Scoil Mhín na Manrach closes its gates for the last time
June 27, 2012
While primary students across the country revel in the thoughts of their school closing for the summer, pupils of Scoil Mhín na Manrach ar broken hearted at the fact that they will not return in September.
Having served the community for over 100 years, this school in Na Rosa has now closed its gates for the last time. Pupil numbers have fallen so low, the Department of Education and Skills took the decision to close the school.
On the school’s last day, as sole teacher and Principal Bernadette Ní Dhuibhir called the roll, only five names were called. Of these five, there were pupils in Senior Infants, First, Second, and Fifth Class. To comply with health and safety regulations, the management committee had to employ a full time secretary so that there would be two adults on site at all times. Of those enrolled, many were the third generation of their family to attend the school.
In 2008, €400,000 was spent on developments for the school which is nestled in the hills of Na Rossa. The school was more than adequately equipped, with resources and amenities to cater for up to 60 students, with interactive white boards, and twelve computers.
Talks are ongoing at the moment among the management committee in relation to an amalgamation with Scoil Chróine, a much larger school, 8km away, within the same parish. Scoil Chróine has a staff of 10 teachers plus a Principal, and caters for approximately 270 students.
While the students of Scoil Mhín na Manrach were studying entirely through Irish up until now, it would seem the language policy in the larger school in the parish is not as rigid, and many of the students would not themselves be native Irish speakers.
Bernadette NÍ Dhuibhir, Principal of Scoil Mhín na Manrach said the school was “at the heart of the community. The community are now lamenting the days where the familiar babble of school kids playing in the yard could be heard echoing across the hills, a sound which will be heard no longer”.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
