The Old Kilmurry School
When we speak of “Kilmurry School” we have to differentiate between the school which was held in the Church and the school which was built adjacent to the present school.The school in the Church was established formally on the 23rd January 1854 and it was taken into connexion by the then Board of Education on the 9th of August 1854. It was originally applied for by M. Clune, P.P. Sixmilebridge. The following is his letter to the Commissioners of Education for aid towards payment of salary and for supply of books dated March 8th, 1854:- “One school room is in good order. Its dimensions are 15ft by 27ft. and there are desks and forms in it.
The teacher is John Dinan. The average attendance is 96. The school hours are
from 9.30 to 4.30. Religious instruction takes place every Saturday. No national
books in the school as yet. The management of the school is under my care and
in operation about two months”.
M.Clune,P.P.
A partition separated the school from the other part of the building used for
public worship. The ceiling was 20ft. high. The Inspector’s Report stated: “There is no communication between these rooms, and there is an entrance from the public road to the school room distinct from the main entrance to the chapel. The whole building is built of stone and mortar and it is slated. There is no fireplace. There are four desks and forms 6ft. long. There are 2 planks 12ft. by 6ft. and five other forms 6ft. long which accommodate 60 children. There is no other furniture”.
The Inspector stated that the teacher was John Dinan who was 20 years old and
“that he had not the use of one of his legs”. He continued: “no aid will be given towards the teacher’s salary except for school fees to the amount of about £5 per annum”. The parents were supposed to pay about 1/- (shilling) a quarter which would be regulated by the Manager. There were 100 children on the Roll Book —
there were actually 83 present on the date of Inspection. James Morell, the District Inspector, concluded his report thus: “Though the average attendance in this school has not been kept, I believe that the number of pupils in daily attendance is not below 50 — the want of a properly conducted school in this very populous locality has been felt for some years past and now that such a school has been established the parents of the children unite with the manager in ensuring it is as effective in its results as possible. The Manager is most anxious that his application be entertained, as indeed are other parties with whom I conversed. A national school here, if at all properly conducted, must effect great good”.
The school was duly recognised and on 8/8/54 a salary of £11 was paid to Mr. Dinan from 1st March 1854 and books were forwarded to the school.
1856
1857
1858
1859
SALARY REQUISITES
£ S £ s
TEACHERS:
John Dinan
Michael Lynch
Michael Young
John Egan
Pat Walsh
ASSISTANTS Mary Brassil (Salary £14)
Bridget Murphy
CORRESPONDENCE
FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION:
1855 Jan. 6 “Build fireplace, complete partition”.
1858 Get books and reading tablets.
1860 (November) Books to be got and privies built.
1862 (24th Dec.) Blackboard to be got.
1876 Manager requested to provide a new set of desks.
1877 Attention called to want of out-offices.
