s Industrial School Cappoquin, Co Waterford Opened:1877 Status:Closed 1999 Management:Sisters of Mercy THE STORY of St Michael’s Industrial School in Cappoquin is characterised by physical and sexual abuse, a dysfunctional managing nun with an alcohol problem and severe underfeeding in the early years. The Sisters of Mercy school opened in 1877 as a conventional industrial school but became a group home in 1974. The inquiry found that the children were “severely underfed for a long period in the 1940s and 1950s”. However, it was the era of the group home that gave rise to the most complaints. A nun with the pseudonym Sr Callida was put in charge of Group Home A in 1975 but staff became “increasingly alarmed” at how she ran the home. She had an alcohol problem, drank in front of the children and went absent for days without notice, leaving a young woman in charge of 16 young children. ... ... ..." From - www.irishtimes.com/news/most-complaints-concerned-physica...

More here - im2.studioaad.webfactional.com/ryan-report/report/2-8?page=1

"The State and society must never presume that because a child has been placed in care, he or she is safe from any form of abuse." From a personal story by Paddy Doyle, see - www.independent.ie/irish-news/i-was-abused-in-same-instit...

beachcomber australia Your comments link to some grim reading.

National Library of Ireland on The Commons Yes, I am sorry about that; it actually put me off my dinner. Has anyone found where this was? Part of the Mt St Joseph Convent? - catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000317440