LISTELLICK Primary School are about to celebrate their 150th anniversary and a mural depicting the schoolhouses throughout its history is expected to be completed next week.
It’s one of a number of ways the school is celebrating the milestone, which includes releasing a book which charts the history of the school from 1864 all the way to the present day.
The specially-commissioned mural which spans the entire length of the playground and was painted by Pat Owens with the help of the pupils, celebrates the school’s long history of providing education to children in the area.
‘The academy on the hill’ sustained some storm damage last February, but since then the school has been completely repaired and is “as good as new” said deputy principal Mary Dillane.
“It’s a great school there’s a nice mixture of town and country and there is a class per teacher,” she said.
The school is still enrolling for September through all the years and there is availability in all classes. (continued below)
Next to the mural in Listellick Primary School, were from left: Mikayla Maunsell, Corina Brassill, Ashley Reynolds (teacher) Micheal Carroll, and John Lynch. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
The school are also planning to move to a site just across the road. “We have applied for planning permission on the school and their has been no objection,” said Mary.
Former principal, Mícheál Ó Cinnéide, is taking on the lion’s share of the book, but has been afforded a lot of help from parents and former pupils.
When the school first opened its gates it had two principals; one principal for the boys and another for the girls and it stayed that way until 1937.
The school is appealing for any information on the first ever boys’ principal, Micheal Moriarty. They are trying to track down his family or find out what he did when he left the school. They are also trying to track down anything on Brian O’Brien, who was principal at the school from 1925 to 1928.
The book will include a list of all pupils who attended from the very first day on. Teachers who taught there will also be documented.
Parents and others who have had a link with the school, have been sending in pictures to mark the event and they will be compiled in the book.
