The History of the Schools
in
Attymass Parish part 2
Bonnifinglas National School [1876-1971]
Built from parish funds on land donated by landlord Mrs.
Perry, the single roomed mixed Bonnifinglas National School opened on
the 3rd of July 1876. A two story teachers house was constructed at the
same time.
Renovations including the partitioning of the classroom
into two and the provision of cloakrooms and a porch were carried out
in 1914. The teachers house was demolished in 1948.
Roll books are incomplete but it appears that 601 children
attended the school during it's 85 year lifetime.
The building is still standing and has recently been
undergoing restoration as a domestic property.
Above left: Front view of Bunnifinglas NS as it appears
today showing the porch constructed in 1914. Above right: rear view &
yard. Below left: sign on porch. Below right: Outside toilets!
Currower National School [Hedge School pre 1856-1976]
The Hedge School at Currower was either replaced or re-built
in 1848 from private funds. It was recognised as a National School in
1856.
In 1894 then PP Fr Connington began construction of a
new school on land donated by landlord Mr. McGloin on a site to the East
of the old one. The new school opened as a double school - two seperate
schools under one roof - on the 7th of September 1896.
It was 55ft x 12ft 6” but had a wing afterwards
added.
It was amalgamated into one school in January 1929.
It is believed some 1,459 pupils attended during it's
time as a NS.
Above: all that remains of the Currower NS. It is understood
the building was demolished for insurance reasons.
Derreen National School [1877-1972]
Built from parish funds in 1876 the single roomed mixed
Derreen National School opened on 15th January 1877. A two story teachers
house was constructed at the same time.
The classroom was divided into two during renovations
in 1922. The Congested District Board financed an attached cooking/laundry
room to prepare pupils for future employment.
From 1934 became a one teacher school due to small attendance.
501 pupils believed to have attended during it's existence.
Above left: Derreen NS today, updated & used as a
holiday home. Above right: the schoolyard showing the wall that divided
the girls & boys sections. Below: two views of the derelict two story
teachers house. The house would have been extremely imposing in comparison
with most contemporary local accommodation.
Attymass National School [Kilgellia] [1872/1879-1976]
The first National School in Kilgellia [Attymass] opened
in November 1872 in a "poorly constructed thatched cabin" opposite
the church gates. The site was acquired by then PP Fr Hurst - possibly
purchased from one Paddy Kavanagh but more likely part of lands gifted
by landlord Mrs. G. H. Moore who donated the land on which the church
and subsequently the "new" school were constructed. Daniel and
Mrs. Henry taught at this location until the completion of the new school
building in 1879.
The original school was mixed but the new had separate
boys and girls schools consisting of one classroom each. The schools were
amalgamated on 1st January 1939.
A total of 2675 children were educated in the two schools
up until June 1976 when the school moved to the new location on the opposite
side of the road.
The "Old School" now serves as a Community Centre.
 Right:
internal view of the Old School as it appears today.
There are plans to restore parts of the old building
to act as an exhibit demonstrating how schools were in the past.
These plans are part of an ambitious scheme to provide
a new Community Centre facility for the parish to be located on the site
of the Old School and lands between it and the church.
St. Feichin's National School, Attymass [1976-present
day] The nine room present school was opened on 14th of September
1976. Please click here for details.
>> Part 1 - Hedge
Schools in Attymass
Print version of schools history
-----------------
* All quotes from P. Flannelly's manuscript The History
of The Schools of Attymass from the parish inventory. Tables of teachers
serving the schools and more details can be found in the full transcript
in the historic documents archive.
Many of the Roll Books from the four National Schools
still exist and are presently stored in the Parish House.
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