School History
History of Kiltullagh National School
The National School in Kiltullagh was established in October 1856. It consisted of one room, with a thatched roof, earthen floor and no ceiling. Four small windows gave sufficient light. The furniture consisted of 6 desks and 8 forms (nine foot long desks) and no desk for the teacher.
It was a mixed school (unlike many others where boys and girls had separate schools). The average attendance was 46 boys and 26 girls. The building provided education in Kiltullagh until 1900 except for two closures: – 1862 for six months and 1881 to 1886.
In 1899 sanction was given for a new school and the new building was opened in 1900 and the “Thatched School” was struck off the records.
This new school continued to be used until 1958 when the present building “Scoil Togala Mhuire” was opened with two classrooms. The old school is now the Parish Hall and caters for the growing population today in Kiltullagh N.S.
2005 saw a major extension (2 classrooms) and total refurbishment of the 1958 building to provide a Staff Room, Learning Support Room and office to facilitate the increase in enrolments.
This increase continued and in 2011 a second extension was completed to provide an extra classroom and resource room.
In September 2014 the enrolment reached 117 pupils which resulted in the appointment of an extra mainstream teacher. Our third extension was completed in 2015 consisting of 1 mainstream classroom and Resource Room.
Thanks to the generiosity of our Patron and Chairperson, Fr McNamara PP, we were able to extend our school playing area. Our pitch, with full size goalposts and back netting, was developed to facilitate our PE programme, Gaelic Games and playing space at break times.
School population continued to increase leading to the appointment of our 6th Mainstream Teacher in Sept 2019. A new stand-alone classroom was constructed at the rear of the school. It’s opening was delayed due to Covid 19 Pandemic however in September 2021 our 28 new Junior Infants arrived to Kiltullagh School to begin their education in a bright and spacious room, equipped with all the resources necessary to promote their learning.
On September 30th 2021 our school enrolment reached 170. This will result in the appointment of our 7th mainstream teacher in September 2022, le Cúnamh Dé.
Following a recent application to DES, the building of two new classrooms has been sanctioned. We look forward to commencing Project 5 at Scoil Tógala Mhuire. The support of the entire School Community will ensure the satisfactory completion of this project – ‘Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine’
Kiltullagh N.S. is now incomparable to the initial thatched building but the fundamental message remains the same:-
“Mól an Óige agus tiocfaidh sí”