In southern Ireland the government essentially handed over the education system to Roman Catholic orders such as The Sisters of Mercy and, mainly, The Christian Brothers. The cane and ferula (commonly known as “The Leather” or Irish Leather”) were regularly used. In secondary schools the leather was more common. A relative of the Scottish tawse, the ferula had no tails and was typically a blade of leather around 18″ long (but varied 16″ to 22″), about 1.5″ to 2″ wide and about 1/4″ to 1/2″ thick. It consisted of one to 3 layers of leather. It featured a shaped handle at one end,some had a metal disc inserted at the striking end to add effect, some were reinforced with whalebone to add stiffness and, other than with the single layer models, stitched around its perimeter. Some were brown leather, some black.
CP in Irish Church Schools2
Related Articles
-
Receiving Corporal Punishment as an Adult out of Curiosity48
I can honestly state that my experience I would not seek to repeat although I still retain a fascination...
-
Over Mrs Johnson’s lap2
I thought of what she said for weeks afterwards. I’m not sure how much longer it was after that,...
-
Punished for Bad School Report 2
My mother also got a letter telling her I’d been strapped at the time it happened, so the report...
-
Grammar school oddity3
We had a slightly different performance one day; Mr M said to the boys who were late “You’re only...
-
Caning from of the Times57
Further evidence was given to-day on behalf of the defendants. Mrs. Bracey-Wright, the first defendant, examined by Mr. Bracey-Wright,...
-
Corporal Punishment & Slipper Sizes30
The slipper gave me my first introduction to CP and also started the CP addiction that has stayed with...
-
School Punishment Book68
A mate of mine was collected by a prefect and marched to the headmaster’s office for spitting on school...
-
The Ritual of Discipline Part 5 The Bathroom
The bathroom was big- large white porcelain tub and toilet. There was linoleum on the floor, which had such...