Page 82 - Presentation Sisters Fethard 1862-2020

PRESENTATION SISTERS FETHARD 1862-2020
pictures hanging on the wall of of Sister Raphael’s music room One was clearly a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a holy picture picture of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a beautiful young woman with flowing hair wearing colourful robes In time I I learned that this was St Cecilia Patron Saint of Music The second picture was that of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a young gentleman wearing a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a black gown a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a mortar board on on his his head and and holding a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a scroll in in in in his his hand In time again I I learned that it it was was the the picture of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a very young Jimmy Jimmy Crean from Moanbeg Jesuit’s Walk Fethard Jimmy Jimmy was was another of of Sister Raphael’s star pupils He loved piano flew through all his exams with distinction and obtained a a a a a a a a a a a Music Degree shortly after he he he left school When we moved into senior cycle music most of us us us learned the popular Chopin’s Minute Waltz in in in in D-flat Major As its title suggests it it it it is is a a a a a a a a a short piece with a a a a a a a a a lively and tuneful melody We were told that Jimmy took the title of this tune tune very literally He quickly succeeded in in in in in in mastering it it it it and playing it it it it in in in in in in less than a a a a a a a a a minute We were reminded however that this was not the the the correct tempo of the the the tune nor what the the the great Chopin had had intended it to be! But Jimmy Jimmy had had his his his his fun! Jimmy Jimmy loved his his music music but farming became his his first calling Still studying music music and heading towards Leaving Cert I got to to know Sister Raphael not as as just my teacher but as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a real person and later a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a lovely friend We had many little chats over the the the years She loved to to to play play the the the the piano herself quietly I often stood outside the the the the music room door listening to to to to her her her play play almost effortlessly the the the best of of classical piano and and and to to her her heart’s content Her favourite composers were Chopin and and and and Schumann She She loved ballet and and and and the music of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and and and The Nutcracker She She once said she had to to keep this particular enthusiasm quietly to to herself Some of the sisters in in her her community considered ballet dancing an an immodest art art art form all all because of the costumes worn!! She also loved art art poetry and English literature One evening in in about 1967 Sister Raphael arrived a a a a a a a a a a little late for my 6pm lesson She was full of apologies and and and yet excited Television and and and and Telefís Éireann had had arrived in Fethard and and and and the convent had had been gifted with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a television Children’s programmes started at at 5 00pm and and and and Sister Raphael was hooked watching talented children singing and and dancing She also enjoyed the ventriloquist Seoirse agus a a a a a a a a a a á Cáirde Page 80