History of our school

Towards the end of the 18th century, William Meagher conducted a classical school at the Washpin (Kilcurkee). It had between 80 and 90 pupils, one third of whom came from Connaught and Ulster. These lodged in local houses. The school had a deservedly high reputation for its classical education.

In 1824, on the eve of the advent of the national school system, the parish of Loughmore and Castleiney had six pay-schools with enrolments varying from twenty to sixty three pupils. The buildings differed in quality and comfort from a “neat thatched cottage” to a “wretched cabin”.

When State funding for elementary education was first offered in 1830 the then parish priest, Fr James Mullally, signed up for it despite clerical reservations regarding the religious implications of the new system. The death of Fr Mullally in 1832 delayed affiliation to the national system by existing pay-schools in the parish. His successor, Fr David Dee, was implacably opposed to the national school system. Thus the pay-schools continued in the parish for another generation. Visitation reports for the years 1846, 1852 and 1854 record that none of the schools in the parish had yet affiliated to the National Board of Education.

The parish had a total of nine pay-schools in 1846, four in Castleiney. Six years later, the effects of the Famine were apparent. The number of schools had dropped to three, two in Loughmore and one in Castleiney. By 1854 Loughmore had two schools with a total of 120 pupils while the two schools in Castleiney were vacant for want of teachers.

The arrival of Fr John Cooney as parish priest (1855-61) heralded the acceptance of the national school system in the parish. New national schools were provided in Loughmore (1857) and Castleiney (1858).

A new school building was provided in Castleiney in 1948 and the old school house was converted in to a community hall. An extension and upgrading of the school was completed in 2008.

Principals( past & present) : Joseph Downey, Jack Barry, Eddie Byrne , John Treacy (1979-2015), Kathrine Maher ( 2015- 2018) and Jody Harkin (2018 – Present)
Mainstream class teachers ( past & present) : Annie Brennan, Annie Scott, Anne Marie Brennan, Noreen Dwan , Kathrine Maher, Billy O’ Brien, Katherese Meehan, Jody Harkin.

S.E.T : Mr. Eoghan Maloney