{1831}the schoolmasters used to teach their pupils in mud cabins at the back of hedges or in remote mountains glens. For that reason schoolmasters were known as hedge schoolmasters and their schools were known as hedge schools. There were many of these throughout the country. The schoolmasters used to teach their pupils the three R's-Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. There was no need to teach Irish because it was the spoken language at the time. Each one of the pupils used to contribute 2/6 (a half crown) every quarter, that is 12 and a half p in Decimal Currency. They used also bring a few sods of turf to make afire each morning. They had very few books as they were scarce.

            There was a hedge school in Burrane taught by Timothy Curtin. The school was a pay school. He was a Roman Catholic. He got about £8 per annum. Part of a dwelling-house was his school. The use ofit cost about £3. The building where the hedge-school was is still to be seen. The children sat in front of the house in fine weather. There were flag seats around the front .There was a sun­dial on top of the wall at the eastern side. The sundial is in the possession of the family up to the present day. In this school in Burrane it is stated that Scriptures were read.  There was a hedge-school in Donail. The teacher was Pat Shine. He taught in a miserable mud cabin. . The teacher used to go around to each of the scholars and teach them how to write.    Sometimes the hedge "'schoolmaster used to lodge in a hut or with a family near to his school. If the schoolmaster lodged in a hut, parents would give him potatoes and cabbage. The better off would give him butter and milk. If he lodged with a family they would give him meals. Many of the pupils of the hedge-schools were afterwards able to teach in National schools. Sometimes pupils sat on stones and the teacher sat on a chair. The hedge schoolmaster used to teach at night using a tallow candle.  ln the hedge school, rudely constructed benches were used as seats also. Sometimes rough-tables and they used and the more advanced people were placed at these tables and they used pens and a bottle of ink. All pupils used slates when doing sums. For maths the text book was "Vere Fosters Arithmetic ".

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