The people who looked after Raheny Infant School decided to knock it down in 1875, because the building had fallen into disrepair. A new school building was built on the same site.
Raheny Infant School
In 1875 Sweetman's School (Raheny's first Roman Catholic School) closed. A new Roman Catholic School was built on a different site.
What is known about the 'new' Raheny Infant School built in 1875?
The 'new' Raheny Infant School cost £625 15s 10d to build in 1875 (625 pounds, 15 shillings and 10 pence
). The 'new' school building had a single classroom on the ground floor and a kitchen and sitting-room for the teacher. Upstairs there were two bedrooms for the teacher. Her name was Mrs. Matilda Wilson.
Old money explained
Old money's value calculated.
Lord Ardilaun
Sir Arthur Guinness later became Lord Ardilaun. He purchased the Stephen's Green and had it landscaped for the citizens of Dublin.
Courtesy of www.darvillsrareprints.comLord Ardilaun
Courtesy of www.darvillsrareprints.com
Courtesy of www.darvillsrareprints.com
Lord Ardilaun
Sir Arthur Guinness later became Lord Ardilaun. He purchased the Stephen's Green and had it landscaped for the citizens of Dublin.
Courtesy of www.darvillsrareprints.comJohn Maunsell, Sir Arthur Guinness and Samuel Law were among the people who donated money to pay for it. Sir Arthur Guinness later became Lord Ardilaun. He purchased the Stephen's Green and had it landscaped for the citizens of Dublin. Today a statue commemorating him can be seen in the Stephen's Green. John Maunsell was a successful solicitor for the Dublin Metropolitan Police. He lived in Rathmore in Raheny.
Samuel Law lived in Kilbarrack, just outside the village. He was a Justice of the Peace for the area. He married Sarah Pakenham, a relative of the Earl of Longford.
Raheny Infant School
This is a drawing of Raheny Infant School which opened in 1838 and was built in the corner of a field owned by the Earl of Howth.
Courtesy of Geraldine O' Connor 2006.Raheny Infant School
Courtesy of Geraldine O' Connor 2006.
Courtesy of Geraldine O' Connor 2006.
Raheny Infant School
This is a drawing of Raheny Infant School which opened in 1838 and was built in the corner of a field owned by the Earl of Howth.
Courtesy of Geraldine O' Connor 2006.The 'new' Raheny Infant School can still be seen in Raheny. It is the red-brick building at the Railway bridge. It is no longer used as a school.
The New School
What is known about the 'new' Roman Catholic School built in 1875?
At the beginning of the year 1875, the 'new' Roman Catholic School was built behind St. Assam's Church. It replaced Sweetman's School. Patrick Sharpe was a teacher in the school at the time. He was a well dressed man who used to come to school by train, wearing a tall hat and a swallow-tail coat. The Roman Catholic schoolhouse built in 1875 is now used by Raheny Shamrock Athletic Club and is known as the Old National School.
Old National School c.19th Century.
Old National School c.19th Century.
Courtesy of Geraldine O' Connor 2006.Old National School c.19th Century.
Courtesy of Geraldine O' Connor 2006.
Courtesy of Geraldine O' Connor 2006.
Old National School c.19th Century.
Old National School c.19th Century.
Courtesy of Geraldine O' Connor 2006.The Old National School built in 1875.
It is now used by Raheny Shamrock Athletic Club.
What happened to William Sweetman's school?
When Sweetman's school closed, the building was used for other purposes. The school building survived until the 1960s, when it was demolished.