Culleens National School founded 01/04/1854
The applicant for the school was Rev. John Gilvarry. In the first instance Anne Barrett was appointed but declined the position. The teacher then appointed was Margaret Fletcher age 18. She had previously taught in the “Polythomas” district for 5 months. The salary was £10. According to official records the first salary was granted on01/04/1854. The school was designated female on the reference card. (I think this refers to the employment solely of female teachers rather than any restriction on who could attend).
According to an inspection report dated11/04/1854the school was one room 24.5 X 13 X 7 feet. It was reported as well ventilated, built of stone with lime and mortar and a thatched roof. The average attendance was 40. The school was open for 6 days, school hours were 10- 3 Monday to Friday, 10- 2 on Saturday. Religious Instruction was from 2.30- 3.00.
School books were such as the children could procure.
The furniture consisted of 2 double desks, 6 forms 12 feet long, 2 forms 12 feet long and others 8 feet each. The teacher’s “literary acquirements” were reported as “middling” but likely to improve. Some pupils made payments of one penny per week, some of a half penny per week and 6 were allowed to attend for free. The report stated National school books are much needed and eagerly desired. On the day of the report 18 males and 18 females were present. The inspector recommended full recognition for the school if the other clergy had no objection, as the house for temporary use was deemed “fit and fairly furnished” and the teacher “tolerably competent”. The pupils were described as “almost all of the poorer class”. There was an expectation that the school would soon be full. The school house thus described was situated in what is now an out house on Ned Rogan’s land off the Culleens road.
From its foundation up to15/08/1963twenty inspections were carried out with colourful and interesting reports. 11 reports stated the school was progressing, 7 said it was stationary and 2 said it was static! Terms such as “teacher ignorant of the course”, fines for “falsification of accounts” were threatened also threats of dismissal.
Mary Loftus was appointed junior monitor13/03/1857and that same year the manager was told to build a chimney.
July 1860 there is mention of Catherine Gallagher being admonished for “misskilful” manner of conducting school.
In 1861 the head inspector Hunter complains that monitor E. Patterson was dismissed because she was a protestant.
In 1862 the school was “on report” for low proficiency. Catherine Guerin was admonished for not calling the rolls.
1863 the teacher was severely reprimanded for interfering with the inspector while he was examining the classes.
1863 the manager was urged to get more pupils.
In Nov 1865 the teacher was severely reprimanded for closing the school for vacation at a time different to that specified in the timetable.
1876 the teacher was U. O’ Dowd.
In 1879 a change from female to male (again I think this refers to the teacher) status was sanctioned and in 1880 a new building was recommended by the department. A male teacher John Gallagher was appointed. He taught in the school until 1900.
In 1883 a change of schoolhouse was sanctioned. This was the stone school house on the left hand side of the road as you face towards Killala, opposite O’ Dea’s house, now the site of an oil depot. This was a two roomed school with outside dry toilets typical of the school houses built around the country at that time. When this building was being demolished in the 1980s the stone name plate of the school was saved and was later inserted into the front wall of the current school. The inscription is in old script and reads as follows “Do Chum Glóire Dé agus Onora na heireann Scoil Bhríghde Coillíní Scoil Náisiúnta”.
1897 Ellen Campbell was appointed workmistress.
Michael Molloy, who previously taught in the boys school in Ballina, was appointed as school master in 1900 and remained there until 1924. He married Margaret Harrison D.O.B.08/05/1888, who was appointed as monitor01/07/1904. There was some controversy in 1903 between Rev. J. Naughton and a Martin Flanagan but the Department did not take action. No other details available.
Between 1913 and 1917 three managers were appointed and resigned due to being moved to different parishes Fr. Cowley, Fr. Greally and Fr. Quinn.
Matt Brady became the “master” in 1924 and held that position for 43 years until his retirement in 1967. He was renowned for his interest in music and the Culleens pipe band with whom he travelled the length and breadth of the country. Packing large numbers of children into his car was a regular occurrence. “By Jove” was a much favoured expression of his. Catherine Keavney taught in the school for a number of years with Matt Brady. She was renowned for her innovative ways of teaching and unlike the teachers who taught in the early years of the school, was highly esteemed and praised by school inspectors.
She succeeded Matt Brady as principal in 1967 until her untimely death in 1972. In 1972 there were 48 children in the school.
Around that time there was much rumour of amalgamation of smaller schools around the country. Culleens was no exception. Attempts were made to close Culleens school. The stone school house with dry toilets was condemned as no longer suitable. The parents of the children in the school at that time got together and bought a site on the opposite side of the road and the prefabricated school was built. This was opened in 1967 and was in use until 1984, at which point there were 103 children attending the school.
John Cummins became principal in 1972. John, a native ofDublin, was principal for 30 years. John, much loved, a great musician and educationalist had a great rapport with children, parents and teachers alike. John married Noeline Murphy in 1972 and she succeeded Mary Sheehan as the assistant teacher in Culleens that same year. Clair O’ Connell from Clare became the second assistant in the growing school in December 1979. Plans began to build a new school for the growing population of the area.
In the years following there were on going unsuccessful negotiations to acquire a site to build a permanent school building. The parents held protests outside the school because of the infestation of the school with rats. I distinctly remember concrete being poured into holes eaten out by the rats on a Friday evening and new holes appearing by Monday. The roof retained water and began to sag dangerously. Struts were constructed down the middle of the classrooms to hold up the roof. The situation became critical in January 1984 when the prefabricated school was irreparably storm damaged and deemed unsafe. The parents withdrew their children from the school and a deputation to meet the Minister for Education was organised.
Following negotiations with Minister Gemma Hussey the entire school population of over 100 children and 3 teachers was bussed daily to the old school in Killala from January 1984 until June 1986. Despite the inconvenience and the addition of 2 hours to the school day for all concerned the concession of a fourth teacher, Mary Melvin, a past pupil of the school, was a much welcomed. We settled into Killala and remained there for the following 2 and a half years until the present school was built.
It was with much delight and celebration that the new 4 classroom school was opened and school secretary Joan Ruane joined the staff. At that time no one could fore see the developments that were to take place on the Killala Rd. Gradually the numbers grew and Bertha Munnelly, a native of Kilfian, joined the staff in 1987.
In 2001 Deirdre O’ Loughlin from Athlone, was appointed to Culleens.
In January 2002 Noeline Cummins became principal on John Cummin’s retirement and Martha Hegarty from Cooneal joined the staff. In 2003 Emma Hallinan from Enniscrone was appointed. In 2004 three teachers were appointed Mary Caulfield from Donegal, Jimmy Byrne from Bohola and Elizabeth Conlon from Meelick.
In 2005 Laura Murtagh of Swinford was appointed, followed by Michael Duffy from Ballina in 2006.
Noeline Cummins retired in 2007 and was replaced as principal by Clair ( O’ Connell) Cooke. Shakira Kelly from Ballina was appointed that same year.
In 2008 Elizabeth Conlon resigned and was replaced by Trína Gardener from Kilfian. Angela Judge of Bofield, Kevin Loftus of Knockmore and Bernie O’ Malley of Ballinrobe all joined the Culleens staff in 2008. Thus bringing the teaching staff to 14. The ancilliary staff are Mary Gill from Lacken, secretary and Breege Ruane, caretaker. Two classroom assistants are Lenor Ryder and Anne Marie Cassidy. The Computer Teacher (part time) is Robyn Joyce.
Over the years other teachers filled in for teachers out due to career breaks, maternity, sick leave etc. among them Pauline Rowley ( Ballina), Yvonne Lavelle (past Pupil) Marie Leonard (past pupil) and Julie Lawlor (Wexford).
The student population grew from 103 in 1989 to 246 in 2008. Once again Culleens has reached a crisis and is in need of a new school building. The Department of Education and Science has sanctioned the new building, but the old problem of a suitable site has again raised its head.
Culleens National School has long since been a centre of educational excellence, over the years keeping pace with new trends in education. In 2008/09 interactive whiteboards were installed in each classroom.
The school has received the Primary Science Award of Excellence each year for the last six. Culleens achieved its first green flag in 2007 and its second in 2009. In recent years the school football team has participated in 3 Cumman na mBunscoil county finals, achieving success in one.
Culleens has a very active Parents Association. The current B.O.M. is as follows Gerry Mulligan, John Carroll, Fr. Gerry O’ Hora, Mary Melvin, Clair Cooke, Christina Irwin, Nicholas McLoughlin and Pauline Campion.
Culleens Ladies Club meet in the school every Tuesday night throughout the winter.
