MAYO ABBEY NATIONAL SCHOOL
SCOIL NAISIUNTA MAINISTIR MHUIGH EO
A BRIEF HISTORY
On Sept. 9th 1896 the doors of the old Mayo Abbey National School were opened to receive its first pupils.
It was eight years earlier that the wheels were actually set in motion. In February 1888 the agents of Lord Clanmorris were approached with a view to building a new schoolhouse. In May 1892 a grant of £532 was received to build a new school, an expenditure of £59. A grant of £39 was also allowed for the construction of a wall to enclose the school. In March 1896, in a Parliamentary Question, Mr Hayden M.P. asked the Chief Secretary of Ireland whether:
a) he was aware of the limited accommodation for pupils of Mayo N.S.,
b) he could state the cause of the delay in opening the new school,
c) steps would be taken to have it opened.
The first pupils finally entered the school on Sept. 9th 1896. Tom Barnicle recalls this story which he often heard his father (John Barnicle) telling. John Barnicle,Knocknakill, boasted that he learned the very first lesson in Mayo Abbey School. Here is how he told it.
"DAY 1: School due to open. Present were Manager, Contractor, Teachers and Pupils. A dispute over payment for the boundary wall arose. Contractor refused to hand over the key. Everybody went home.
DAY 2: Manager, Teachers and three pupils turned up. Manager forced open the door. All entered. The pupils were John Barnicle, Mike Mc.Nicholas and Peter Mc.Nicholas. They had a quiet, easy day. Mike Mc.Nicholas taught John Barnicle how to do long division.
DAY 3: Everybody present and education continued for the next hundred years".
The children and staff moved to a new school building in May 2012.
SCOIL NAISIUNTA MAINISTIR MHUIGH EO
A BRIEF HISTORY
On Sept. 9th 1896 the doors of the old Mayo Abbey National School were opened to receive its first pupils.
It was eight years earlier that the wheels were actually set in motion. In February 1888 the agents of Lord Clanmorris were approached with a view to building a new schoolhouse. In May 1892 a grant of £532 was received to build a new school, an expenditure of £59. A grant of £39 was also allowed for the construction of a wall to enclose the school. In March 1896, in a Parliamentary Question, Mr Hayden M.P. asked the Chief Secretary of Ireland whether:
a) he was aware of the limited accommodation for pupils of Mayo N.S.,
b) he could state the cause of the delay in opening the new school,
c) steps would be taken to have it opened.
The first pupils finally entered the school on Sept. 9th 1896. Tom Barnicle recalls this story which he often heard his father (John Barnicle) telling. John Barnicle,Knocknakill, boasted that he learned the very first lesson in Mayo Abbey School. Here is how he told it.
"DAY 1: School due to open. Present were Manager, Contractor, Teachers and Pupils. A dispute over payment for the boundary wall arose. Contractor refused to hand over the key. Everybody went home.
DAY 2: Manager, Teachers and three pupils turned up. Manager forced open the door. All entered. The pupils were John Barnicle, Mike Mc.Nicholas and Peter Mc.Nicholas. They had a quiet, easy day. Mike Mc.Nicholas taught John Barnicle how to do long division.
DAY 3: Everybody present and education continued for the next hundred years".
The children and staff moved to a new school building in May 2012.
