Crofton, Mary Monica (Monica)

Date of Birth: 18th June 1951

Place of Birth: Dr. Furlong’s Nursing Home, Hill Street, Wexford

Date Interviewed: 25th November 2008

Summary: Monica Crofton’s grandmother’s name appears on the first page of the first ever roll-call in Wexford’s Faythe School. Monica herself started school in the Faythe in 1955 and stayed there right up to Secondary Level. Of the 45 pupils in her class only 3 completed the Leaving Certificate. Monica describes her first days in school when she was terrified of the nuns in their black habits. She was also scared of the rocking horse which most other children loved to play on. She recites some examples of the schoolyard rhymes used for ball games or skipping. She also relates the story of how the statue of Our Lady came to be placed on the apex of the roof at the back of the school. Following her training in Carysfort College in Dublin, Monica returned to the Faythe School as a teacher. At one point in her career she considered moving on, but the timely intervention of her marriage persuaded her to continue as a teacher in the Faythe. She was asked to consider writing down her experiences and a book "Memories Of The Faythe School " was published. In keeping with the family tradition, Monica’s daughters have also attended the Faythe.