Bridget HYLAND was born 10 March 1908 at Monard, Cork. She was the ninth child and fourth daughter of Patrick and Mary Teresa (Egan) HYLAND. She was called Biddy.
Bridget’s birth was registered under the name Bridget but the Irish spelling Brigid also appears in documentation.
Bridget was baptised at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Blarney, on the 15th of March 1908. Her baptismal sponsors were Daniel Brickley and Mary Ellen Ahern. [1]
Education
Bridget retained her certificates and these were left to the family after her younger sister’s death. From these we can track Bridget’s education and career.
Bridget attended St. Vincent’s Convent school on St. Mary’s Road, and later attended university in Cork and teacher training in Limerick.
1924 would have been a challenging year for Bridget. Her mother died at the beginning of February and then she had her first state exams before the summer. She passed her examinations for the Intermediate Examinations Certificate Junior Grade in Irish, English, History, Geography, Arithmetic, Algebra, and a pass with Honours in Domestic Economy.
In 1925 Bridget gained her Intermediate Certificate in Irish, English, French, History, Geography, Mathematics, and Drawing.
She also gained fourth prize and a certificate in Cooking by Gas (despite having dropped the Domestic Economy subject she’d excelled in the previous year!)
In 1927 Bridget gained her Leaving Certificate in Irish, English, French, History, Geography, and Drawing.
There is a gap of four years between school and further education.
In 1931 Bridget received, from the University of Ireland, a certificate stating she was a Matriculated Student of the University and was studying Irish, English, Mathematics, Latin, History and Geography. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Ireland in 1934.
Bridget graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Ireland in 1934.
26 June 1936 Bridget was awarded a Certificate for Religious Knowledge as a senior student at Mary Immaculate Training College, Limerick. This was a certificate ‘of the First Class for knowledge of, and ability in teaching. Christian doctrine and scripture.’ [2]
Bridget completed her course of training in June 1936.
A school examiners report showed her working in 1936 at Drimoleague school.
She received a further certificate in 1938, for her practice at St. Vincents where she spent her career.
In June 1937 Bridget passed the National University of Ireland examination for a Higher Diploma in Education and was certified as competent to teach through the medium of the Irish language. Bridget Hyland, B.A. was listed with other University College Cork graduates in the Irish Examiner of Tuesday, 20 July 1937, having received her Higher Diploma in Education.
Bridget fulfilled the prescribed condition of satisfactory probationary service as a teacher in a school approved by the Department, on 16 May 1939. She was a fully qualified and fledged teacher, aged 31 years.
Occupation and interests
Bridget returned to St. Vincent’s and taught there for her whole career. My mother believed Bridget got three extensions to her teaching career saying ‘She was that good. They didn’t want to let her go.‘ [3]
Aged 19, on Dec 25, 1927 Miss B. Hyland of 30 Dublin St. was listed in the Sunday Independent as having won a Word competition.
In 1943 she was in the paper for having won tenth prize in the Myra Easter Club Draw.
Bridget was reportedly well known for verse speaking and I believe she won competitions.
She was also a great knitter.
Bridget did not marry. She lived at 30 Dublin Street with her siblings.
Family memories
As with all the Hyland family Bridget was described as ‘very quiet.’
My mother, Peg, recalled that her mother, Mary B. (Davis) and Bridget knew each other well. Bridget was called Biddy and didn’t like being called that, so Mary suggested she sign her name ‘B’ and from then on she was known as B.
My mother described B as quiet, gentle and a lady. She’d sent Peg wool and a (knitting) pattern to Coláiste Bhríde, Falcarragh, the preparatory teacher training secondary school where Peg boarded on a scholarship.
Bridget, like her sister Katty, always bought expensive clothes. She’d apparently taken heed of her father’s advice to buy well and it would last longer.
I recall briefly meeting Bridget in 1980. As we were leaving she stuffed 20 quid in my hand and that of my cousin Moss. I too was a quiet girl and I spent it on books. I trust she’d have been pleased.
Death
Bridget died 4th February 1991, aged nearly 83 years at the Bon Secours Hospital.[4] Cause of death was a cerebral infarction, 1 month (that is, an ischemic stroke.)
There is no record of a death notice for Bridget.
Niece Breda read at her funeral.
Bridget is buried at Rathcooney Cemetery with some of her siblings.
[1] Oldest sister Mollie had been the sponsor for Bridget’s older brother. Perhaps this is evidence that Mollie had left the area by 1908.
[2] Mary Immaculate College received its first students in 1901. It was established by the Sisters of Mercy for the training of female teachers. It became co-educational in 1969. In 1974 it was the first College of Education to become a recognised College of the National University of Ireland (NUI). In 2016 it incorporated St Patrick’s College, Thurles.
[3] My mother taught for a brief time at St. Vincent’s with her aunt Bridget.
[4] Bon Secours Hospital in Cork was established in 1915 by the Sisters of Bon SEOUR. A history of their Cork service is at https://www.bonsecours.ie/history
In Search of Thomas Davis 