A national school has operated at Gortnamona for over 150 years. Prior to
that in the late 18th and early 19th centuries hedge schools provided opportunities
for those who wished to learn. A copybook dated 1787, which was used in
a local hedgeschool, shows us what children of that time learned. Maths
seemed very complicated in those times!
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In
1854 the local landlord, O'Connor Morris agreed to build a school
for the education of his tenant's children. This school opened in
1857 and catered for the children of the area until 1965. The building
can still be seen to this day.
In 1965 the present school was built as a two classroom school about
one hundred metres down the road from the old school. In 2001, a
portacabin containing another classroom and a Learning Support Room
were added to the original two classrooms. In 2008 an extension
was added to the school - two new classrooms, a learning support
room and an office; also staff car park, new playground and a set
down area.
The
school register dates back to 1870 and provides great information
for our pupils when they are studying local history and completing
their family tree. |
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STAFF...
There
are four classroom teachers teaching our 93 pupils:
Mr. Tom Daly is the Principal and teaches 5th and 6th classes.
Mrs. Mary Egan is the Deputy Principal and teaches 1st and 2nd classes.
Ms. Suzanne Donaldson teaches Junior and Senior Infants.
Ms. Alison Quinn teaches 3rd and 4th classes
Mrs. Anne Lambe is our S.E. T./Resource Teacher and teaches children from
all classes.
Mrs. Marie Conroy and Ms Aishling Twohill visit the school each day as
Learning Support Teachers.
Ms. Fleur Morris is based in our school and provides cover for principals
in a cluster of schools so that they can tend to administration duties.
Linda Lee teaches singing to the senior classes.
Other valued members of staff are Hazel Keyes, our secretary, Frances
Keating, S.N.A. and Bridget Tierney, who keeps the school neat and tidy.
BOARD
OF MANAGEMENT...
Chairman: Danny Owens; Secretary: Tom Daly, Treasurer: John McCann, Fr.
Michael Meade, Anne Lambe, Fidelma Casey, Tommy Phelan, Janet Cogley.
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