Hedge Schools in Peterswell

BY PATRICK QUINN AND BRYAN KEELY
The earliest record of a hedge school in Peterswell was in the latter half of the 1700s. It was situated in Gortnagowan in the Slieve Aughty Mountains. The teacher was Laurence Duffy of Gardenblake. Mr Duffy intended to become a priest and at that time those who intended to join the priesthood had to go abroad to study, but he missed the boat. Later, 3 of his sons, John, Michael and James became priests. A school run in Ballylaha by Bryan Hynes is also recorded at this time support being aid. Both of these schools taught reading, writing, arithmetic and catechism. In 1845 the Parish Priest Father O’Connor applied to commissioners for a building grant. At that time there was about 550 families in the parish and almost 200 children of school going age. The National School in Peterswell village was opened in 1848. Father O’Connor had applied for a grant in 1845. The first teachers were Michael Daly and his wife Bridget. They had been teaching in Scalp (Casteldaly) school for a short period prior to coming to Peterswell. When they resigned, James Leonard who became principal replaced them. The school was a low storey building with a small porch in front. It had 2 classrooms, 1 small room at the east end known as the “Missuses room” where infants and first class were taught. The other room was twice the size and a teacher taught at both ends, needless to say this caused a great distraction. There was a small room at the back where fuel was stored and it also gave access to the girls and boys dry toilet. There was a smalled walled yard out the front where the pupils played and in fine weather they went to Hayes’ field to play hurling. Father O’Connor also requested a school for the Kane’s Pound Area at the south end of the parish because there was no national school within a five-mile radius. Father O’Connor had passed away before the Reyrawer one room school was opened in 1883. A Mrs Kiely of Seehan of Kilmaduagh was appointed teacher and she walked to and from her home every day a distance of about 6 miles each way! At the time this school opened there were 2 local hedge schools nearby, one in Gardenblake Commons with 33 pupils and one in Gorteenboy in the parish of Kilbeacanty. When the school closed in the late 1960s the pupils were transferred to Peterswell’s school. The last teacher in Reyrawr was Mrs Mernie Glesson Nee Cunningham of Ballylaha .