HISTORY OF ATHENRY  

Although the national school system had been established as far back as 1831, it was not until 1925 that Tiaquin had its own place of primary learning.
The chief organiser in establishing the school here was the Parish Priest, Canon Murtagh Farragher, who received enthusiastic support from the local community.

A plot of land, consisting of 0.273 hectares, in the townland of Lenamore and a short distance from the seat of the ancient Barony of Tiaquin, was purchased from the Congested Districts' Board.  The building contractors were the Forde brothers, Johnny and Tommy of Doonane, while the carpentry and joinery work was carried out by John Coppinger of Currandoo.  Materials were supplied by Corbetts of Athemy and local volunteers provided a strong labour force.

The structure itself was designed to conform to the department of Education's own guidelines for rural schools of the time.  The two classrooms were separated by a folding partition.  Each room had an open fireplace.  The ceiling was high; the windows were large.  The frontal facade housed the cloakrooms.  In the playground boys and girls were segregated by a high concrete wall, which extended to the toilets at the rear.
Tiaquin National School opened its doors to pupils on the 6th of April 1926.  The fust Principal was Thomas Rohan, "The Ivy", and the lady teacher was Miss Delia Fleming.  There were approximately eighty children in attendance at the outset, The first pupil to enter the new school on opening day was James (G.G.) O'Grady.  As a matter of interest, the names listed on the roll of 6th April, 1926 were: 

GIRLS: Nora Moran, Christine Moran, Mary Moran, Bridget Hynes, and Teresa Finnerty.  
BOYS: WiWam Moran, Thomas Monaghan, Patrick Finnerty, Michael Coppinger and Thomas Clancy.

The subjects on the curriculum were: Arithmetic and Algebra, English, Irish,
History, Geography, Elementary Science, Christian Doctrine, Singing; as well as Sewing or Needlework for the girls.

The following is the complete list of teachers: 

Thomas Rohan, Mícheál Greaney, Mícheál O'Flatharta, Daithí O'Sé, Maitías Mac Donnchadha, Senan Doohan, Albert Flanagan, Terry O'Grady, Frank Kennedy, Martin T. Kelly, Miss Delia Fleming (Mrs O'Boyle), Miss Cathleen Mitchell, Miss Ida Griffin (Mrs Hoare), and Mrs. Annie O'Grady.

By the 1970s, the school building and particularly the roof needed urgent repairs.  At the same time, a new school was being erected in Newcastle, and so it was decided to close Scoil Náisiúnta Tí Dachonna in 1977.  Thereafter, students from Tiaquin catchment area would be transported by bus to Newcastle.  Incidentally, the last two students to be enrolled in Tiaquin were Noel Keane, April 1977, and Margaret Ruane, June 1977.
Our alma mater was open to students for a half a century "in sunshine and in shadow" - a relatively short lifespan but during that time, many students had passed through its wrought-iron gates.

A meeting to organise a reunion for all who attended the school was held in Burke's, Colemanstown on Friday, March 7th 1997, under the chairmanship of Garda Kevin Devally.  An interim (ad hoc) committee was set up as follows: Kevin Devally, James O'Grady, Tom Rohan, Paddy Joe Lyons, Maudie Lyons Thompson, P.J Ruane, Willie Jordan, Maura Coppinger-Jordan, Eamonn Keogh, Nina Glynn-Keogh, Anne Ruane-Divilley, Tony Rohan, Sandra Rohan, Bemie Burke and Des Rohan.

It was to be decided to hold a Past Pupils' Reunion on a date between Galway Races Week and the 15th of August, 1998 to facilitate the holiday arrangements of former students, especially the Diaspora.  The names and current addresses of those on the school registers from 1926 to 1977 would be obtained and letters of notification duly posted.  The meeting also decided that a book, containing historical, topographical and anecdotal data on the school and its environs would be published.  It is hoped to have a Mass celebrated on Reunion Day and a gala function to be held on the night - at a venue yet to he decided.

It is the vernal equinox as we pen these paragraphs.  The deserted edifice that was Tiaquin National School looks eerily elegant under a crescent moon.  The twin-tailed comet Hale-Bopp glows above Aghafadda - four hundred miles above!  And we recall the day, long ago, when we skipped class and arkled over Tom Ford's ditch to follow the hunt into the west.  "Thereby hangs a tale."
"Aoibhinn beatha an scoldire"