Seir Kieran NS, Clareen, Birr, Co. Offaly

School Building of 1874

The original school was opened on September 8th 1874. It was built by Fr. John Purcell. The school was built on the town land of Longford Big on land belonging to the Jackson family.

There were about 45 families living within a half a mile of the school. The population at that time consisted of small farmers holdings from one to ten acres. Four parents were tradesmen and four parents were labourers. The inscription “National School” was put up “conspicuously” on the school. Today that inscription can be seen on the north facing wall of the building.

The materials used in the erection of the school were stone and mortar. The roof was slated. Parochial funds were used to fund the erection of the building. The school room was totally employed for the education of children. There was sufficient ventilation and heat present in the room. The room contained 4 windows which were raised and lowered on pulleys. Furniture consisted of 6 desks and 8ft long forums. A table and seat was provided for the teacher. Also present was a properly shelved book press with door locks and keys, a clock and racks where onto were suspended the timetable, general lessons, commandments etc. The absence of a blackboard was noticed.

The teacher occupied the nearby Teacher’s residence. An annual subscription of £10 was made from local funds towards the payment of Teachers salaries and repairs to the schoolhouse. It was the duty of the Patron to report to the Commissioners (equivalent to today’s Department of Education and Skills) if a teacher died or had to be removed.

A register was kept in the school to record daily attendances of the children and the average attendances in each week and each quarter. On a visit by an Inspector on 16 October 1874, there were 33 males and 30 females in attendance.

The commission by themselves or their officers were entitled to visit and examine the school. The school was bone fide and open to all children of all religious denominations. Access was given to the public of all denominations.

Members of the public had the liberty to inspect the Register, witness the model of teaching and observe that the regulations of the school were faithfully observed. Any interference with Management or interruption of the business of the school would not be tolerated. National school books were used. School operated from 9.30am to 3pm during winter and from 9am to 3.30pm in summer. The children attended 5 days - 5.5 hours each day and 6.5 hours in summer.

Religious instruction took place in the schoolhouse from 3 - 3.30pm in Winter and from 3.30 - 4pm in Summer. Religious instruction could not interfere or impede the secular business of the school. These arrangements were satisfactory to parents and children alike.

In the early years of the 20 century the school shared hard times with most other schools around the country. Past pupils can remember rain coming in the windows and wind blowing up through the floorboards. School attendance levels began to drop at the turn of the century. The average attendance was 37 in 1898 and this had fallen to 25 by 1930. In April 1906 Fr. Drennan wrote, “I regret to say that attendance in the school here is very low notwithstanding all my efforts to effect an improvement. Would your Lordship allow me to publish the attendances from the altar from time to time? This might do some good”.

As early as 1903 Fr. Phelan was speaking of a possible extension to the school in the event of an increase in numbers. This extension would take place in the direction of the teacher’s house and would accommodate an extra 14 pupils. However it was to be another 30 years before major improvements were made to the school. In 1936 Fr. Edward Purcell began a series of fundraising events and the school restoration was completed about 1937. A single room was partitioned and new windows and doors were put in. While the restoration was taking place, school was taking place in the parish hall. This improved building continued to be used without any major alterations for the following 43 years.