08. Ballinruane Old School.

Ballinruane Old School.

This article is transcribed directly from a contribution by Ballinruane National School pupils as part of the history of St. Joseph’s National School, Ballinruane.

This school was opened on the 18th of March 1907. It was built after considerable discussion on the part of neighbouring teachers and managers in the year 1905. The site was obtained by the parish priest Father Patrick Colgan from Mr. John Murphy of Ballinruane. The contract was taken by a man named Kenny who lived in Menlough. He worked at his task for one year but became bankrupt and was unable to pay his men and emigrated to the United States.

It was left unfinished for six months as the priest could not get anyone to complete the job. However some time later a man named Murphy from Cooloo undertook the task and partly completed the work in March 1907. The school was opened on 18th March 1907 by (Miss) Nora Owens who continued the work unaided until (Miss) Delia Keary was appointed assistant teacher on 15th April 1907.

The first manager of this school was Rev Patrick Colgan P.P. Menlough, who was a native of Co Mayo. He remained as the manager for three years when on his own choice he was changed to the parish of Kilkerrin. The reason of this change was that he was disgusted with the parishioners for boycotting Mr Joyce of Corgary, the latter was a big landlord and would not surrender any of his property to his tenants.

Father Colgan’s successor was Rev John Burke P.P. a native of Lavalley near Tuam. He was manager of this school for thirteen years. He was a nice simple man and very keen on the Irish language. He died in 1922 and was replaced by our present manager Rev Patrick Nicholson P.P.

Following the construction of the adjacent new school in the early 1950s this building would quickly become derelict as the roof was removed to avoid the payment of rates. The roof was purchased by Tom Kelly of Doonaun and was used on the construction of his new house and remains in situ to this day. The walls were demolished in the late 1980s following the sale of the lands in which the property was registered. The stones were used to construct a new roadside wall which was tastefully carried out by the late Willie Mannion of Windfield Lower and this too remains extant.