Visit of Her Grace the Duchess of Marlborough to Coolbanagher National School

The Leinster Express Saturday 8 November 1879

On Tuesday her Grace the Duchess of Marlborough, accompanied by Lady Georgina Spencer Churchill, visited the Coolbanagher National School. They were received by the Incumbent, the Rev J Torrens, and Mrs Torrens. The following address was read to her Grace by one of the children, Helen Pattison:

“May it please your Grace, we, the children of Coolbanagher National School, desire to express our gratitude for your Grace’s kindness and condescension in visiting our school, and taking such an interest in our welfare. We trust your Grace’s visit will prove an incentive for increased exertions on our part, and that when next you favour us with a visit, the emulation which the expectation of it will produce in each of us, by endeavouring to merit your Grace’s approbation, will show a marked improvement in our various studies. We fervently pray that his Grace the Lord Lieutenant may long continue to preside over us in the exalted position which he so worthily fills; and also that your Grace may also long continue to adorn the illustrious position you hold, in which you by your amiability, and the interest you take in our welfare during your residence among us, have endeared your Grace to the people of this locality.”

Her Grace thanked the children for their address, and kindly promised to award prizes after the ‘Results Examination’ next month, if she should be at that time residing at Emo Park. The children then sang the National Anthem and a selection of school songs. They were examined in reading, writing, also in needlework. Her Grace appeared particularly pleased with some specimens of patchwork quilts which were being made by the children. Previous to her Grace’s departure, she made the following minute in the Visitors Book: “Visited this school today, and examined the children in reading, writing, and needlework, and they appeared to me to have made very good progress. F.A.Marlborough”

In the same edition, it is noted that her Grace also visited the Deerpark School Portarlington on 31 October, examining the children personally, and expressing herself well pleased with their answering.