Cloonsarn National School

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  • Aspects of Leitrim



Cloonsarn School Boys, c.1926/1927

Photograph of boys attending Cloonsarn school.

© Cloonsarn School Reunion Committee
Cloonsarn School Boys, c.1926/1927
© Cloonsarn School Reunion Committee

Cloonsarn School Boys, c.1926/1927

Photograph of boys attending Cloonsarn school.

© Cloonsarn School Reunion Committee
Enlarge image

Cloonsarn is an area in the parish of Aughavas in South Leitrim. A report on Cloonsarn National School in 1868 stated that Bernard Lyons was the principal at that time. Margaret Murphy, eighteen years of age, was the assistant teacher.

There were 143 children on the rolls but usually only about 55 pupils attended school. The school was quite small. It measured just 43 feet (13m) long and 13 feet (4m) wide.

In March 1902, Bernard Lyons died. The next principal was Peter Kilkenny. He taught at Cloonsarn National School for forty years. During Peter Kilkenny's time as principal a new school was built. It opened in 1910.

Cloonsarn School Girls, c.1926/1927

Girls attending Cloonsarn School.

© Cloonsarn School Reunion Committee
Cloonsarn School Girls, c.1926/1927
© Cloonsarn School Reunion Committee

Cloonsarn School Girls, c.1926/1927

Girls attending Cloonsarn School.

© Cloonsarn School Reunion Committee
Enlarge image

Peter Kilkenny retired in 1942 and he was replaced by Pee Fitzpatrick who was from Drumshanbo. The school closed in 1968 and so, Cloonsarn National School was no more.

Pupils were transferred to Corduff National School which is also in the parish of Aughavas. To this day, children from Cloonsarn attend school in Corduff.