To School On A Horse, Co. Cork, Ireland 1966

One way to beat the school transport problem is to travel by horse.

Michael Collins is a thirteen year old from West Cork who travels to school each day on horseback. It’s a twenty mile round trip to Skibbereen at nine miles an hour. For Michael, the son of a seven acre farmer and one of a family of eleven, the only alternative is to walk. He does not have a bicycle and CIE has refused to do a school run to Skibbereen unless it is guaranteed a minimum of £70 a week in fares.

He rides to school on his four year old cob Kitty.

Michael has to arrive in Skibbereen extra early each morning to stable Kitty before class, and then return to feed her at lunchtime. Apart from his lunch and school books, Michael must also take a supply of hay to town each day.

A ‘Newsbeat’ report broadcast on 24 November 1966. The reporter is Bill O’Herlihy.