Castlehackett NS welcomes family of celebrated past pupils

By JACQUELINE HOGGE THE grandson of one of Castlehackett National School's first ever pupils returned to the area last week with his extended family to visit the area in which his grandfather spent his early life. Francis Bligh and his relatives were treated to an afternoon of music, song and dance from the current pupils at the school, who number one more than when his grandfather, the late Dr John Bligh, attended the school in the 1800s. Dr John Bligh and his brother Dr Alexander Murray Bligh were educated at Castlehackett NS and John went on to study at what was then known as Queen's College Galway (NUIG). Having won a scholarship to the Faculty of Agriculture, John later transferred to medicine and became the first student in the country to graduate with a Master of Surgery degree. Alexander also qualified as a surgeon, having trained in the Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin. Welcoming his family to the school, principal Mary Hernon said it was an honour and privilege to share their incredible ancestral history, and for the school to have played such an important role in the Bligh brothers' early education. 'It is our great privilege and honour to welcome Mr Francis Bligh, his wife and their extended family to Castlehackett Primary School,' she said. 'We feel it is an honour for Castlehacket to have educated such outstanding people â€â€ people that the parish can be justifiably proud of and all members of the same family. 'The school the Blighs attended (built in 1844) was still in use until 1958 when the present school was built. Indeed many of our present pupils' grandparents received their primary education there too. 'To have been made aware of these wonderful success stories and of the wonderful work done by both these men for the poor and underprivileged in Liverpool, many of whom were Irish, has been of great interest to us. We can thank local historian Anna McHugh, grandmother of two of our pupils, for sharing this information with us. It has given us, the teachers and the pupils, a renewed sense of pride in our school. 'We are proud to say the tradition continues as some of our past pupils have studied medicine and dentistry as well as following careers in teaching, nursing, banking and the trades.' Overwhelmed Francis Bligh said he was overwhelmed by the warmth of the welcome he and his family had received. 'I was a teacher myself in a past life so I know how much work goes into a performance such as that you have treated us to today,' he said. 'It is a great honour and privilege to be here and your music, song and dance has been the nicest welcome we could have received. 'It brings tears to my eyes to think my father and grandfather lived here and to be able to come here has left me overcome with emotion, something that doesn't happen very often.' Both Bligh brothers emigrated to Liverpool in the mid 1860s and distinguished themselves both in medicine and politics in their adopted city. John was President of his local branch of the Irish National League from its inception and both he and Alexander Murray were known for their philanthropic work amongst the poor in Liverpool, particularly the Irish. The group, who travelled from England, also visited Belclare old graveyard and the Bligh family homestead in Caltragh where the original house is still standing.