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  St James' National School Barnacogue
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School History

On 4th August 1844, permission was granted to build the first school in Barnacogue. It was a single room school until August 1871 when the board requested permission to build a partition to make two separate schools. Lord Dillon was the patron and Charles Strickland was the manager of the schools.

In 1872 a system of payment by results was introduced. The teacher would receive, in addition to his/her salary, a further sum for each child who attended school on at least a hundred days and who made satisfactory progress on examination by an inspector.

In 1882 the board requested an increase in space as the school was very overcrowded. However it took a further sixteen years before permission was granted to build a new school.

St. James’ NS was approved for grant by the Commissioners of National Education on 15 February 1898. The estimated cost of the build was £598-0s-4d. The local contribution was £199-6s-9d. The trustees at this time were Most Rev. John Lyster, Rev. Michael Kevney and Rev. John Mc Donnell.

Some of the stones from the old school were used in the new school building. Sand for the building was drawn by horse and dray form Tom Cassidy’s hill.

According to school records there were 109 boys and 68 girls on the school register in 1898.

In 1957 the government approved a grant of £2700 for improvements to the school. A water tower was built and water was pumped up from the river. Flush toilets were installed for the first time. The ceilings were lowered and doors and windows were replaces. The interior was also re-plastered and decorated and new school furniture was installed.

The school served the community in a dual role over the years. For nearly 50 years of its life Mass was held in the school on alternative Sundays. It also functioned as a social centre for celebrations and meetings were there on numerous occasions. It always was and still is the heart of the local community, serving Barnacogue, Killaturley, Barnalyra and Derryronane.

The school has continued to move with the times and present day pupils are being educated in a building which is conducive to teaching and learning and furnished with the most up to date, modern technology.

St James' NS, Barnacogue, Swinford, Co.mayo
Tel: +353 (0)94 9367440
Email: [email protected]

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