APH
Source: Fas Teamwork Scheme (1990-1992)
Scheme Sponsor: Athenry Project Society
Teamwork Leader: Mrs. Marie Fahy
FIRST NEWCASTLE NATIONAL SCHOOL
Built: 1856 by local funds.
Opened June 1st, 1856.
Townland: Shudane.
Parish: Athenry (Athenry town is three and half miles south west of the school).
External dimensions: Length 37 feet; Breadth 20 Feet; Height 21 feet.
Number of desks: 6.
NEWCASTLE OLD SCHOOL
Built: 1906 in January.
Townland: Shudane.
Money to build school: Two thirds from Government, one third from Parish funds.
Internal dimensions of each school room: 20’ by 21’ by 13’; 13 ½’ by 15 ½’ by 13’.
Number of desks: 2 Length of 10’6”.
Patron was Canon Canton P.P.
Teacher had a free residence built by means of a grant from the state.
NEWCASTLE NATIONAL SCHOOLS.
Newcastle National School is in the parish of Athenry and is in the townland of Templemoyle, Templemoyle being in the parish of Monivea in 1855. The first Newcastle National School was built in 1856. Originally there were four teachers in the two storey building, which was situated behind where the Catholic Church stands today. Girls were taught in the upper storey and boys were taught in the lower room. There were two principals, a boys’ principal and a girls’ principal, both of whom had assistant teachers,
From the registers available, dating back to the 1880s, only the boys’ register was available. Some of the pupils registered in the 1880s were:
Jan 1880: Martin O’Connor 8 Montpelier.
June 1882: Michael Earls 5 Newcastle.
Jan 1883: John Whelan 9 Cormacoo.
June 1884: Thomas Ruhan 4 Cormacoo.
Sept 1885: Richard Burns 10 Newcastle
Aug 1885: Willie Finnerty 8 Cormacoo
Principal Teachers
Two of the later principals in this school, from the records, were Mr.Heavey who was principal of the boys’ school and his wife Mrs. Heavey,principal of the girls’ division. Mr.Thomas Rohan was the assistant to Mr.Heavey. The Heaveys lived on the house opposite the church, where the Joyces now live. Mr. Rohan lived where the O’Shea family now live.
In 1906 there was a new school opened in Newcastle, almost exactly where the present St.Oliver Plunkett National School now stands. Teachers and pupils were transferred there. Two separate schools – boys and girls- under the one roof. The register for boys or girls were not available for those times.
According to the land and house valuation records in 1906 John Heavey’s school house in Templemoyle was valued at 10s. The school house in the same place was exempt from rates. The NationalSchool was valued at £11.10.0
In 1943 the two schools amalgamated and the boys and girls were in mixed classes, with one principal.
In 1977 the present school, was opened. The National schools in Tiaquin closed as numbers were dropping and the two schools amalgamated in that year.
TEACHERS IN NEWCASTLE NATIONAL SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL TEACHERS
Mr. Heavey ? -1907 – Principal of boys’ school.
Mr. Whelan 1907-1943 Principal of boys’ school.
Mr. Deasey 1943-1945 Schools amalgamated
Mr. Joyce 1945-1977
Mrs. Joyce 1977 1981
Mr. Kelly 1981-
Mrs. Heavey Principal of the girls’ school.
Miss Heavey Daughter of Mrs Heavey, principal of the girls’ school.
Miss Monaghan Principal of girls’ school.
Exact years of girls’ principals are not known.
ASSISTANTS – Exact years not known.
Mr. Treacy – (native of Newcastle, lived in Castleturban.)
Mr.Whelan (sub)
Mr. Cunningham
Mr. Rohan
Mr. Bracken (sub)
Ms. Connolly
Ms. Mannion
Mrs. Murphy (from Blaine, Athenry, married in Tiaquin)
Mrs. Whelan (nee King from Rahard
Miss Tully
Mr. Sullivan (sub)
Mrs. Corbett
Miss Muldoon
Mr. Heneghan (sub)
Ms. O’Neill (sub)
Miss Folan (sub)
Mrs. Hardiman (from Newbridge)
Mrs. Grady (nee Finnerty, Killaclogher)
Mr. Burns
Mrs. Ruane
Mrs. Eames
Boys and girls amalgamated in 1943 and were under one principal – Mr. Deasy.
NEWCASTLE NATIONAL SCHOOL
Salaries (per quarter year)
Oct 16th 1903 Principal’s Salary £27.5.0
Oct 16th 1903 Assistant’s Salary £15.0.0
Oct 16th 1903 Monitor’s Salary £14.10.0
Instructions in regard to the infliction of Corporal Punishment in National Schools.
- Corporal punishment should be administered only for grave transgression, never for failure in lessons.
- The Principal Teacher only should inflict the Corporal Punishment. An interval of at least 10 minutes should elapse between the offence and the punishment.
- Only a light cane or rod may be used for the purpose of inflicting the corporal punishment. The boxing of children’s ears, the pulling of their hair and similar ill treatment are absolutely forbidden, and will be visited with severe penalties.
- No Teacher should carry about a cane or other instrument of punishment.
- Frequent recourse to corporal punishment will be considered by the Commissioners as indicating bad tone and ineffective discipline.
- The particulars required by the headings should be entered in the book before the infliction of the punishment.
- The Principal Teacher must submit the book to the Manager on the occasion of his first visit to the school after every case of punishment.
SALARIES FOR NEWCASTLE IN THE EARLIER YEARS
Salary of Teacher £25.15.0
Birell Grant £10.0.0
Residual Grant £12.5.0
Salary Assistant £16.7.6
Birell Grant £7.0.0
Numbers of Pupils on Rolls
Girls’ National School Number on rolls
September 1915 83
September 1920 83
July 1923 90
September 1927 59
September 1932 32
September 1936 60
September 1940 50
Boys’ National School Number on rolls
April 1899 123
October 1902 108
June 1906 109
Boys Girls
July 1944 39 46
May 1947 43 39
July 1950 46 46
July 1955 56 46
July 1960 54 45
June 1975 27 28
Newcastle School and Tiaquin School were amalgamated in 1977 when St. Oliver Plunkett National School opened.
The number on rolls were Boys 52 Girls 46
