On February 14th, 1999, the death took place in Dublin of Frank Cleary - better known to people in Donegal as "Master Cleary". While he spent his youth in Drumcondra and returned there on his retirement in 1969, his very distinguished working life was spent in Donegal.
It is difficult to do justice to the contribution he made to the lives of young people in Donegal town and surrounding areas throughout the 1950s and 1960s. During this period, he provided them with the opportunity of gaining secondary education which the vast majority would not otherwise have received. He did so by establishing his own school, the Four Masters' High School, in 1950 - relinquishing a teaching position in St Eunan's College, Letterkenny, in order to fulfil this dream.
For a young teacher to set up a school was a brave and ambitious venture. Having identified a very definite educational need, he had the courage and vision to put a plan in place to remedy it. In the early 1950s, transport was very restricted and for young people who were not within walking or cycling distance of a secondary school, the chances of gaining secondary education were slim indeed.
Looking back, we can see that the school was ahead of its time in almost all respects. It provided a classical education in a co-educational, inter-denominational setting, with all subjects being taught through the medium of Irish. It is worth noting that it was co-educational in the true sense of boys and girls studying the same subjects.
A distinguishing feature of the school building was its design. It was planned to function both as a school and as a theatre. Plays and concerts were regular features, with audiences made up of parents and members of the local community.
The school differed from many others of that period in that corporal punishment was never used. Master Cleary's code of discipline was based on respect for individual students and teachers. He had great belief in his students and high expectations with regard to their achievements - these served as motivating forces.
The insight and courage of Master Cleary allowed many hundreds of people from Donegal, from 1950 to the late 1960s, to obtain the Leaving Certificate with all that this implied in relation to work opportunities and further study.
His past pupils will remember Master Cleary with great affection and much gratitude. J. O'D.