Schools

©Local Schools, Teachers, Post Office Etc.

Hedge Schools:
Lag na hAltora
The hedge school was held on the opposite side of road to the Mass Rock, down the hollow, behind a high stone fence known as the "big Daike" at the bottom of Banker's field known as "Gortaldif" (Gort-fhal- dubh). The last Hedge School-teacher there was Master Deeney who lived with his wife in a small house at the bottom of Hugh Pheilemy Doherty's (Duffy's) garden.

The "Schoolhouse garden" Boylestown
This was next to Peter Boyles stack garden and Margaret Boyle & an uncle of hers taught there for some time. When old Mary McFadden was asked about Singletons Races, she said "dont mention Singletons races to me; they deprived me of my education. My teacher and some others coming from the races had a row with another man at the Red Braes. They put him in a shough and pushed the ditch down on top of him and almost killed him. Boyle the teacher got the blame and he left home for America".

Hedge School at Sheridans of Carriglough
Hughie Coyle told me that his Father and uncles attended the hedge school at the side of Carriglough near Sheridans house. One of the Carron's of Carradoan was said to be a Hedge schoolmaster there.

Mullnaha, Drumhallagh Upper
Tommy Shovlin told me that William (Owen Rosha) Sheridan from Drumhallagh Lower attended the hedge school at Mullnaha where there was a very good English teacher.

Katie Doohan, Glenvar
Was a non-classed teacher who taught evening school in private houses. She taught mainly children who had been "hired out" and missed out on school. She got no government grant, parents paid her fee. She taught reading and writing only, no Arithmetic. Patrick Loughry, Elly and John D. Gallagher, Lurganboy were pupils of hers. She also taught in a building at the top of Bankers field named Gort-fhal-duff not far from the location of the hedgeschool of former years.
There was a shop at Ward's of Faltagh, Creeve., and she also taught there.

National Schools

Carradoan School
Building started 1844, came into commission 1847 and to begin with it was an Agricultural School. Its Patron was local Landlord, Thomas Batt of Rathmullan who was succeeded by his son in 1857.
The landlord supplied one slice of bread per day for each pupil, and this was handed out as the children left the classroom at "big playtime" (lunchtime).
It was a mixed denominational school and was attended by children from as far away as Glencross, Gortlough and Oughterlin. It ceased to be recognised as an Agricultural School in 1887, "As the Teacher resided at an inconvenient distance from the farm".
Daniel Deeney, age 27 years(St Patricks training college) and Mrs. Annie Deeney age 26 years, were appointed teachers in 1890.

Schools Inspector, Mr. P.J. Kelly, visited the school, 22.Nov.1894. There were 24 pupils being taught Geometry and Algebra. The school room was neat and clean but all school repairs for that year were at the Teacher's own expense. The Inspector complained that the Manager, Mr. Batt had not been visiting the school often enough and described him as being "A very old man". Thomas Edmund Batt succeeded him in 1895.
Tommy Shovelin (1902-2003) told me that a teacher named Barr was a boxer who one day bantered John (white-bhainne) McFadden ? to fight. White(Bhainne)who was on horseback was an inoffesive man but he dismounted, struck Mr. Barr a blow knocking him to the ground and then he kicked and seriously injured him. The Police were looking for John (White) who absconded. Barr sent a letter to the Police asking that if White returned he should not be prosecuted as it was Barr himself who invited the fight. Barr never fully recovered from the injury and died within six months.
Tommy Shovelin attended Carradoan school but had to leave school when he was in "5th Book" because his father, Edward Shovlin, died and as he was the only son he had to look after cattle on the farm.
Carradoan Post Office
Originally, mail for the locality was delivered to Carradoan school and distributed to the homes by the scholars. During periods of school holidays the mail was left for safe keeping with the Carron family at Carradoan until school resumed. As a result of this custom, when the Postal service was being extended, Carradoan Post Office was granted to the Carron family and was operated by them until 1995 when like so many other rural Post Offices it was closed by An Post.

Lurganboyce National School
Before this School was built children from Oughterlin were expected to go to Carradoan. Building started 31st. May 1892 & the School opened 1st.October 1893.
Cost, £332.5.00. Number on Rolls: 76.
Manager:
Rev. John Robert Collins, Parish Priest. Rathmullan.
First Teacher:
Miss Susan McDonald, 23years, trained Baggot St. Dublin 1889/91.
Previously employed at Shalvey N.S. Kilcar.
Wages: £34.10.00 per annum.

Inspector's Comments:
"Locality very poor, remote from influence of education, difficult to secure attendance of those who ought to be at school".

Letter, dated 5th Dec 1893, from Rev J.R. Collins, responding:
"The school was opened at the very worst season when the children were needed to work in the fields. Also a dangerous type of Scarlateena had broken out in the neighbourhood causing the deaths of three children. Consequently the dispensary Doctor ordered the closure of Lurganboyce, Crieve and Carradoan schools.
The school is now picking up again with 52 on the rolls.
Children hired out during the Summer up to 23rd November will have benefit of school until May next".

Teachers at Lurganboyce School:
1893 - 1904:
Susan McDonald, Grace McDevitt, Bridget Marley, Ellen Deeney, and Charles Carr.
Then a two teacher school from March 1904 when Mary Strain was appointed "manual instructress".
1905 - 1968:
Anthony Carbery 1905 (Mary Strain later became Mrs Carbery), Sophia McGettigan, Owen Harkin, Maurice Sweeney, Mrs Brigid Deeney, Mrs Anne Patton, Miss Ainne Ni Duibhne, Ms Sheila O'Boyce.
The School closed in 1968 and the children were transferred to St. Joseph's National School, Rathmullan.

Creeve School

Was held at Cullens house in Creeve.