The school has been in existence since 1834 and its original site was in Goal Road. The school register, of which I have a database copy, still exists, recording enrolments from 1864-1954, but the records from 1834 – 1864 haven’t survived. The picture above shows the original school. This school was the first National School in Roscrea. It was known as St. Cronan’s National School, a name it kept as it transitioned to its current location. When it moved to its current site, it became known locally as "The Boy's School" – in spite of the fact that it began to enrol girls who remained in the school until after First Communion when they had to move to the local Sacred Heart Convent. It later changed its name to the current one of Scoil Eoin Naofa, becoming fully co-educational in 1999.
The 1834 school was a two-storey building. The yard was divided so that smaller children were segregated from the older ones. Part of this yard has now been built over with the addition of a large meeting hall and kitchenette as it was refurbished for use as a Youth Club by an AnCo scheme
In memory of its schooldays, a memorial plaque was added as an inspiration to all the youth members during the renovation.
The caption on the memorial stone on the right reads:
“If you are thinking a year ahead, sow a seed.
If you are thinking ten years ahead, plant a tree.
If you are thinking 100 years ahead, mould the young.
By sowing a seed you will have one.
By planting a tree you will harvest tenfold.
By moulding the young you will harvest a hundredfold.”
References
|
Inventory of Architectural Heritage | Ireland | VIEW SOURCE |
