Irish Mathematical School Inspectors (Mar 2023)
The National Education Board (Commissioners for National Education) in Ireland was established in 1831. In time, inspectors were hired, for national (i.e., primary) and from1909 onward, for the intermediate (i.e., secondary, now referred to as post-primary) level too. An honours university degree was required for appointment at the higher level.
Still later, in 1927, having started in 1899 as the Technical Instruction Branch of the Dept of Agriculture, vocational education was added. From about 1970 on, vocational education was folded in to the post-primary category.
Some of the inspectors were mathematically trained, and our goal is to account for as many of them as possible.
Our research has been largely into maths grads who ended up spending (at least part of) their careers as inspectors. We do not currently have access to any listing of inspectors over the past two centuries, which we could search for mathematically inclined people. We do recommend the book A History of Ireland's School Inspectorate, 1831-2008 by John Coolahan & Patrick F. O'Donovan.
The known mathematically trained men (we are not aware of any women) who served as school inspectors, either in Ireland or in Britain or further afield, mostly did so between the 1840s and the 1970s. Others had studied science instead of maths, but were engaged in the inspectorate in a mathematical context at some stage. Overall, we document about 40 such people below.
For the post-partition period covered, namely after 1922, quite different and separate educational systems have developed in Northern IreIand and in the Republic. Nevertheless, below we have interwoven the stories of people from both in our chronological presentation.
The duties of school inspectors evolved a great deal since the 1830s, as did the extent to which maths training played a role for the people surveyed. We do not have the expertise to document these important matters here.
The 1970s saw the amalgamation of the three branches of the inspectorate in the Republic: primary, secondary and vocational.
Curiously, Éamon de Valera was a candidate for a post as Intermediate School Inspector in 1912. In those days, inspectors were proposed in pairs: a Catholic and a Protestant together. The pair in question was not accepted.
Comments, additions and corrections are, as always, welcome. As are more photographs.
Thanks to Olivia Bree (SPD), Elizabeth Oldham (TCD), Maurice OReilly (SPD/DCU), and most especially former school inspector Gerry Beggan (UCG/NUIG) for valuable input. Last updated 25 Sep 2023.
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01. James Kavanagh (1818-1886) was born in September in Graiguenamanagh, Kilkenny; nothing is known about his education. He taught national school from 1834 to at least 1842, was an inspector for the Nat Board of Education from at least 1844 to 1858, and lectured on elementary maths at Catholic Univ (later UCD) 1859-1880. He was an examiner for the Intermediate Board of Education at the end of his life. He authored the books Arithmetic, its Principles and Practice (1844) and Mixed Education, The Catholic Case Stated (1859). |
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02. Robert King (1815-1900) was born in Cork city and was educated at TCD in the same class as George Salmon below (Scholar 1835, BA & Gold Medal 1838+). While a clergyman he authored "A Primer of the History of the Holy Catholic Church in Ireland" (3 volumes, 1849-1855). He was inspector of schools in Armagh (1856–1858) and the school headmaster in Ballymena, Antrim, for over 40 years. He published many books on religious topics, and some in (and on) the Irish language. Wikipedia / DIB / Ulster Bio / Aimn |
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03. William Casey (1829?-1889) was born in Ballycohy, Lattin, west of Tipperary town. He attended TCD and then in 1850 moved to New South Wales, where at various times he worked as a surveyor, teacher, school inspector and engineer. The last two decades of his life were spent in San Francisco, where he styled himself professor of maths. He contributed to the Mathematical Visitor and the Educational Times. One obit mistakenly claimed kinship with Limerick geometer John Casey (1820-1891). |
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04. Robert Stevelly (1844-1916) was born 25 August in Belfast, Antrim, and was educated at Queen's Belfast (BA 1863) and at Cambridge (Peterhouse, BA 1868). He taught for a while at Aldenham School (Watford) before becoming an inspector of schools in England. |
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05. George R. Thompson Snr (1842??- ) was born in Belfast?, Antrim, and was brought up there and in Feeny?, Derry. He was educated at Queen's Galway (BSc 1863?). His career was spent teaching, first at Belfast Acad Inst (1865-1866) and then at Doveton College Calcutta. He later served as a schools inspector. |
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06. James Willson (1846-1923) was born 25 February in Lanesborough, Longford, and was educated at TCD (scholar 1868, BA 1869, MA 1873). He went to India to lecture in science and maths. His career included stints at Cathedral Mission College (Calcutta, 1870-1871) Hooghly College (Chinsurah, West Bengal, 1873), Dacca College (Bangladesh, 1874-?), Patna College (Bihar, 1876-1877-?). He also worked for the Geological Survey of India (1871-1873) and as an inspector of schools (Assam, 1888-1893-?). He was in England in 1901, and was settled in Galway by 1911. He was in Tyrone in 1922. |
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07. Elliot Paxton Dewar (1849-1920) was born 6 February in Glasgow, Scotland, and grew up in Belfast. He was educated at Queen's Belfast (BA 1870, MA 1872). His career was spent as inspector of schools in Ireland. Inspector / 1901 Census / 1911 Census / Grave |
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08. Michael Mullally (1850?-1890) is believed to have been born in Woodford, Galway, and was educated at Queen's Galway (BA 1871, MA 1873) where he had a senior scholarship in maths. Later, he was an inspector of national schools in Woodford, Galway. He died quite young. |
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09. Christopher Graham (1851-1927) was born 28 Sept in Killeeshil, Tyrone, and brought up there and in Darver, Louth. He was educated at TCD (BA 1873, MA 1877) and at Cambridge (Gonville & Caius, 3rd wrangler & Smith's Prize? 1878, MA 1881). He taught at Girton for 15 years, and then served for many years as inspector of schools in Ireland. Cambridge / Link / 1901 Census / 1911 Census |
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10. Edward Dowling (sometimes listed as Hughes-Dowling, 1854-1940) was born in Ballyloo, Carlow (baptised 19 June). He was educated at the University of London (BA 1873 or 1875), and then for a few years travelled and taught on the continent. He taught at St Patrick's College in Carlow in the late 1870s, and was a student at UCD in 1882, possibly earning an RUI degree. He taught maths at UCD (1884-1892), and at various secondary schools throughout Ireland for another 2 decades, also serving as inspector for the Intermediate Board in the 1890s. His brother Patrick is in our Carlow blog, and his son John earned UCD degrees in physics and taught there for half a century. (Thanks to Ronan Malin for the photo.) |
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11. John Tristram (1850??-1926) was born somewhere in Wexford and was educated in ethics & logic at TCD (BA 1876, MA 1879). He worked as a school inspector at first, then switched to parish work. |
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12. William Nicholls (1848?-1932) was born in Shewsbury, Shropshire, England, and was educated at TCD (BA 1878). His career was spent as a school inspector in Dublin. |
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13. William McClintock (1849-1932) was born 7 October in Carnstrone, Antrim, and was educated at Queen's Belfast (BA 1878, MA 1879). He spent his career as inspector of schools, including stints in Donegal, Kilkenny, Cavan, and Dublin. |
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14. John Dalton (1859?-1936) was born in Limerick and was educated at Queen's Cork (BA 1878, MA 1879). His career was spent as an inspector of national schools. He was also active in archeological circles. |
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15. Thomas Teegan (1857-1921) was born 16 March in Ballivelone, Enniskean, near Bandon, Cork. He was a schools inspector for the National Board of Education and later taught English and History at the Central Training College. He authored the 1887 book Elementary and Intermediate Algebra, which ran to 10 editions. His son James (1899-1967) got his PhD in physics at UCD (1937). Obit / Book / 1901 Census / 1911 Census |
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16. James Ross (1860?-1938) was born in Antrim, and was educated at Queen's Belfast (BSc 1881, MSc 1882). He career was spent in Ulster as a senior inspector of national schools. |
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17. Daniel McEnery (1860-1926) was born in October in county Limerick, and was educated at Queen's Cork (BA 1881, MA 1882). His career was spent as a national school inspector, including periods in Dublin, Kildare, Clare, Tipperary, and Cork. |
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18. Joseph Chambers (1860?-1929) was born in Down, and was educated at Queen's, Belfast (BSc 1883). His career was spent as an inspector of national schools, including spells in Strabane and Derry. He died in Lancashire, England. |
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19. Edward Cromie (1864-1954) was born 26 March in Down, and was educated at Queen's Belfast (BA 1885). His career was spent as an inspector of national schools. 1901 Census / 1911 Census / Bio / Obit |
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20. William Welply (1866-1960) was born 3 April in Ballineen, Dunmanway, Cork. He was educated at Queen's Cork (BA 1887) and became an inspector of schools. He was also a noted genealogist. |
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21. Richard Heron (1868-1931) was born 17 September in Dunadry, Antrim. He was educated at Queen's Belfast (BA 1890, MA 1893) and at Cambridge (St John's, 20th wrangler 1893, MA 1901). He taught briefly at Campbell College and later became an inspector of schools. QUB / Cambridge / Campbell / 1911 Census |
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22. Joseph Cussen (1868-1952) was born 19 March in Cork city. He was educated at Queen's Cork (BA 1890) and spent his whole career as a national schools inspector, rising to the rank of chief inspector. |
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23. James Yates (1869-1929) was born 24 February in Frankfort, Kilcormac, King's County, and was educated at TCD (BA 1891, MA 1894). His career was spent as a school inspector, including stints in Cork, Armagh, Tipperary, Louth and Dublin. Following partition, he moved to Belfast, and continued to work in education. His brother John and 3 of his children also did maths at TCD, most notably daughter Barbara. |
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24. Charles Wright (1873-?) was born 8 June in Dublin, and was educated at TCD (BA 1895). He was an intermediate schools inspector. |
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25. James Doody (1875-1950) was born 19 July in Lisroe in east Kerry, near Duagh. He earned an RUI BA (1897) via study at Blackrock Collge. He was an inspector of national schools from 1907 on, including a period in Coleraine. |
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26. James Cole (1879-1957) was born 18 Nov in Ballymena, Antrim. He was educated at Queen's Galway (BA 1901) and at Galway and Belfast (MA 1904). After a couple of years teaching at Methody, he became an inspector of national schools (1907-1946)--including stints in Galway, Cavan, and Belfast. |
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27. John Lawlor (1880-1962?) was born 31 Mar in Dublin, and was educated at TCD (BA 1902). He taught at Maritzburg College in South Africa, before serving as a school inspector (-1914-1940) there. He edited a 1931 SA version of Fundamental Arithmetic (1920) by Philip Boswood Ballard. |
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28. George Nicholls (aka Seoirse Mac Niocaill, 1881-1968) was born on 27 June in Strabane, Omagh, and he grew up there, in Templemore, Tipperary, and in Dublin. He was educated at TCD (scholar, BA 1904). His career started as a school teacher in England, then in 1912 he was appointed a school inspector in Ireland. He was very active in Conradh na Gaeilge, and his long tenure in the dept of education saw him oversee all instruction in Irish in the early years of the Free State. He had many maths books to his name, including Uimhrigheacht (1922), Algébar (1923–31), An Chéad Chéim san Ailgéabar (1935), and Céimseata Chomhordnaidhtheach (1939). 1901 Census / Bio / Ainm / Obit |
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29. Arthur Tucker (1880-1962) was born 10 April in Farmboro, Somerset, England, and was educated at UCD (BA 1905, HDip 1912, MA 1913, BSc 1918). His master's dissertation was on "The History of Mathematics in Its Relation to Educational Methods". He taught at first in various military schools in England and India, and at the Royal Hibernian Military School in Dublin (1911-1918). After a few year as a school inspector in Jamaica (1919-1921), and a spell as an army educational officer in England (1921-1923), he moved to NZ, where he continued teaching. |
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30. James Hughes-Dowling (1882-1929) was born 2 April in Fermoy, Cork, and was educated at Maynooth (BA 1909). He was an inspector of schools. |
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31. James (J. T.) Dick (1883-1955) was born 15 May in Islandmagee, Antrim, and was educated at QUB (BA 1911). He taught until joining the schools inspectorate in 1920, subsequently serving in Belfast, Tipperary, Carlow, and Dublin. |
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32. Leo Close (1899-1971, aka Mac Giolla Ósa / Leon Mac Clusaigh) was born 25 February in Belfast, and was educated at QUB (BA 1919, MA 1920). His master's thesis was on "Contact of Elastic Bodies". After teaching for 3 years at St Malachy's, the rest of his career was spent as a school inspector in Dublin (1923-1964), first at primary and then secondary level. 1901 Census / 1911 Census / EMS / Son / Grave |
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33. Alfred Williams (1899-1976) was born 11 May in Dubin, and was educated at TCD (BA 1921, MA, LLD 1962). He was a school inspector who later became permanent secretary for education for Northern Ireland. |
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34. Kevin Killeen (1908-1995) was born 26 April in Carrowmore, near Claremorris, Mayo, and grew up close by in Hollymount. He was educated at UCG (BComm 1927, BA 1928, MA 1929), winning the first NUI Travelling Studentship Prize there. After a few years on the staff at QUB (1929-1933), and a year as a school inspector (1934-1935), his career was spent in vocational education, first in Wicklow and Wexford, and then for over 30 years in Waterford (1941-1973). 1911 Census / 1941 / Hon degree / Grave |
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35. Thomas Grennan (1910-1981) was born 4 May in Navan, Meath, and was educated at Maynooth (BSc 1930). His career was spent as a schools inspector, rising to the rank of deputy chief inspector in the vocational branch. |
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36. Louis Hughes (1912-1955) was born 9 June in Dublin and was educated at UCD (BA 1932, MA 1933), earning an NUI Travelling Studentship Prize too. He taught briefly at Presentation College and at Maynooth before settling at St Pat's in Drumcondra (1936-1944). The last 11 years of his relatively shrt life were spent in Waterford as an inspector of schools. |
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37. John O'Leary (aka Seán Ó Laoghaire), 1912-1975-?) was born on 20 May in Lickeen, south of Kilfenonra, Clare, and was educated at UCG (BA 1934, MA 1936). He taught till 1940, and spent the rest of his career in Dublin as a secondary school inspector, rising to the rank of chief inspector. |
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38. Patrick Nolan was born in Dublin and was educated at UCD (BA 1947, BSc 1948). His whole career was spent as a secondary school inspector in Dublin, rising to the rank of chief inspector. |
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39. Con O'Keefe (1930?-2018, aka Concubhuir Ó Caoimh) was born in Cork city, and was educated at UCC (BA 1954, MA 1956), his master's thesis being done under Paddy Kennedy. He lectured at UCC and taught in secondary schools before becoming an inspector of schools in 1963. He also did an MSc in CD at TCD circa 1970. |
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40. Gerry Beggan was born in Limerick city, and was first educated at SPD, following which he taught in national school in Enniscorthy, Wexford. He eventually earned maths degrees (BSc 1964, MSc 1965) from UCD. He then worked as a school inspector for the department of education, and authored the book series Thinking Through Mathematics (1970-1972). The rest of his career was spent at UCG's education department (1971-2000). His 1982 NUI PhD on "Some Determinants of Curriculum in Irish Secondary Schools in the Twentieth Century" was formally done under Eustás Ó Héideáin & J. Mitchell of UCG. He also earned a UCG MA in history in 1984. |
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41. Brendan O'Regan was born in Limerick and was educated at UCC (BSc 1971, MSc 1972), where he earned an NUI Travelling Studentship Prize. He taught at UCC, UCG, and CIT, and then got his PhD on "An Isotropic Elastic Prism with a Spherical Cavity" at UCC under Paddy Quinlan (1978). He served as a schools inspector (1978-2005). |
