Went to St. Ita’s ((St Ita’s was the school founded by Mary and Annie MacSwiney, which opened in September 1916 after Mary had lost her job in St. Angela’s school, having been arrested in class. Mary had taught the Swertz girls in the 1890s there, and remained friendly with the family. Aloys was sent to the school when it opened; his three daughters were pupils when it closed in 1954.)) plays in Fr. Matthew Hall. ‘Cinderella’ in Irish was the first item, and I never saw such sweet fresh children who acted with grace and refinement. There were two little toddlers, barely five years old who, coming out, finding the situation very funny, burst out laughing and hid themselves behind huge baskets of daffodils scarcely less radiant than their own dimpled faces. The great Sophia distinguished herself really well as Macbeth. One could be surprised at the splendid figure she made and the atmosphere she created. Then followed French nursery songs, and these illustrated by the children from the tiniest to the tallest at first with lanterns in monks’ garb, then as dainty little housewives made a picture which I will not easily forget. It was a veritable feast of charm and quaintness. Surely if the MacSwineys concentrated on their school and gave up politics, the latter [former] would be unparalleled for refinement and culture.
