Paddy Crosbie (born in Dublin, 1 October 1913 - 2 September 1982),was the Irish creator of the radio and television programes The School Around The Corner and Back To School.[1]
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Born in Dublin on the 1st of October 1913 at 12A Bridewell Lane which was one of the houses converted from the old Smithfield Bridewell shortly before the First World War.;[2]
He went to the infant school in Stanhope Street and on August 23, 1920 he entered the small gate of St. Paul’s Christian Brothers’ School, North Brunswick Street, known to Dubliners as “Brunner”. Little did he know then that he would spend 57 years in this school as pupil and teacher.[3]
He was only four weeks in Brunner when the sound of shots put a stop to lessons for a short time. It was the day when a youth name Kevin Barry had been captured by the British after an ambush. Two soldiers were killed. Five weeks later on November 1, he stood outside Mountjoy Jail with his mother and his older brother Martin Crosbie, awaiting the notice of his execution.[4]
He studied at St. Pauls's C.B.S., St. Patrick's Training College, Drumcondra and University College, Dublin.
A keen sportsman in his young days he won a special medal when defeating Austin Clarke, the all-Ireland singles handball champion, played steady hurling for the Dublin club Eoghan ruadh, and created a Dublin Tennis League record by never losing a singles set between 1938 and 1950![5]
He composed songs (most remembered would be the theme song for "School Around The Corner), comic rhyme and scripts for stage and television. He wrote two books Tales from the School Around the Corner[6] in 1979 and Your Dinner's Poured Out in 1981.[7]
His interest in the entertainment world began in the early nineteen forties when he used to write scripts for the amateur shows put on by a Dublin tennis club. It was Mike Nolan the well known comedian, of the forties and fifties, who introduced him to the powers-that-were and soon he was writing scripts for stars like Noel Purcell and the Happy Gang in Dublin's Capitol Theatre and the Theatre Royal .
Crosbie needed more active participation and so in 1951 his famous school-boy act was born. He first took to the stage, in short trousers and skull-cap in Dublin's St. Francis Xavier Hall which was also the place which first rang to his signature tune, "The School Around The Corner".
In 1953 he stepped into a major place in Radio Éireann, compere of his own show, a new show conceived and conducted by himself. Starting with his own school the C.B.S. in North Brunswick Street, he launched The School Around The Corner.[8]
The School Around The Corner began on radio at Easter, 1954, when Michael O h-Aodha gave the "idea" his blessing, Seamus Kavanagh took over as producer of the first short series. The producers who succeeded Seamus were Joan Dalton and Padraig O'Neill.
Jim (James) Plunkett guided the School on to television, it was the 1st show to be pre-recorded for the new television station in 1961 and top of the TAM ratings up to when it was discontinued over five years later. The first episode was broadcast on 2 January 1962. On television the programme had many FIRSTS - first home feature in the top ten, first in first place and first to travel around the country.[9] The programme continued until 1966 on RTÉ Television before returning to RTÉ Radio for another year. It was again revived on radio in 1973.[10] He won a Jacob's Award in 1964 "for his many amusing and entertaining contributions to Telefís Éireann".
He died suddenly at his home in Clondalkin on the 2nd September 1982 from a heart attack. He was laid to rest in the presence of some of the most important people in the political, theatrical and educational life of the country. Friends attending the service included Maureen Potter, James Plunkett, Brendan Grace, Maurice O’Doherty, president, Irish Actors’ Equity; Seán Ó Síocháin, Chris Casey and Éamonn MacThomáis. The Taoiseach was represented by his aide de camp, Commdt. Christopher Leaney. Mr. Brian Fleming, T.D., represented Fine Gael leader, Dr. Garret FitzGerald .[11] During the Requiem Mass, the organist played “Knockmaroon” (Knockmaroon - sung by Paddy's brother Martin) a song that Paddy had written for his wife, Peg. “The School Around The Corner” was played on the organ as his remains were carried from the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Clondalkin. A garda escort led the funeral procession to Esker cemetery in Lucan. Included in the inscription of his headstone is “The school around the corner is just the same”
AN UNCOMPLICATED MAN - A tribute to the late Paddy Crosbie by Padraic Ó Néill - The Sunday Tribune, 5 September, 1982.
Paddy's public image was that of the bluff schoolmaster-showman, wisecracking with the unscrubbed urchins who filled 'the school around the corner', or discoursing more gently with the elderly delinquents in ' Back to school'. He was a fair man to hold an audience, as the old Theatre royal patron would tell you. But there was a hardworking pro behind that public man. I saw it when as producer, I worked with him on radio programmes in the fifties and sixties. To be honest, producing Paddy's programmes meant little more than turning up for the recording. Paddy had everything organised. From his teacher friends, he would order a batch of what he used to describe as 'talkative boys', he would have them well sorted out, and the studio audience in place and versed in the opening song, and by the time recording started the young performers all knew their place in the programme and had more than a fair idea of what they were going to say and what the 'funny incident' was to be. It could have sounded contrived, but somehow Paddy would always keep a little bit in reserve, and get an extra bit of freshness from the children which would communicate itself to an appreciative audience. The young people's ambitions were elicited, their home life described, the 'hard words' explained and the boxes of sweets divided.
When he came up with the 'Back To School' format, he certainly was able to persuade people to come forward. Jack Lynch, Liam Cosgrave and Brendan Corish in turn all had their chat, told their funny incidents and played along with the game in great good humour. Ulick O'Connor got huffed one night and walked off in the middle of an interview. We broadcast the whole incident uncut, and the world didn't shake.
We had a little Dublin man one day whose claim to fame was that he 'worked alonga Matt Talbot'. Paddy worked hard on this old gentleman who turned out to be surprisingly reticent on air, but later confessed to us privately that he didn't get on too well with the future Servant of God. "To tell you the truth," he said afterwards, "he was a cantankerous little oul b....". I suppose saints aren't easy to live with.
I shouldn't be the one to write about him as a teacher. Generations of his Brunswick Street past pupils know that side of him better. I knew him as a dedicated lover of the Irish language but I didn't ever meet him in what he often assured me was his favourite summer haunt, Béal Átha an Ghaorthaigh in West Cork. I only know a little about his visits to the sick, but I saw him in action when I was in hospital myself and got a cheering up from him in a crisp instruction to get back to work.
Because he remained a teacher until retiring age Paddy Crosbie never relinquished his 'semi-professional' tag in broadcasting terms. But in devoted attention to his radio and television work in his meticulous preparation for any broadcast, however small, and in his careful attention to the tiniest detail of a production he was one of the most complete professionals I ever met.
He seemed to me to be a very uncomplicated man who knew in what direction his God was to be found. May he rest in peace.[12]
School Around the Corner loses its ‘Head’ By Mairtin MacCormaic – Evening Herald September 2, 1982
The School around the Corner will never be the same again. For, last night, the schoolmaster passed away. There will be no more “funny incidents” to relate. Paddy Crosbie is dead.
The Dublinman who brought so much joy to children and adults through his radio and television programmes in the fifties and sixties will never host another show, will never write another script.
He was born and reared in the heart of old Dublin. Yet he understood country people and their ways as well as anybody west of the Liffey.
Paddy Crosbie was a teacher in the old mould. He spent 56 years in “Brunner” (Brunswick Street C.B.S.) first as a pupil and later as a teacher. In his early days he was a member of the Irish Independent Sports Club. While playing tennis with the club he first met his wife Peg.
His first venture into writing was in the 1930s when he started writing scripts for amateur pantomimes. Later he wrote for the late Mike Nolan and his own brother, Martin at the Capitol and for Noel Purcell at the Theatre Royal.
“The School around the Corner” was probably the most consistently popular radio programme 20 years ago. It ran from 1954 to 1966 and was presented by Crosbie himself, who visited schools in Dublin and around the country interviewing the pupils.
Later it went on television and for three years the show was number one on the TAM ratings and in the top ten for five years.
BEGAN IN HERALD – around the same time Paddy Crosbie introduced a new series on radio titled “Back to School” which ran simultaneously with a series in the Evening Herald, in which past pupils recalled their days at school. The Herald series, which ran for several years in the late fifties and early sixties, was compiled by Crosbie and was one of the most popular features at the time.
Paddy Crosbie, a native of the markets area of Dublin retired from the “Brunner” nearly four years ago after 44 years there as a primary teacher and headmaster. Since he retired he published two books, “Tales From The School Around The Corner” and “Your Dinner’s Poured Out.”
His brother Martin, the comedian and singer, died recently. Another brother, Gabriel, died two years ago in Hartford, Connecticut, and his only sister, Mona, died about 12 years ago. Paddy was the last of the family. He died last night of a heart attack at his home in Newlands Park, Clondalkin. Two of his children, Dara and Crea, and his wife Peg, were at his bedside.
He is survived by his wife and seven children, five girls and two boys: Noinin, Niamh, Emer, Orla, Crea, Ronan and Dara. He has 17 grandchildren.[13]
Artists who appeared regularly at the Capitol were Mike Nolan, Roy Croft, Freddie Doyle, Paddy Crosbie and Martin Crosbie. There was always a resident orchestra and a troop of dancers called the Capitol Girls under the leadership of Dolly Sparkes and Norah Flanagan.