Dunboyne Combined Residents Association 

At the beginning of the last century, there were four schools in the Parish of Dunboyne, each with their own school master and organised at local level. Two of these schools were located in the village of Dunboyne. Some years later with the development of liberal attitudes towards religion and education, together with the need to bring basic skills of literacy to an essentially illiterate population, a national scheme of education was introduced. This was the National School System. Dunboyne was one of the first areas to benefit with the erection of a new school under the National Board. The school which still stands at the rear of the Parochial house, was erected at a cost of £ 125 and opened in July 1836.

The narrow path which passes the Old Chapel and into Barrack Lane was probably the entrance to this school. The school was a two-roomed building with the external dimension of 20 x 21 x 16 feet. It boasted 12 desks and 18 forms which would cater for a projected 110 children. There was a population of about 2,000 people "of very limited circumstance" in the area. Dunboyne National School was also attended by children from neighbouring parishes who travelled 3-4 miles to school. Tradition holds that Kelly was the first principal. School operated six days a week, running from 9a.m. to 4 p.m. Reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography and history were the subjects on the school curriculum. Each Saturday and the hours of 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. during the week, was set aside exclusively for religious education.

Circumstances must have been difficult for pupils walking to school in variable weather and working in cramped conditions in classes where inadequate educational material, heating and lighting The 1836 Dunboyne National School existed. However, what was most extraordinary was that sanitary facilities were not provided in the construction of the school. Thus no toilets, not even dry toilets, were provided for the generations of children who went to school there.

In spite of all this, life was not too dull at school. During play time a game of "commons- was played, which involved chasing and hitting a rag ball with a butt of a bush. Obviously, the children had developed a high level of dexterity by the time Bob O'Keeffee arrived in Dunboyne, as a teacher. Bob soon formed a hurling team and started the Dunboyne Hurling Club in 1902. He later rose to position of President of the G.A.A.

Between the time the school was opened in 1836 and its closure, pressure on classroom space demanded some form of expansion. It appears that the school was extended upwards and so a two storey building came into being. Former school pupils recall that boys were taught downstairs and that the girls on the first floor, thus maintaining the policy of segregation which had always existed. Through time the Old School, located at the rear of the Parochial House was superseded.

A new school was erected on the Main Street of Dunboyne, on a site once occupied by three thatched houses. The building of the school was funded by the Commissioners of National Education and local contributions. The new school was considerably better equipped and more spacious than its predecessor. It consisted of two classrooms and a general room -each with the same internal dimensions 24ft x 22ft x 14ft high. The furniture included 56 desks and forms. Mr. Tibbs, Schools' Inspector, described the new school buildings as being "very handsome and complete . . . and are a great credit".

The school curriculum had expanded, at this stage, to include Irish and Cookery, for which special grants were paid. In fact, in Dunboyne's case an actual stove was provided to facilitate practical cookery lessons. Books, requisites and apparatus for schools, were supplied by the office of National Education. Orders were delivered by rail to Dunboyne Station. One such order reads as follows:

12 Class Readers Irish Primer 1 6 Class Readers Irish First class 6 Science & Domestic Economy Readers 6 Animal Life Series Readers 36 Drawing Books - Vere Foster 1 Gross Steel Nibs 200 Slate Pencils

The School year lasted at least 200 days - nowadays school year lasts 184 days. School continued to operate on Saturdays. If a pupil was absent for thirteen consecutive weeks, he/she was struck off the Roll Book. Nowadays, the limit is three weeks. School closure due to epidemics e.g. Scarlet Fever, Flu, etc. was not unusual. Indeed, in some cases children died.

Under the Irish Education Act 1892, it was obligatory for children between ages of 6 and 14 to attend school. It was not unusual to have as many as ten classes within the school - ranging from junior infant's right up to seventh, and, in some circumstances, eighth class. Miss Lumley, working as a monitor, was in VIII Class in 1925. Nicholas Dunican, who had trained in Drumcondra 1907-09, succeeded William Murtagh and became Principal of the Boys' School in 1909. Owen Butler, who had trained with Mr. Dunican in Drumcondra, became his assistant.

When numbers expanded at a later stage, a Miss Lennon joined the staff. She is still remembered with great fondness by the older members of Dunboyne Community. In the Girls' School, which was in the same building, Anne Conlin was principal. She had trained in Convent of Mercy, Baggot Street and had been made principal on January 18th, 1897. She was assisted by her sister, Mary. In 1911, a second assistant was appointed to help educate the 123 girls enrolled.

One obvious discrepancy that has arisen is that in all official correspondence regarding the school, the date of opening is 7th June 1909. Yet the engraved stone over the main section of the school, indicates 1908. Perhaps there is a simple explanation.

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