Short History of our School

In 1857 the Postmaster's house in Rathcoole became vacant. It was a neat, thatched cottage in good repair. It had an entrance gate leading into a well planted garden, thus it served both as a residence and a schoolhouse. It was decided to start a school there and place it under the National School Board. James Sheil of Sheil House became the Manager of the new school and Eliza Carroll was the first teacher.

Seventeen years after the Postmaster's house came into use as a school, it fell into disrepair. On the 20th July, 1874, it was struck off the register of Irish National Schools. It then became a fee paying or hedge type school. It was not taken under the Board again until August, 1886. In that year a site was chosen at the Green and Rathcoole's first purpose built National School was opened there with a grant of £306. The total expenditure was £459. The new school opened with a roll of 150 scholars - roughly the same number if pupils it had before being struck off the Register. The Manager of the school was Rev. J.J.Hunt P.P. There was some correspondence about a deviation from the standard plan for National Schools in that crosses had been formed in black bricks on the front of the school. They are still there. That building was in use as a school until 1965. It later became, and remains, the Scouts' Den.

In 1965 a three-roomed school was built and later another three rooms were added. The school going population was increasing rapidly and soon the old school and the old Library were in use as classrooms. The Technical School was re-opened as a Primary School and some prefab buildings were bought.

In 1974 a major extension was begun and in 1975 a new block comprising of ten classrooms, a gym hall, a staff room and office was opened by Mr. Mark Clinton, T.D. The local contribution was £12,600.

In 1983 another four classrooms and a library was added at a cost to the Parish of £17,000. In 1990 the original three-roomed block was demolished.

Principals of Rathcoole National School

The first principal of Rathcoole National School was John Russell. He and his wife Mary, who was the first principal of the girls' school, were given a residence where the curate now lives. Mary Russell was succeeded by Mary Doyle, who married James Lennon in 1899. John Russell was succeeded by Daniel Hallissey, who was followed by Michael Cleary in 1932. The next principal was Kevin O'Byrne and his successor was Seán McGillicuddy. Seán McGillicuddy was the last teacher to live in the residence and he died in September 1970. He was succeeded by Michael Clonan, who retired in 1996. Martin Hoban is the current principal.

Other teachers over the years

Mary Dowdall, who taught here from 1903 to 1952, Madeline Lennon , Mary Archbold, Tim McGillicuddy, Freda O'Connor Fogarty, Pat Fitzgerald, Tony Lyons, Frances Martin, June Murray, Eileen McKeown, Bridie McNamara, Denis O'Sullivan, Laura Purcell, Paddy Quirke, John Reynolds, Pat Walsh, Teresa Finn, Philomena Burke, Máire Ni Ghallach6ir, Brenda Mhic Guinnea, Kathleen Cullen, Áine Purcell, Bernard Ryan, Maeve Moloney, Josephine Curran, Mary McKeon, Mary Mullaney, Sheila Walsh, Derek Manning, Kathleen Clarke, Evelyn McNelis, Celine Jones, Lorraine Lawler.