Rathgormack National School
Principals Message
Ba mhaith liom fáilte ó chroí a chur romhat go dtí láithreán gréasáin nua na scoile. As Principal of Rathgormack National School, it is my pleasure to welcome you to our new school website. We thank you for taking the time to visit and we hope to provide you with an insight into the vibrant life of our school.
Here in Rathgormack, we have excellent teaching and support staff who are committed to providing the best education for every child in a caring, friendly, inclusive environment. Our website showcases the wealth of experiences we offer our pupils and gives them a wider audience for their wonderful work. We hope you enjoy your visit and return regularly to check out our latest news.
If you cannot find all the information that you are looking for, please feel free to contact the school directly with any queries you may have.
Le gach dea ghuí,
Cathy Power
Principal
About Our School
Rathgormack National School is a mainstream co-educational school situated at the foot of the Comeragh Mountains on a spacious site in Rathgormack Village. The school currently has 144 pupils and due to recent growth, we have a newly built extension and have refurbished some of the existing school. We have a teaching Principal, six class teachers, three special education teachers, one special needs assistant and a full-time secretary.
We are a Catholic school, under the patronage of the Bishop of Waterford and Lismore. We endeavour to provide an education of the highest quality where every child is encouraged and enabled to reach their full and unique potential.
A great advantage to being part of a multi-class school is that children develop strong bonds of friendship and cooperation. Older children look out for and help the children in Junior classes and the younger pupils learn from their older siblings and friends. Children also become independent learners who can think for themselves and make choices about their own learning.
Our school has a cheerful and friendly atmosphere and the school year is full of activity and play, both indoors and outdoors.
Our School History
The first school in Rathgormack operated from 1846 – 1909.
This was the first building to house Rathgormack School. This was opened in 1846 during the famine. Some of the children are barefoot in this picture. In the far right of the picture is Mrs Mary Kennedy (nee Duggan). She was the headmistress at the time.
The second school was opened in 1909 and remained open until 1973.
Mr Guiry was headmaster around this time.
There were four classrooms, two halls and separate playgrounds and the toilets were outside.
Pádraig Pearse came for a visit to Rathgormack N.S .
In the yard of this second school, boys and girls were divided by a wall.
The boys had a football pitch and a small vegetable patch in their yard.
The girls had a grove and a flower garden. They played betchels and skipping.
Our current School at Rathgormack was built in 1973.
There are 144 pupils at present.
It has six classrooms with two cloakrooms and separate girls and boys toilets for each classroom.
We have a staffroom, a hall, a Secretary’s office, a Principal’s office and two learning support rooms.
We have a large open playing area that includes
· Three football pitches
· Spacious, well developed and well kept grounds & lawns.
· A large astrotuf playing area.
· A large tarmac area with various games marked on ground. These have been redone during the summer of 2019.
· A large garden area which has flourished over the years which includes flowers, plants and apple trees!
This plaque shows that the school was erected in 1973. It was officially opened in January 1974.
The staff in our school at present (Sept 2023) are:
· Principal Ms Power
· Junior / Senior Infants: Mrs Leahy
· First Class: Ms Grant
· Second Class: Mrs Meehan
· Third/Fourth Class: Ms Casey
· Fourth/Fifth Class: Mrs Rockett/Ms Kiely
· Sixth Class: Ms Fitzpatrick
· Special Education Teachers: Mrs Quigley, Ms Power & Mrs Cahill Fogarty.
· School Secretary: Marianne Kirwan
· School Cleaner: Bridget Hogan
· Caretaker: James Guiry
