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History of Our SchoolThere is a very long and proud tradition of primary education in Shanahoe stretching back over 200 years. In the early and middle 19th century, local schoolmaster Thomas Maloney had a great reputation for teaching amongst the people of the local area. He opened a hedge school for local children and many of his pupils came from great distances. The custom was to charge each pupil 2 shillings a quarter and this was supplemented by the 'well to do' farmers with a sack of potatoes or a 'kish' of turf as a gift to the headmaster each year. Much of the instruction especially on warm days, was under a shady hedgerow and hence came the title 'hedge school. Thomas Maloney's first formal school building was located in the townland of Killeaney outside of Shanahoe with the imposing Anglo-Norman Gortnaclea Castle located a few hundred metres away.
Thomas Maloney's reputation as a great teacher extended far and wide and the population of the school grew as a result. The Parish Priest arranged the use of the vestry attached to the chapel in Shanahoe (built in 1816) for use as a school, This move from Killeaney to the sacristy of the chapel in Shanahoe took place in 1822.
After a short time, the vestry became too small to accommodate the school as the number of pupils continued to increase A new schoolhouse building was sanctioned. (This same building today serves as the community hall.). While the building of the new school was in progress, the pupils moved into the chapel itself in 1828 and were taught there for 2 years. Thomas Maloney and the assistant teacher, his nephew John Keegan and their pupils entered the new school building on 12th April 1830. The establishment of this school predated the National School System of Education in Ireland by one year. It was not until 1839 that a grant was given by the Board of National Education in Dublin for 'Shanahoe School, Queen's County' Thomas Maloney continued teaching there until he retired in 1855. The 1830 school building was in existence as a school until 1949 when the current school, Scoil FIonntáin Naofa opened its doors.
In 1948-1949, the present national school Scoil Fionntáin Naofa was built by local contractor Martin Breen. Scoil Fionntáin Naofa was blessed and officially opened by Rev. Dr. Keogh Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin on 25th September 1949. The new school building was a Boyd Barret design with three main classrooms backing onto a corridor which ran the length of the building, with cloakrooms at either end of the corridor and outside toilet facilities. There were two play shelters at each side of the building outside. The teachers at that time were Mr. John Whelan N.T (Principal), Mrs. Kathleen O'Connell N.T (Assistant Teacher) and Mr. William Coughlan (Assistant Teacher).
. Inside toilets were added to the school building in the 1970s. The first extension that was built onto the 1949 building was the Junior Classroom which was constructed in 2004. This room contained its own wet area and separate toilet facilities. There is a also a door out from the room directly into the yard. The office and staffroom also date from this period. The next extension was completed at the opposite end of the building in 2020. It consists of a large, spacious classroom with a wet area and toilets. It also has its own entrance/door leading out to our Outdoor Classroom space. Each of these extensions necessitated the demolition of the aforementioned play shelters at either end of the school building.
The rear of the school was also reroofed at the time that the 2020 extension was completed. In 2022, the aforementioned 2004 classroom was completely retrofitted for use as our newly opened Sonas Class for pupils on the Autistic Spectrum (Autumn 2022). Former Principal Teachers in the School Former Assistant Teachers in the School
Mr, Thomas Lalor retired 1936; Mrs. Kathleen O'Connell 1930-1966': Mr. John Whelan 1936-1967'; Mr. William Coughlan 1945-c. 1951: Mr. Richard Morgan 1967-1973; Ms. Long; Mrs. Mary M. Dollard (formerly Miss Foley) 1973-1979; Miss. Loughman; Mr. David Brickley 1979-2011; Miss. Mary Mills (later Mrs. Morgan) 1967-1973; Mr. Richard (Richie) Connor 2011-2021. Miss. Moira Furlong 1973-1974; Miss. Kathleen Roche (later Mrs, Moore 1974- 1975; Miss. Catherine Dwyer 1975-1979; Miss. Mary Craven (later Mrs. Lee) 1979-1980; Miss. Margaret Dowling 1980-1983; Mrs. Miriam Brickley (formerly Miss. Collins) 1983-2022. (Mrs. Brickley holds the accolade of being the longest serving teacher in the history of Shanahoe N.S (which dates back to 1830), having spent her entire teaching career of 39 years in the school.
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Opening HoursMonday to Friday
9:00am-1:40a.m for Infant Classes 9:00a.m-2:40p.m for 1st to 6th classes |
Telephone(057) 87 39715
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