Schools - Then and Now
(Part 1)
(Shanoule, Kilgarvan, Caroreigh, and
Tottenhamgreen)
|
Maria Colfer, Michael Doyle & Margaret O'Gorman |
SHANOULE
Shanoule schoolhouse is listed in the Tithe Applotments, taken in 1824,
as being on 1 acre, 2 roods and 15 perches. The records of this school
prove elusive. The famous folklorist and author, Patrick Kennedy,
went to Shanoule around 1813 where he resided with relatives of his
mother, whose names were Murphy. They appeared to have been well-
to-do farmers. His purpose seemed to have been to attend a
commercial school run by one whom he calls 'the famous Martin
Doyle of Shanoule'. This Martin Doyle is the well known
educationalist, Rev. William Hickey, a Church of Ireland rector who
later founded the famous Bannow Farm School.
The Shanoule school was housed in the building which is
presently owned by the Hayden family and which was formerly
occupied by the Fox family.
KILGARVAN
There is a record of a hedge school in Kilgarvan in 1835. This school
was kept by Owen Murphy and instruction was given in Reading,
Writing, Arithmetic and Roman Catholic Catechism. The school was
supported by quarterly payments of 2s.6d. contributed by each child.
CAROREIGH
Caroreigh school, which is listed in the old records as Caro-Reigh, was
established on 1 November, 1852 in the townland of Caro-Reigh in the
then parish of Kilgarvan in the postal town of Taghmon. It was on
chapel grounds and was a slated stone one-roomed building 45' long
17' wide and 14' high. It was a non-vested school, built entirely from
local funds. The application for the establishment of the school was
made by the Roman Catholic priest Rev. Andrew Kehoe. The
incumbent of the Church of Ireland had a bible school at Shanoule and
was opposed to the National School system.
FIRST TEACHER
The first teacher was Bernard Curry, aged 19 years, who had
previously taught in Cullenstown. His salary was £11 per annum and
when he left in 1855 he was earning the princely sum of £14 per year.
In 1853 the school was closed all during February except on the 7th.
and on the 21st. because the teacher was ill and the weather was cold.
The teachers who taught in the school from 1855 until 1868
(when the schools of Caroreigh and Tottenhamgreen were
amalgamated) were - Wm. Singleton, Pat Evoy, M.J.Connor, Mr.
McCabe, Pat Somers and Walter Power. It seems that teachers'
salaries were withdrawn and restored quite regularly on the
recommendation of the inspector of the Board of Education. Some of
the misdemeanours which incurred this penalty, included:
incompetency, tampering with the roll books or not adhering to the
timetable.
SCHOOL MANAGER
The local priest was the school manager and he also conducted
religious instruction classes which were given outside of official school
hours, either after school in the evenings or on Saturdays. In
December 1858 the inspector ordered that all religious instruction -
prayers or other religious exercise - were to be restricted to the time
set apart for that purpose as notified on the time table. In 1861 the
school was closed from 5 May to 1 June because the children were
attending a mission.
TOTTENHAMGREEN SCHOOL
This school was established in 1854 in the parish of Horetown. The
building that housed the school is now the residence of James and Joan
Whitty, Modubeg. When the application to build a school in
Tottenhamgreen was submitted to the Commissioners appointed for
administering the funds placed at the disposal of His Excellency The
Lord Lieutenant, for the education of the poor of Ireland, an objection
was lodged by the Protestant Rector because the Protestant parochial
school at Shanoule was within one mile. The school went ahead
anyway. The building then measured 34'x 15' x 10'. It was one large
schoolroom and had all new slates. The floor was of roughcast clay. It
had new furniture comprising four large desks, four forms newly
made, one very large long table capable of accommodating twelve
writers, one press for holding books and three large windows - two in
front and one in the rear. However, there was no blackboard, no clock
and no board to attach the timetable. The hours were 9.00 a.m. to
4.00 p.m in the summer time and apparently the hours were changed
for the rest of the year to 10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Religious instruction
was in the evening when all the Catholics were dismissed and Rev.
Andrew Kehoe took them into his care. The regulations laid down by
the Commission stated: schools to be kept open on certain hours 4 or 5
days a week for moral and literacy education only and the remaining
one or two days be set apart for religious education to be approved by
clergy of respective persuasions. Reverend Andrew Kehoe, the then
curate at Caroreigh, was manager of the school and he paid a nominal
rent to a local farmer whose name we do not know.
It was a fee-paying school and the charge amounted to two pounds
and ten shillings a quarter. The fees were paid by the Catholic
population and there were 280 Catholic families in the area at the
time. The money went towards the repair of the school. However, the
manager agreed to admit gratuitously thirty free children. The
attendance at the school when it opened, was seventy five pupils. The
teacher was Ms. Anne Molloy and she received a salary of £15 per
year. It was not unusual to have regular inspections in schools in those
days and whenever an application for a grant was made an inspection
was always carried out before aid was given. In 1856, an inspection
report indicated that the windows were unsatisfactory and should be
made to open from top downwards and the floor was to be boarded or
tiled, the room to have a ceiling fitted, a fire grate procured, the site
was to be cleared and a proper fence and entrance gate put in place.
The application, which usually included remuneration for the teacher,
was rejected at first. Ms. Anne Molloy, had been teaching in
Ramsgrange before this and was dismissed for falsifying the accounts
and being idle and inattentive to the students. However, Fr.Kehoe sent
a letter to the Commissioners pleading her case and stating that she is
now keeping accounts very regularly. The inspector, when he came,
reported that she seemed a very deserving person and was highly
thought of by the applicant (Fr.Kehoe) and parents so that he wrote I
think she might be restored and he recommended that the grant be
made.
This building - now the Whitty residence at Modubeg housed the Tottenhamgreen school which closed in 1868
Photo kindly supplied by Jim Whitty
Caroreigh Old School
In 1858 Mary Fardy was teaching there and was replaced by Eliza
Power in 1859. She was succeeded by a Sarah Walsh who remained
until 1863. During this period, roll numbers began to drop and the
manager was asked to stimulate larger attendances. In 1864 the school
was under scrutiny again as an Inspector discovered a child, whose
mother was Protestant and stepfather a Catholic, was present at
religious instruction. The mother was informed about this but said she
did not mind. However, the manager was cautioned because he had not
notified the Commission about this. At an inspection in 1866 the
manager was complimented on the satisfactory state of the school.
Unfortunately in 1868, due presumably to falling numbers, the
Tottenhamgreen school was closed and pupils amalgamated with
Caroreigh under the principalship of Mary Kelly.
AMALGAMATION OF CAROREIGH & TOTTENHAMGREEN
In 1867, the Caroreigh school was closed during all of Michaelmas
term for repairs and alterations in preparation for the amalgamation
with Tottenhamgreen. The porch was added at this time and a
partition was built to make a second classroom. When the school re-
opened in January 1868 it was under the principalship of Mary Kelly.
There were 83 on roll, 44 of whom were female and 43 were male.
Mary Kelly had been teaching in Tottenhamgreen and was 22 years
old. Her salary was £24 per annum. Catherine Dunne was appointed
as Infant and Junior Literary assistant. She was 19 years old and she
earned £14 per year. This young lady had been teaching in Trinity and
her testimonial consisted of a certificate from a teacher of needlework.
Both of these ladies taught in Caroreigh until 1903 when they retired.
Mary Kelly received a pension of £35 per annum and Catherine Dunne
got £19. In 1883 the teachers' residence was built with the help of a
grant of £200 from the Board of Education. The Principals in
Caroreigh lived here up to 1970 when the house was sold to Sean
Swan.
THE TEACHERS
Mary Kelly was replaced by Miss Comerford, who was her niece. She
later became Mrs. Bernie and lived in the teacher's residence with her
husband, Aidan. The assistant teacher was Miss O'Leary. Mrs.
Bernie was replaced as principal by Miss O'Connor who married
Jimmy Murphy of Shanoule. Mrs. Murphy suffered ill health and
occasionally had substitute teachers, some of whom were Miss
Forrestal and Miss Devereaux. During this time a Miss Killeen, from
Co. Roscommon, became assistant and resided at Whitty's of Barrys
Cross (now Banville's). She probably replaced Miss O'Leary. Next
came Ciss Bennett, whose father was a teacher in Taghmon N.S. She
married Matty Parle. In the mid 1920s, Rita Boyle (who married Sgt.
Mahon of Adamstown) arrived. During her time here she produced a
renowned school play called "Heaps of Money". It was staged in
Camross Hall on Easter Sunday night and the proceeds went towards
school funds. The cast included Aidan, Tom and John Morrissey,
John Redmond, Bill O'Brien, Matty Doyle, Pat and John O'Reilly,
Nan Doyle, Bea Morrissey and Katie Foley.
When Mrs. Murphy retired Jimmy Kelly was appointed as
principal. The assistant teachers during Mr. Kelly's sojourn were Miss
O'Loughlin (who resided at O'Gorman's, Poulpeasty), followed by
Eunice McCarthy (who lived at Tom Morrissey's, Camross) and Rita
Curtis. Miss O'Loughlin was renowned as an highly skilled teacher of
needlework. A new school was built in 1949. Jimmy Kelly left around
1960 and Diarmuid Murray (O'Muirithe) became principal for two
years before he left and eventually went to work with RTE. During his
time in Caroreigh he produced a play called "An Tailiur" which was
written by his father. This production was performed at an All Ireland
schools Drama Festival in the Gate Theatre in Dublin and took 4th
place. The cast included Billy Nolan, Annie O'Reilly, Maria Doyle,
Micheal Quigley, Michael Kelly, Gerald Kelly, Tom Roche, Jim
Nolan, Martin Nolan, Nicholas Stafford, Margaret Jordan and Statia
MacDonald.
Miss O'Loughlin N.T. who taught in Caroreigh
Following the departure of Diarmuid O'Muirithe, Rita Curtis
became acting principal until Eugene Coyle arrived. Rita's assistant
was Mrs. Patsy Curtis of Carrigbyrne. It was around this time that
Caroreigh became a three-teacher school. The assistant teachers
during Mr. Coyle's time were Mary Murray, Mona Fortune (later Mrs.
Ffrench), Mrs. Anne McLoughlin, Anne Vaughan (Mrs. Roche) and
Ita Curtin. Mr. Coyle left in 1969. During the school year 1969-70
Anne McLoughlin taught the senior classes in the old school.
Meanwhile a third classroom was added. The manager during this
period was Rev. Henry Williams.
Eddie Dunne became principal in 1970. Ann Doyle came as
assistant when Ita Curtin left. Imelda Dunne (wife of Eddie) joined
the staff when Anne Vaughan left in 1975. Ann Doyle was followed by
Niamh O'Shea, then Miss Walshe and then in 1980, Lou Barden
arrived. In 1993 Caroreigh became a four-teacher school and Mrs.
Celia Walshe was appointed. At this time, as in 1969, following the
renovation of the old school, it was again used as a classroom. After
much lobbying and hard work on the part of the manager, Rev. Martin
Casey and the Parent's Council, a fourth classroom was added and the
existing school was extensively refurbished.
An Educational Therapist (remedial teacher) in the person of Ann
Nolan was appointed in 1995. She spends three mornings each week
in Caroreigh. The teachers currently in Caroreigh are Eddie Dunne
(principal), Imelda Dunne, Lou Barden, Celia Walshe and Ann Nolan.
A LIST OF PUPILS IN 1900
The following is a list of pupils registered in Caroreigh school in the
year 1900. The occupation of parent or guardian appears after each
entry. All are Roman Catholics except where stated otherwise.
| Patrick Grannell | Camross | Carpenter |
| James Grannell | Camross | Carpenter |
| Joseph Edwards | Poulpeasty | Farmer |
| James Roche | Camross | Labourer |
| John O Gorman | Camross | Farmer |
James Ryan Farmer
| John Kavanagh | Dungeer | Shopkeeper |
| Patrick Banville | Shanoule | Farmer |
| John Murphy | Shanoule | Farmer |
| John Waters | Mulmintra | Labourer |
| Valentine Whitty | Tottenhamgreen | Farmer |
| Bernard Murphy | Ballybeg | Farmer |
| Edward Murphy | Barmoney | Farmer |
| James Redmond | Modubeg | Farmer |
| William Edwards | Poulpeasty | Farmer |
| Michael Egan | Camross | Farmer |
| James Murphy | Harristown | Farmer |
| John Boles E.C.* | Camross | Farmer |
| John Dunne | Dungeer | Farmer |
| John Banville | Shanoule | Farmer |
| James Whitty | Tottenhamgreen | Farmer |
| David Roche | Camross | Labourer |
| Thomas Murphy | Shanoule | Farmer |
| Eliza Byrne | Camross | Farmer |
| Annie Edwards | Poulpeasty | Farmer |
| Brigid Edwards | Poulpeasty | Farmer |
| Brigid Kelly | Kilgarvan | Labourer |
| Ellen Dunphy | Kilgarvan | Farmer |
| Brigid Delaney | Camross | Farmer |
| Mary Banville | Shanoule | Farmer |
| Brigid Kinsella | Camross | Dressmaker |
| Brigid Roche | Castlehayestown | Farmer |
| Mary Donovan | Shanoule | Labourer |
| Annie Brennan | Dungeer | Farmer |
| Katie Ennis | Bricketstown | Farmer |
| Katie Doyle | Bricketstown | Labourer |
| Philomena Ryan | Tomcoole | Farmer |
| Margaret Gorman | Camross | Farmer |
| Johanna Cleary | Tottenhamgreen | Labourer |
| Mary Banville | Shanoule | Farmer |
| Johanna Ennis | Bricketstown | Farmer |
| Annie Kenny | Hayestown | Farmer |
| Annie Grannell | Barrys Cross | Carpenter |
| Kate McDonald | Tottenhamgreen | Labourer |
| Brigid Whitty | Tottenhamgreen | Farmer |
| Katie Murphy | Ballybeg | Farmer |
| Mary E Whelan | Hayestown | Labourer |
| Johanna Doyle | Dungeer | Farmer |
| Mary OGorman | Camross | Farmer |
| Johanna Brennan | Dungeer | Farmer |
| Mary Kelly | Kilgarvan | Labourer |
| Mary E Doyle | Dungeer Farmer |
| Mary Donovan | Dungeer | Farmer |
| Fanny Kendrick E.C.* | Bricketstown | Farmer |
| Anne Murphy | Shanoule | Farmer |
| Eliza Donovan | Shanoule | Farmer |
|
*Established Church i.e. Church of Ireland
Caroreigh School in 1936
Back Row (L to R): Jack Banville, Aidan Ryan, Matt Banville,
Val Kelly, Denny Nolan, Paddy Murphy, Paddy Doyle, Joe Whitty,
Jim Whitty, Lar Banville, Lar Kelly, Dan Morrissey
2nd Row: Mary O'Leary, Josie Condon, Betty Banville,
Biddy Parle,, Maurice Hayes, Maureen Ryan, Kit Morrissey,
Josie Morrissey, Statia McLoughlin, Kitty Murphy, Elsie Donovan
3rd Row: Nancy Condon, Una Ennis, Molly Gorman,
Tessie Sullivan,, Mae Furlong, Bridget Murphy, Molly Whitty,
Maggie Sweeney, Bessie Banville, Mae Rochford, Molly Sweeney,
Molly Parle, Nellie Ryan, Annie Ryan
4th Row: Billy Ryan, Statia Gorman, Nancy Roche,
Nancy Sullivan, Dolly Murphy, Bridie Whitty, Ellen Roche,
Bridie Doyle, Kitty Gorman, Peg Banville, Josie McLaughlin,
Eileen Morrissey, Rosie Condon, Kitty Parle, Peggy Redmond
5th Row: Larry Doyle, John O'Brien, Jack Cooper,
Mick Gorman, Sean McLaughlin, Jim Curran, John Hayes,
Jim Morrissey, Matt Hayes, Jack Curran, Matt Banville
Photo kindly presented by Bridie Murphy, Caroreigh.
This building housed the school at Shanoule
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Lesley Boxwell
Eddie Dunne
Mai Fardy
Bessie French-O'Neill
Maggie Murphy
The National Archives, Dublin
Ann Nolan
Anne Roche
Nan Somers
James Whitty
REFERENCES AND NOTES
- Patrick Kennedy, Folklorist - A Preliminary Assessment, by James G. Delany
in The Past, 1983, No. 14