This article is from page 38 of the 2009-06-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 38 JPG
YOUNGSTERS at Meelick National School would do a lot of things to get a half-day but their forebears were given time off to go and work in the ueb Oke
That is just one of the little gems of information contained in a school roll book which has been kept at the school since 1874.
The unique roll book was one of the items being exhibited as part of the school’s celebrations of 50 years of learning at the ‘new’ school.
‘This was the roll book for the old school, which opened in 1874. It 1s a lovely piece of work, with beauti- ful writing. The names of the 150 pupils are all recorded along with people’s jobs, who the landlord was and lots of details like that. It noted the names of children who worked as mill-hands and that they were to be given time off for that. It’s a so- cial history of the area,’ said school principal Dan Graham.
“I found the book in the school’s strong room and I’ve had it rebound to pass it on to whoever takes over from me here.”
Friday’s celebrations began with a Mass and later, parents, teachers, past pupils and priests who had been connected with the parish over the years moved to the hall where there was an exhibition of old school pho- tos and other memorabilia.
On the day, it was recalled that the original school opened it’s doors on May 11, 1874 and the first principal, Thomas Barry had an annual salary of £24.
The new school was opened on May 12, 1959 and cost £13,500 to
build.
The staff and pupils planted a tree and buried a ‘time capsule’ contain- ing a list of the childrens’ names, their photos and other item like cal- culators, biros and the school jour- nal.
Then a commemorative plaque was
unveiled before a trip down memory lane in which past pupils and teach- ers recalled their days at Meelick school.
The plaque was unveiled by former school teacher, Kitty Garvey, who taught at the school for 40 years.
The day was rounded off with a
dance in the Greenhills which was attended by pupils and staff.