Rockfield School
 
 

The first school  was set up in the chapel after the Board of Education Act of 1831 bringing the National School System into being.  This parochial house was in operation until the famine. In 1850 a national school was built  opposite the chapel ,it had a teacher’s residence at the western end of the building .
The first teacher was Matthew Doyle who taught until 1891, he had been taught at a hedge himself.  The present building  opened in 1902, built by Clarence of Ballysadare and James Jordan & Sons (clogas).
Mr. and Mrs McInerney took up duty  in the new school and continued until Mr McInerney’s death in 1924.  He was replaced by  Mr M. Keogan from Cavan. Mrs McInerney retired in 1926 and was replaced  by Mrs Mc Carrick  who was teaching in Cappagh.
The Cappagh vacancy was filled by Miss Mary JaneMcInerney - daughter of the McInerneys; later in 1926 both Mr Keogan and Miss McInerney  secured positions in Cavan. The vacancy in Rockfield was filled by  Mr Kevin Devine.
Kevin was appointed to Carrowmore in 1943 and Mrs Mc Guinness filled the vacancy in Rockfield. The principalship was later filled by Mr Eamon Mc Guinness  son of Mrs Mc Guinness  and he subsequently  joined  the  Dept. Of  Education inspectorate.
Mr  Seamas Harkin, Mr Brendan Kelly and Mr Eamon Mullen  served as principal for short periods  In January 1979 Ignatius Henry was appointed as principal.
 In 1971 schools in the parish were amalgamated, both Cappagh and Killoran schools closed  and the children from both areas were transported to Rockfield.
G.W.I. erected a chalet classroom  at this time however it wasn’t occupied until September 1979 when a second assistant was appointed -Mrs Mc Hugh.  The school continued to grow  and a third assistant was appointed- Miss Conheady in 1987, this led to the erection of a second temporary classroom.
   Mrs Margaret Keane retired  in 1994 and was replaced by Miss Sinead Gallagher.  The difficult campaign of trying to secure a remedial teacher  came to a successful conclusion in 1995 with the appointment of Mrs Mary Clarke. Miss Sinead Gallagher moved to Calry N.S. in November 2000 and she was replaced by Miss Gabrielle Hosey. Miss Maura moved to Carbury school in Sligo and she was replaced by Mr Paul Lundy in September 2001.


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