History of Scoil Chroí Naofa
Education flourished in Rochfortbridge since the beginning of the 5th Century. St Brigid came to the area we now know as Kilbride. She set up a centre of education there. It was called Cill Bhríde. When the penal laws were enacted Catholic education was suppressed. There were hedge school set up in Killbride, Knockgrew and Oldtown. The walls of the school were made of mud and the roof out of straw. The children sat on turf and if they were lucky they put a plank across the turf and sat on it. They wrote with elderberry ink and a goose's quill.
In 1829 the act of Catholic Emancipation was passed. After this Killbride school improved. Mrs Anne Farrelly was the last teacher to teach in it. She was there from 1887. At the turn of the century a young boy found a clay pipe and started to smoke. When he saw the teacher coming he hid the pipe in the turf box. That night the school burst into flames and burned to the ground.
The school in Carty's field was established in 1830 and was located off the Dublin-Galway road at the present location of the Newmans' front lawn. It was a long low building with a slated roof and one tall red brick chimney. A low wall was built in case the children might run onto the road. There was one classroom in the school and they burned sticks and turf. The pupils had ink wells in their desks to dip their pen into. The pens were straight pens with nibs which had to be changed often. Blotting paper was used if the ink spilled. There was no electricity and it was often difficult to see in the classrooms.
There was a ball alley with timber walls. Pupils used to play football on the road with no shoes. The first principal was Thomas Brady and the second was James Gleeson. Other teachers who taught there included James Grehan, Peter Ledwith, Daniel O'Connor and Michael Rowan. Vincent Foley was principal from 1941 to 1951. Ms McGill taught in the school from 1930 to 1960 when the school was a two teacher school. The school was closed in 1949.
As early as 23 July 1835 the parish school, a mixed school, referred to as Castlelost was recognized by the National Board of Education. This school was established in 1833 in the townland of Torrybeggan. This was a payschool and received no support from any society. The teacher was paid £10 per year from the Board. The school had no desks or tables. There was a greater attendance of children in the summer months compared to the winter months. Pupils came from Catholic and Protestant families. Mr. Brady was replaced as Principal in 1838 by James Gleeson. Mr. Gleeson subsequently resigned from his post in 1839 when he was found to be teaching catechism. The Board of Education wanted a non-denominational school. It took till the following year for a new teacher to be appointed.
A separate female school was established on October 18th 1852. The first teacher in the school was Mary Seery. The school day lasted from 10.00 to 3.00.
The population of Rochfortbridge was divided into two communities, Church of Ireland and Catholic. The Church of Ireland community enjoyed better educational facilities due their greater wealth. In contrast the Catholic community's educational facilities were quite poor. Schools were in bad repair and teachers were paid poorly. Pupils lacked in basic education. Local Catholic clergy started to take more interest in schools in their parishes. Denominational schools became established and due to the need for the education of the Catholic female population, the Mercy Sisters were established in Rochfortbridge.
The Sisters of Mercy arrived in Rochfortbridge in the mid 1800s. The Sisters taught boys and girls up to the age of seven or eight and then the boys transferred to the boys school. The nuns prepared the boys and girls for Holy Communion and Confirmation. The Mercy Sisters arrived in Rochfortbridge in 1862 but the schools were not fit for use until early 1863. Donations were made to pay for the debt on the schools and for furnishing the school. Attendance in the school rose significantly following the Mercy Sisters arrival.
Children of respectful farmers attended the benefit school where French and drawing was taught. By 1863 the attendance numbers rose sharply to 131. Attendance was higher during the winter months but was low during the summer as many children had to work in the fields.
The teachers had to carry out inspections of their childrens faces, hair and clothes. Pupils and schools were inspected 3 times a year.
In 1896 a new school was established by Fr. Fagan and in September of that year new pupils were admitted.
Scoil Bhríde was built in 1948/49. and was officially opened and blessed in 1949 by Dr. Kyne. The teachers and pupils marched from the old to the new school with the roll books. Mr Foley was the principal and Ms. Mc Gill was the assistant teacher.There were thirty two children on roll. There were two classrooms with open fires. Seán O Rioghbhardain became principal in 1951. In 1977 the school became a 3 teacher school and in 1982 the school was extended to include a staff room, an office, P.E hall and two new classrooms. Rita Clarke became principal of the school in 1987. The school celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1999. A celebration took place on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee including tree planting by past pupils of the school, Following Rita Clarke's retirement, Eileen Burns became principal in 2000.
The new Convent primary school was established in 1980. A plaque, which can still be seen at the entrance to Building 1, is dedicated to the O'Connells. On January 24th, 1980 the official blessing and opening of the new Convent Primary School took place with Bishop John McCormack in attendance. Sister Maureen was principal at the time of the opening in 1980. Sister Kathleen Daly was principal during the 1980s and 1990s. Sister Kathleen retired in 1998. Anne Eighan was principal of the school from 1998 to 2016. Our current principal is Kathleen McNamee who became principal in September 2016.
In 2013 the Convent Primary School and Scoil Bhríde amalgamated to form St. Francis Primary School. In 2015 our school became Scoil Chroí Naofa.
In 1829 the act of Catholic Emancipation was passed. After this Killbride school improved. Mrs Anne Farrelly was the last teacher to teach in it. She was there from 1887. At the turn of the century a young boy found a clay pipe and started to smoke. When he saw the teacher coming he hid the pipe in the turf box. That night the school burst into flames and burned to the ground.
The school in Carty's field was established in 1830 and was located off the Dublin-Galway road at the present location of the Newmans' front lawn. It was a long low building with a slated roof and one tall red brick chimney. A low wall was built in case the children might run onto the road. There was one classroom in the school and they burned sticks and turf. The pupils had ink wells in their desks to dip their pen into. The pens were straight pens with nibs which had to be changed often. Blotting paper was used if the ink spilled. There was no electricity and it was often difficult to see in the classrooms.
There was a ball alley with timber walls. Pupils used to play football on the road with no shoes. The first principal was Thomas Brady and the second was James Gleeson. Other teachers who taught there included James Grehan, Peter Ledwith, Daniel O'Connor and Michael Rowan. Vincent Foley was principal from 1941 to 1951. Ms McGill taught in the school from 1930 to 1960 when the school was a two teacher school. The school was closed in 1949.
As early as 23 July 1835 the parish school, a mixed school, referred to as Castlelost was recognized by the National Board of Education. This school was established in 1833 in the townland of Torrybeggan. This was a payschool and received no support from any society. The teacher was paid £10 per year from the Board. The school had no desks or tables. There was a greater attendance of children in the summer months compared to the winter months. Pupils came from Catholic and Protestant families. Mr. Brady was replaced as Principal in 1838 by James Gleeson. Mr. Gleeson subsequently resigned from his post in 1839 when he was found to be teaching catechism. The Board of Education wanted a non-denominational school. It took till the following year for a new teacher to be appointed.
A separate female school was established on October 18th 1852. The first teacher in the school was Mary Seery. The school day lasted from 10.00 to 3.00.
The population of Rochfortbridge was divided into two communities, Church of Ireland and Catholic. The Church of Ireland community enjoyed better educational facilities due their greater wealth. In contrast the Catholic community's educational facilities were quite poor. Schools were in bad repair and teachers were paid poorly. Pupils lacked in basic education. Local Catholic clergy started to take more interest in schools in their parishes. Denominational schools became established and due to the need for the education of the Catholic female population, the Mercy Sisters were established in Rochfortbridge.
The Sisters of Mercy arrived in Rochfortbridge in the mid 1800s. The Sisters taught boys and girls up to the age of seven or eight and then the boys transferred to the boys school. The nuns prepared the boys and girls for Holy Communion and Confirmation. The Mercy Sisters arrived in Rochfortbridge in 1862 but the schools were not fit for use until early 1863. Donations were made to pay for the debt on the schools and for furnishing the school. Attendance in the school rose significantly following the Mercy Sisters arrival.
Children of respectful farmers attended the benefit school where French and drawing was taught. By 1863 the attendance numbers rose sharply to 131. Attendance was higher during the winter months but was low during the summer as many children had to work in the fields.
The teachers had to carry out inspections of their childrens faces, hair and clothes. Pupils and schools were inspected 3 times a year.
In 1896 a new school was established by Fr. Fagan and in September of that year new pupils were admitted.
Scoil Bhríde was built in 1948/49. and was officially opened and blessed in 1949 by Dr. Kyne. The teachers and pupils marched from the old to the new school with the roll books. Mr Foley was the principal and Ms. Mc Gill was the assistant teacher.There were thirty two children on roll. There were two classrooms with open fires. Seán O Rioghbhardain became principal in 1951. In 1977 the school became a 3 teacher school and in 1982 the school was extended to include a staff room, an office, P.E hall and two new classrooms. Rita Clarke became principal of the school in 1987. The school celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1999. A celebration took place on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee including tree planting by past pupils of the school, Following Rita Clarke's retirement, Eileen Burns became principal in 2000.
The new Convent primary school was established in 1980. A plaque, which can still be seen at the entrance to Building 1, is dedicated to the O'Connells. On January 24th, 1980 the official blessing and opening of the new Convent Primary School took place with Bishop John McCormack in attendance. Sister Maureen was principal at the time of the opening in 1980. Sister Kathleen Daly was principal during the 1980s and 1990s. Sister Kathleen retired in 1998. Anne Eighan was principal of the school from 1998 to 2016. Our current principal is Kathleen McNamee who became principal in September 2016.
In 2013 the Convent Primary School and Scoil Bhríde amalgamated to form St. Francis Primary School. In 2015 our school became Scoil Chroí Naofa.