Old Boys' School, Rathfarnham
Former Boys' School, Rathfarnham
A photo of a former boys' school on Willbrook Road in Rathfarnham. The first records refer to the establishment of a boys' school in January 1842. From 1978 until the opening of Tallaght Courthouse in 2000, the building served as a district courthouse.
© South Dublin Libraries.Former Boys' School, Rathfarnham
© South Dublin Libraries.
© South Dublin Libraries.
Former Boys' School, Rathfarnham
A photo of a former boys' school on Willbrook Road in Rathfarnham. The first records refer to the establishment of a boys' school in January 1842. From 1978 until the opening of Tallaght Courthouse in 2000, the building served as a district courthouse.
© South Dublin Libraries.As the sizes of schools grew in the 1960s and 1970s, many old small school buildings were left unused.
This old building on Willbrook Road, Rathfarnham began its life as a boys' school in January 1842. From 1975 to 1977, it briefly accommodated two classes from what was then the new St. Mary's Boys' National School. That school moved fully to Grange Road, Rathfarnham in January of 1977.
From 1978 until the opening of the new Tallaght Courthouse in 2000, the old Willbrook Road building served as a district courthouse.
Former St. Mary's National School
Former St. Mary's National School, Tallaght
© South Dublin Libraries
Former St. Mary's National School, Tallaght
© South Dublin Libraries
© South Dublin Libraries
Former St. Mary's National School, Tallaght
© South Dublin Libraries
St Mary's National School, Tallaght, was first opened in 1930. It has been the home of St. Basil's Training Centre since 1981. This is a thirty-place centre that provides training and education for the Traveller community, mainly from the Tallaght area.
At St. Basil's, trainees can take a wide range of courses, including Traveller Culture, Literacy, Numeracy, Personal Development, Creative Writing, Drama, Meditation and Dance and Religion.
St. Basil's trainees can also access important information about issues such as accommodation, legal rights and further education. Although this former National School building is still used for education, it now focuses firmly on adult education.
Old Schoolhouse, Cruagh
Old Schoolhouse, Cruagh
An old schoolhouse in Cruagh, South Cuonty Dublin. The building now serves as a private residence.
© South Dublin Libraries.Old Schoolhouse, Cruagh
© South Dublin Libraries.
© South Dublin Libraries.
Old Schoolhouse, Cruagh
An old schoolhouse in Cruagh, South Cuonty Dublin. The building now serves as a private residence.
© South Dublin Libraries.In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, some old schools were built using similar designs to those used for residential homes. Therefore, when a school closed and the building became vacant, it could easily be used as a private residence.
Often, because a school served a limited number of students, it had only two or three classrooms, a toilet and a small yard.
The house above is in Cruagh, South County Dublin. It began its life as a small National School before being converted into a residential home in the 1970s.