Gortnamona N.S.

The History of Our School

A national school has operated at Gortnamona for over 150 years. Prior to that in the late 18th and early 19th centuries hedge schools provided opportunities for those who wished to learn. A copybook dated 1787, which was used in a local hedgeschool, shows us what children of that time learned. Maths seemed very complicated in those times! In 1854 the local landlord, O'Connor Morris agreed to build a school for the education of his tenant's children. This school opened in 1857 and catered for the children of the area until 1965. The building can still be seen to this day. It has recently been renovated as a dwelling house.

In 1965 the present school was built as a two classroom school about one hundred metres down the road from the old school. In 2001, a portacabin containing another classroom and a Learning Support Room were added to the original two classrooms. In 2008 an extension was added to the school - two new classrooms, a learning support room and an office; also staff car park, new playground and a set down area.

The school register dates back to 1870 and provides great information for our pupils when they are studying local history and completing their family tree.