Drumaroad Primary School

Father Gerard Park states:-

About 100 yards beyond Cissie Toman's residence and over the hill on the left hand side of the lane is a single storey dwelling which was a school in Penal times or later, i.e. up to 1850. There is no recollection of who the teacher was, all is recalled, is that he was paid 1 penny per week by each student, who also brought 1 sod of turf per day to keep the fire kinled.

The Old Drumaroad School was situated in the graveyard grounds of Drumaroad Church, and was in use 1st September 1854. In December 1854, the school was granted £18 towards the cost of a teacher. Drumaroad School was registered under the Education Board on 20th July 1855, and detailed as Non Vested, and paid for by parish subscription. The Rev. Manager of Drumaroad School, was first signed by Rev Patrick Curoe, and later signed by Rev. Patrick McCambridge, paying an annual rent from 1898, of five shillings to Landlord Forde of the Forde Estate, Seaforde. The following is an extract taken from Drumaroad School Register, which is now in the National Archives, Dublin:

Barony: Kinelarty.
Parish: Loughinisland.
Townland: Drumaroad.
Post town of School: Clough
How situated in respect of Religious Houses: On Chapel ground not connected therewith
Date of local establishment of School: Six months ago.
When taken into connexion by the Board: 20 day of July 1855
Particulars of lease, if a Vested School: Non Vested.
Patron or Patrons in lease: [Blank]
Names of original Clerical Applicants and number of Lay, with their Religious Denominations: P Curoe Roman Catholic.
If under a Committee, how elected: No committee.

Records show that Drumaroad School was part of an Education Scheme between 1846 -65, as there is a Grant Aid application for those years. The average enrolment was 87.

In 1862 when Rev. Patrick Curoe was manager, enrolment was 43 male and 44 female, and in a report dated 17th November 1862 the Principal of Drumaroad School was James Murnin, and the assistant teacher was Catherine Cunningham.

On 1st October 1865 the enrolment was 104 when the Principal was the very young Mr Rogers aged 22, and the assistant teacher Catherine Cunningham.

Drumaroad School like many other Catholic schools across Ireland in the late 1800's was managed by the local Parish Priest. Quite often, the Parish Priest had the authority and freedom to instruct or even dismiss teachers with no responsibility of having to explain his decision to anyone. From reading the School Registers from 1855 to 1899 it can be clearly seen, that the authority of the Parish Priest was very evident as the following short reports indicate:

On 20th November, 1855, a teacher was severely admonished, on the fact of having writings of a very objectionable nature in the roll book and for neglecting to mark rolls at proper.

On 7th February 1860 a teacher was severely admonished for neglect of accounts.

On 3rd March 1882, teacher James Doyle was severely reprimanded for defects in accounts and general state of the school, and was threatened dismissal.

Following this, Rev. John McCourt, P. P., dismissed Teacher James Doyle on 30th June, 1883 and stated: 'His dismissal should have taken place two years ago. I admonished him often, but he was incorrigible.'

On 13th February 1863, Catherine Cunningham was granted a salary of £14 as assistant from 1st December 1862.

On August 1864, an Inspector reported that teachers needed to give greater attention and to use more exertion in charging their duties.

On 16th June 1877, Rev. John McCourt, P. P., was recognised as Manager on the resignation of Rev. Felix McKeating.

On 14th February 1883, A letter was written by Captain Alexander, to the Inspector of Schools, complaining that a political meeting had taken place in Drumaroad School.

On 29th March 1898 Mr. H. J. Torney was severely reprimanded and fined £2 for very inefficient manner in the way he discharged his duties during the past result's period, notwithstanding censures previously addressed to him. He was warned that should he merit another unfavourable report the propriety of continuing to recognise him in his present position will have to be considered.

On 15th June 1899, Rev. Patrick McCambridge, P. P., reprimanded a teacher for his complete disregard of repeated suggestions made to him by the Inspector of schools, with regards to keeping the school room clean and properly ventilated, maintaining an adequate supply of sale stock for use of pupils, strictly observing timetable, paying due attention to the execution by the pupils of an adequate amount of written exercises and carefully revising the exercises.

From inspecting the register of Drumaroad School, between 1885 - 1890, indications can be clearly seen as to the occupations of many of the parents of those children attending the school. Many parents were farmers, labourers, carpenters, black smiths, a few parents such as Samuel Boyd's father were merchants, and others such as James Shield's father was a trader.

Most of the boys and girls attending Drumaroad School 1885 - 1890 were from Drumaroad, but others travelled from the surrounding townlands of Clara, Dunturk, Drumnaquoile, Edendarriff, Drumcaw, Scribb, Dunmore and Drumaness. Common family names on the school register were Savage, Flynn, Keenan, Burns, Laverty, Trimbey, McCartan, Smyth, King, and Owens. Many of these family names still live in Drumaroad. Salaries per quarter in 1889 for the school Principal was £11, and for the assistant teacher £6 and 15shillings.423 In the years when Fr. John McAllister (1895-98) and Fr. Patrick Mc Cambridge (1898-1906) were patrons of the parish, the Principal was Henry. J. Torney, and the assistant was Catherine Toman.

On 25th April 1899 a grant of £180 was passed towards the building of a replacement School in Drumaroad on an expenditure of £270. The replacement school was not finally completed until June 1902, partly from the grant and local parish subscription. Leneghan Bros, of Belfast, who originated from Drumnaquoile beside Drumaroad, built the school.425 Although all works to the school were not completed until June 1902, The new school was in use from March 1902. Following an inspection of the school on 27th March 1902, a special report was completed on Drumaroad National School.426 This report was carried out after a new Vested School had been erected or enlarged, or where a change of house, Vested or Non-Vested, had taken place since the last inspection. The special report carried out on Drumaroad National School, detailed the attendance at the school as 32 boys, and 39 girls.427 The Principal was Mr. Henry J Torney, aged 31, and the assistant was Catherine Toman, aged 43.428 The report detailed a number of interesting points, such as the four other National Schools, Dunmore, Claragh, Clanvaraghan, and Guiness, all of which were within 3 miles of Drumaroad National School.

The new school had 10 desks, each 9 feet long, and 2 forms each 6 feet long. The Inspector, 430Mr. W. J. Clements, also noted that the grounds were being laid out, and would be completed in due course.

Despite the new school being finally completed in June 1902, it is clear from the school registers that the local Parish Priest and Manager of Drumaroad School Rev. John McAllister was discussing the possibility of erecting a new replacement school with the Office of National Education.432 In February 1896 it was recorded in an Inspectors Report that:

"The Manager was going to erect a new schoolhouse which is much wanted as the present house is in a graveyard and has no appurtenances outside."

In a letter dated 14th May, 1902, to the Secretary of the Board of Works, Dublin, from Rev. Patrick McCambridge P.P. the following is stated: -

5743-02
Parochial House
Drumaroad
C'Wellan
Co. Down
May 14th

Dear Sir,

In reply to yours of 7th instant I beg to inform you that the school and boundary wall have long been finished long since. The grounds gave me trouble in levelling and draining but they will be finished in about 8 days.

Yours truly

P. McCambridge, P. P.

Following completion and official opening of Drumaroad National School in June 1902, free stock to the value of £4 was granted to the school in September 1902, on condition that the school purchased the balance of stock totaling to £1 and 5 shillings.435 A report on the completion of the new Drumaroad National School was passed on 5th July 1902. Total estimated cost of building the new school was £344, of which, the Office of National Education, Dublin.436, paid a grant of £229, 6 shillings, and 8 pence. 436On 2nd September 1902, Drumaroad National School was struck off Roll No. 7229, and all grants were transferred to Drumaroad new Vested School, Roll No. 15314 from 26th March 1902.

The following is an extract taken from the Drumaroad School Register, which is now in the National Archives, Dublin:

In a letter dated 11th September, 1902, from the Office of National Education, Dublin, to Rev. P. McCambridge, P.P., notification was given to amend the School Roll No. 7229, the letter states the following: -

Dist. 17, Roll No. 15314, Drumaroad National School
Office of National Education,
Dublin,

11th September 1902.

Dear Reverend Sir,

I am directed to inform you that the Commissioners of National Education have ordered that the Drumaroad non-vested School, Roll No. 7229, be struck of the Roll of National Schools from 25th March 1902, and that all grants thereto be transferred to Drumaroad new Vested School, Roll No, 15314, from 26th March, 1902. The Commissioners have likewise ordered that Free Stock, valued £4 be granted to Drumaroad new Vested School, Roll No. 15314, on condition that Sale Stock, value £1.5s shall be purchased.

Reverend Sir

Your obedient Servant

Secretary

OFFICE OF PUBLIC WORKS
DUBLIN
2nd October 1907

Gentlemen,

I am directed by the Commissioners of Public Works to refer to your letter of the 27th June last, relative to the Drumaroad National School, County Down, and to state in reply that the cost of sinking a well 40 feet deep in a corner of the boy's playground, erecting a pump, and providing a drain, sink, and towel roller is estimated at £49. The Board is advised that if a good supply of drinking water be found at a depth of say 30 feet the pump and sink could be placed inside the porch and the estimated expenditure would be reduced to £37. With regard to the suggestion to utilise the water for flushing purposes. I am to state that the existing closets are of the ordinary privy type with large open pits, and their conversion into w.c.s would necessitate the establishment of a sewage purification system. There does not appear to be any pressing necessity for the supply of water for drinking purposes.

The Board are advised that the existing privies would be rendered more sanitary if the outside pits were covered with movable cut stone slabs, and the pits lined inside with fine concrete, and made water tight. The cost of this work is estimated at £13.

I am Gentlemen,

Your obedient servant

Secretary.

Following an inspection of the school in October 1907 between Rev. Dan O'Reilly, P.P., and the Inspector of National Schools to discuss the grant funding of a new water pump. The following report was completed and forwarded to the National Education Office, Dublin and stated the following: -

I have conferred with the manager relative to his application for a pump in connection with the school. There is a good well at the Post Office, a short distance from the school where the pupils, I was told, could get water. There is also a pump in the Manager's yard, which is quite close to the school. He rather objected to the pupils messing about his yard but in the end agreed that a pump could be done without. He is going, I understand, to apply for the £13 to improve the pits of the existing privies.

P.S. In very dry summers, I was informed, the Post Office well has very little water.

W Macmillan

30-10-1907

Following this report, a letter dated November 1907 was sent to Rev. Dan O'Reilly, P.P., from the Office of National Education Dublin, informing him that the Board of Public Works, Dublin had estimated the cost of lining the privy pits inside with fine concrete at £13, providing that the local parish met one-third of the total estimated amount.447 Rev. Dan O'Reilly, P.P., replied with a letter dated 2nd March 1908 stating that he was prepared to carry out the improvements in connection with the work, and would guarantee the payment of one-third of the cost, providing the Board paid the other two-thirds.

Following receipt of this letter, the Office of National Education, Dublin, issued another letter dated 16th March, 1908, informing him that a grant of £8, 13 shillings, and 4 pence, would be paid on expenditure of £13 towards lining the privy pits at Drumaroad National School.449 A specification of the plan was submitted to Drumaroad National School on 16th March 1908, in order to proceed with the works.450 A letter dated 24th July 1908, was sent by Rev. Dan O'Reilly, P.P., to the Office of National Education, Dublin indicating that the plans were incorrect.451 The letter states the following:-

PAROCHIAL HOUSE
DRUMAROAD
CO. DOWN
24th July 1908

Dear Sir,

I beg to return the enclosed plan for manhole to let you see there is no sketch for ventilation, no air-pipes or other openings from the air-light/sits. This as you can perceive is a blunder on the part of the artist who drew the plan. Please send amended plans making provision for ventilation.

Yours truly,

Rev. D O'Reilly,

Manager

Following the amendment of the plan, work was carried out and completed by January 1909, with the grant of £8, 13 shillings, and 8 pence being sanctioned for payment on 2nd January, 1909 by the Office of National Education Dublin.453

An inspectors report from the office of national education, Dublin, carried out on the February 13th 1907, rates the general condition of the school as fair, and reports the following, which is an extract from the General Report on April, 17th 1907:

The present Principal Teacher has been in charge little over a month, but even in that time has effected considerable improvement. Reading, Writing, and Singing were good. Drawing fair; but Grammar and Arithmetic are still weak, and need earnest and continued attention. Needlework was fair, but Geography little known.

Between 1910-1920, Mr. Dan Mullane was Principal and assistant was Catherine Toman up to 1918, when Miss. N. J. O'Connor took her place. An inspectors report from the office of national education, Dublin, carried out on the February 24th 1913, rates the general condition of the school as good, and reports the following, which is an extract from the General Report on April 1st, 1913:

The marked improvement effected in the Reading of the standards taught by the Principal and the intelligent answering of the pupils in Grammar are the best features of the school.

Written English and Needlework are on the whole good, and Arithmetic and Drawing are very fair. Second standard showing exceptional quickness and accuracy in addition. Singing, which is taught by the Assistant, is mediocre. Discipline is good.

Remarks on other points.

The pits of the out-offices have not been emptied since the present teacher was appointed (January 1910), nor have the out-office walls been whitewashed for some years past. A Modulator is needed. Sticklaying is the only form of Manual Instruction.

Between 1921 to May of 1924 Mr. Gerard O'Donoghue was Principal. On 27th April 1921, an inspection of Drumaroad national school was carried out by Mr. R. C. Herron, of which, he reports the following, which is an extract from that report:

The work of the school is fairly well done generally. The composition of third and fourth standards, the correction of their errors, the working of essay problems in arithmetic should have special attention. There is room for improvement in drawing and geography.

On 19th June 1921 an inspection of Drumaroad national school, was carried out by Mr. R. C. Herron, of which, he reports on more than just the education standards of the pupils. The following is an extract from that report:

The work of the school shows a considerable improvement and is now efficient in general. The seniors might know their grammar, the meaning of their poetry and geography and history more thoroughly.

The woodwork outside needs painting and the window of the back porch is broken. There is no cookery equipment. A door-mat is wanted.

From May 1924 to 1926 Mr. Hugh Friel was Principal. An inspection was carried out on 23rd June 1924 by Mr. F. B. Lavelle, of which he reports the following, which is an extract from that report:

The school as a whole may be classed as good, but the marking is lenient and there should be more evidence that due attention is given to each subject of the programme. Arithmetic, geography, and nature study need improvement in the senior division and drawing and singing in the junior.

One of the longest school principals ever to teach at Drumaroad primary school was Mr. Daniel Fitzpatrick. Mr. Fitzpatrick served as principal from January 1928 until his death in January 1970, a period spanning forty years. In those forty years Mr. Fitzpatrick was well known for his excellent teaching, and according to many former pupils; his rather free use of the cane. Mr. Daniel Fitzpatrick was given the reputation of being a very strict, but effective teacher.

1920	1933
1937	1986
1939-40	1948
1954-55	1969
1978

References:

Park, Rev. Gerard, Drumaroad & Clanvaraghan, pp76,77
National Archives, Dublin ED/280/Folio 102; ED2/80/Folio 102; ED2/82/Folio21; ED9/11863; ED9/15685
Public Record Office Northern Ireland, SCH/778/1/1; SCH/778/5/1