COMMONALINE NATIONAL SCHOOL
1888 -1965
Courtesy of Michael Ryan
Commonaline School opened its doors for the first time in 1888. It was somewhat
unique in that it attracted pupils from two Counties - Limerick and Tipperary -
and three parishes - Kilcommon, Cappawhite and Doon. Constructed at a cost of
£282 it was a building 33' 6" long by 18' 00" wide and 12' 00" high. Located on
Kennedy's Farm, it was built to accommodate one hundred children. A further
£56.4.8. was spent enclosing it. A grant of £225.9.9. was made available by the
Board of Education against total expenditure. Trustees for the project were:
Most Rev. Dr. Croke, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly; Very Rev. Thomas Canon
O'Donnell, P.P. Doon and Mr. Denis Treacy, Commonaline.
A teacher's residence was completed in 1891. The school had a link with
Hollyford in that the townslands of Birchgrove, Mienvee, Toureen, Lossett and
Bahaga provided many of its early pupils. This link was largely broken in 1924
when the opening of the "New Road" from Lossett to "Shea's Boreen" made access
to Hollyford easier. This, coupled with the death of Terence Deere and the
resignation of his wife Hanora, caused many existing pupils from these
townslands to transfer to Hollyford National School in 1925 where a new
Principal, Liam O'Donnchu had taken over. Amongst those who transferred were the
O'Dwyer (Bans.), Mienvee and my own parents as well as other members of their
families -Ryan (K), Mienvee and Hickeys, Toureen.
It remained a two teacher school until 1960 when Mr. Senan McMahon retired
leaving Miss Sadie Kilbride to run the school on her own until it closed its
doors for the final time in July 1965. At that stage only five ipupils remained
on the Rolls: - Jim Ryan (Rua), Commonaline, now a publican in Hollyford; Noel
McMahon, Foilacleara, grandson of Senan McMahon; John Carr, Glengar and Breda
and Eileen Buckley of Glengar. Eileen Buckley was the last pupil to be
registered in Commonaline National School. The school (building was accidentally
destroyed by fire in 1968. The residence which is also one hundred years old
this year continued to be occupied.
The following is a list of those who taught in the school since its inception.
(There may be some minor omissions and inaccuracies owing to the absence of the
more recent records).
Edward Kelly, Principal, Retired - 28.2.1894
David Lillis, Assistant -13.03.1894 -12.06.1894
Patrick O'Connell, Principal - 20.08.1894 - 25.10.1903
Miss Meagher, Assistant - 01.10.1899 - ? (previously taught in Foilacleara)
ANNIE RYAN, ASSISTANT, RETIRED 03.12.1906
Annie Ryan appears to have been the same Miss Ryan who worked as a monitor in
Hollyford for four years up to 1896. She was Ryan (Robera) from Gurth and later
married Martin O'Dwyer of the Metal Bridge. Their house had been previously used
as a private school by Patrick O'Dwyer. (HFD N.S. 1863 - 1883).
TERENCE DEERE, PRINCIPAL, 26.10.1903 - 08.12.1924
A native of Rearcross, his daughter Mrs. Carew still lives across the Valley
in Foildarrig. He died in December 1924.
MISS E. GREENE, MONITOR, APPOINTED 25.11.1905
HONORA RYAN, ASSISTANT 4.12.1906 -1924
A native of Blackboy, Cappamore. She later married Terence Deere.
BRIDGET McDONAGH, ASSISTANT, 1924 -1946
A native of Tuam, Co. Galway. She taught in Ferbane and came to Commonaline as a
replacement for Mrs. Deere (retired). Married to Thomas Treacy of Glengar, she
went to Gurtavalla N.S. as Principal in 1946.
MALACHY O'DWYER, PRINCIPAL, 1925
Malachy O'Dwyer was a native of Rossmore and spent only one year in
Commonaline. He died in 1926, aged 30.
WILLIAM NORRIS, PRINCIPAL, JAN. 1926 - DEC. 1929
Came to Commonaline from Carnahalla. A native of Clonmel, his next appointment
was in Wexford.
SENAN McMAHON, PRINCIPAL, 1930 -1960
A native of Miltown Malbay, he trained in St. Patrick's Training College and
taught in Co. Clare and Co. Mayo before coming to Commonaline. He was a fluent
Irish speaker and continued to live in the Residence from the time of his
retirement until his death in 1965.
MAI RYAN (DAN), ASSISTANT, SEPT. 1954 - 1949
A native of Hollyford Village she was involved in Drama presentations during her
tenure in Commonaline. Now Mrs. Whelan she lives in Limerick.
PEGGY McGRATH, ASSISTANT, c. 1949
A native of Solohead she remained for a short period only, leaving to marry J.M.
Keogh, Oola.
MISS B. HICKEY, ASSISTANT, 1949 -1952
A native of Kilkee, Co. Clare, she now lives in England.
SADIE KILBRIDE, ASSISTANT, 1952 -1965
A native of Carnahalla, she was Commonaline's last teacher, serving for the last
five years on her own. When the school closed in 1965 she joined a teaching
Order of Sisters and now lives in Africa.
Courtesy of Michael Ryan