History of St. Mary's National School

In 1831 a Board of National Education was formed. It had complete control of schools erected or placed under its auspices. Its aim was to provide a system of education in which both Catholics and Protestants would be  involved. Saggart was the first school in the area to become a National School. Rev. Thomas Hayden, Vicar, and Rev. John Dunne P.P. were the local clergy.The male teacher taught 96 males at a yearly salary of £8 and a female taught 65 females at a yearly salary of £6. More than fifty years later the school was shut down and the teacher was transferred to Rathcoole. The school reopened. The teachers lived in the upper part. Mr. and Mrs Monks were the last to live there. They moved out in the 1930s. A new school was built later and in 1973 two pre-fab classrooms were added.

          Saggart National School 1910

The school report of 1909 stated;

Much attention is paid to the training of the intelligence of the pupils. Singing may be somewhat softer in tone. The drill exercises may be carried out with greater precision. An additional balckboard, scale map of the locality and map of the British Isles needed. The walls of the house need to be re-coloured. The desks provided for the pupils are not quite suitable.Some of the pupils may be more tidy in person.