Activity: Examine an old map
In the past children would usually have walked to school.
Look at this map which was drawn about 1820.
The map shows schools which were set up by a group called The Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor in Ireland.
This group made maps to show where schools were. Look at the map of the Erris Peninsula of County Mayo in 1820.
Schools are shown on the map using black dots.
Find as many school as you can.
What kind of transport do you think the children used to get to school?
Can you tell this from the location of the schools?
Is there any evidence that children might have had to go by boat to one of the schools?