Cloontia by Tom Finn

Click on the below link for Tom Finn’s account of the geography of Cloontia, the history of the place and it’s families. A great source of local history and geography from the 94 year old local man behind our All Ireland winning film.

8 Responses to Cloontia by Tom Finn

  1. Sean Fleming says:
    November 16, 2013 at 12:42 am

    Very well done to everyone involved in the production of this film, brilliant acting by all the talented kids, super achievement to win out Ireland, to each and everyone of the cast and production team behind this – as a past pupil of of Derrinabroc – it was a treasure to watch. more power and luck to ye in the future 🙂 congratulation

    Reply
  2. dermot dillon says:
    November 17, 2013 at 8:58 am

    Appreciate the comment Seán thanks

    Reply
  3. mary russell says:
    February 8, 2014 at 12:43 pm

    Watching the movie and reading about the old Cloontia school was an amazing experience for me. So very well done to everyone involved. Im an ex Cloontia school pupil, therefore it hailed up so many memories that I treasure to this day.
    I have recently had a book published. Its fiction based on fact, of growing up in Derrinabroock.It highlights the lifes of many Irish farming families between the 1920s and the 1950s. I think its a good read. Its currently available on Amazon
    Its called
    “Eileen -A Mayo girl with professional Aspirations”…By Beatrice Finn

    Reply
    • dermot dillon says:
      February 8, 2014 at 1:13 pm

      Thanks so much for that lovely comment. We have only set up the blog since November so I am delighted to see people accessing it from far and wide. It was a very fulfilling project and we are delighted to be able to share it here on line. Are you a relation of Tom? He is a gentleman whom we all learned so much from!

      Reply
    • dermot dillon says:
      February 8, 2014 at 1:16 pm

      I am looking forward to buying a copy of your book and reading it. I will be proud to show the children a book produced by one of our past pupils. Maybe we could email you some questions the children might have for you about writing and your memories if our local area and school?

      Reply
      • Mary Russell says:
        June 28, 2014 at 8:44 pm

        Hi Dermot…I have only just seen your comment dated February this year. No Im not related to Tom Finn , however I do know him very well. I would be honoured to answer any questions your pupils might wish to ask me. I have very happy memories of growing up in Cloontia . I look forward to hearing back from you

        Warmest wishes
        Mary

        Reply
  4. Pat Keegan says:
    July 7, 2014 at 8:06 pm

    I was delighted to find Tom Finn’s story today when searching the internet. I met him in 2007 when researching my family tree. The film School Days Over based on his writings is a wonderful tribute to a whole generation which endured hardships unknown to us – really lovely to see the respect between the generations.
    My own father Daniel Joseph Keegan was born in Cloontia in 1907 but moved to England with his family aged about seven. He attended the little school in Cloontia and when I first visited it in the early 1970’s it was just as in the photograph shown – a forlorn, empty grey building. In 2005 my family visited Cloontia to trace our roots and were delighted to find it transformed into a thriving community centre. We were able to get the key and look inside and leave comments in the Visitors’ Book.
    My older sister remembers my grandmother very well and how much the Irish community who settled in Chester missed their homeland. Many of the people who travelled to England for seasonal work found lodgings with her at 23, Steven Street, Boughton.
    Congratulations to the children and staff of St Colman’s from the Netherlands, where I currently live.

    Reply
    • Mary Russell says:
      September 3, 2014 at 9:48 pm

      Hello Pat…So nice to read your comments on here. I too thoroughly enjoyed reading Tom Finns memoirs of the people of Cloontia.
      Im from Derrinabroock and an ex Cloontia school student.
      My father told me many stories about his times living in Chester as a young man and the hardships he encountered there as well as many hardships experienced in Ireland. He regularly travelled to England for seasonal work before emigrating here in 1963.
      I wonder where in Cloontia your father was from
      Kind regards
      Mary

      Reply

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