A lifetime spent teaching the masses

All in a day's work: Padraig Greene, retired primary school teacher

I've clocked up nearly 40,000 days as a primary school teacher. I was born in Co Longford in 1900 when Queen Victoria was still on the throne, although she hadn't long to go.

I clearly remember the day in 1918 when I went to St Patrick's College in Drumcondra, Dublin, to train as a primary school teacher. There, one of the topics for debate and discussion among the students of the day was: "Would Irish ever catch on?"

I also remember the day Michael Collins was shot, as I was in west Cork learning Irish.

Things were very different when I worked as a primary teacher. The teacher back then was expected to be the parish factotum, always the secretary, but never allowed to be at the head of anything. You were expected to be involved in everything that went on in the parish but you could never get ideas above your station. At the end of the day you did what you were told by the manager of the school and the inspector.

But that was all a long time ago. I retired in 1965 after working for 45 years as a teacher. I was offered an extension to my career, which would have allowed me to teach for another two years, but I decided against it. I've nearly reached the stage where I will have been retired for longer than I was working.

My days are still full of activity. I work every Wednesday afternoon in a special school, teaching Cant, the language of the Travellers, to a class of Traveller teenagers. I started to learn Cant in 1930 from a Traveller woman called Annie Power, who I met on the roadside when I was out cycling my bike. This chance encounter started a life long interest and study of Cant. I have spent more than half my life collecting folklore and looking for stories.

I manage to fit in a walk every day after lunch. I'd usually walk a mile, but if I didn't eat too much I'd walk a mile and back.

Getting the daily walk in for the last two weeks has been more difficult than usual because I have more than a keen interest in snooker. I followed every inch of young Ken Doherty's exploits on the television. Indeed, I had to be dug out of the sitting room, although I never stood at a snooker table in my life. I reckon that young Hunter will be a future champion.

Getting out for a walk is important now, for I'm off to Lourdes this month. I also like the garden where I have four apple trees. They're gone past redemption but I'm not as fond of apples as I used to be.

The Irish Times is another constant in my day. I want to know what the INTO is thinking about in relation to religious education. I have kept up to speed with the whole debate on interdenominational education, and I think that if it wasn't for the national teachers there would be no Catholic religion in this country, but I remember being told this by a priest back in 1940. In all my time teaching I only came across two priests who could teach religion to children.

I've never been much of a drinker. Pubs are too smoky for my liking, but I like to nibble a drink every now and then. I do have a whiskey and milk every night before going to bed when I like to read. I have no secret to disclose about my longevity. We all come and go. In my case it is taking much longer than normal. My friends have remarked that I'll have the Department of Education robbed, such is the length of my pension.

I'm is a member of the Retired Teachers' Association, as are two of my daughters.

In conversation with Peter Mullan, PRO, INTO