Childcare - 1980s style
As the newest child care facility (Happy Feet) is set to open its doors on March 5th, we thought we'd look back at the very different set-up here in the 70s and 80s.
Joan Hutton relieved many parents of unruly toddlers and pre-schoolers over the years, opening up her home in Bearna village to hundreds - some even earlier than allowed, if they were torturing their mothers.
Joan (top right) was assisted during some of those years by Beverly Dawson (left), c. 1980.
Hard to believe that Joan had an open river running through her garden, with a narrow bridge crossing it over to a fort (if memory serves). Many the child fell in... But it was all part of growing up unshielded!
Taken at the end of year party c. 1982. What a feast (oranges, biscuits, and crisps).
Interesting how, in this article below from 1985, Joan feared her business would suffer when the national schools - reacting to a drop in population - started taking in three year olds. Now our local school in Bearna is at capacity, and pre-school facilities are thriving.
Bearna Notes, Connacht Tribune March, 1985.
St Joan, we don't know how you did it...