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- Whitechurch National School was founded in 1823
and is therefore 175 years old (this autumn).
- There are very interesting record books of the
school’s early years, and these books are kept in the Museum of Education,
The College of Education , Rathmines. There is also the specification
document for the building of the school and teacher’s residence in 1823.
It cost over £400 then. J. D. La Touche, of Marley House nearby, was
actively associated with the construction of the school and Teacher’s
residence. The record book would be extremely rare.
- This school building served as a school until
1990 when, due to the large amount of urban development here, a new and
larger National School was opened, just across the road from the (old)
school. This school is now staffed by seven teachers.
- This (new) school now has just completed a
two-classroom extension, which been sanctioned by the Department of
Education and Science.
- The former school and former teacher’s residence
(1823-1990), which are both listed B buildings, and are of particularly
attractive style, were in poor condition. A major project of the
restoration and development of these building was launched two years ago
in association with FÁs, (CYTP Scheme),
and this project is now very close to completion. This completed
restoration and development will then provide an important facility for
parish and community use and service. It has been very beautifully
restored.
- The Old School and the former teacher’s residence
are in the grounds of Whitechurch Parish Church, Whitechurch Road, D16.
The New School is about 50 yards down the road, on the opposite side of
the road.
- The school’s former Principal, Harold Hislop,
obtained his doctorate for his study of the school system in Ireland from
1800-1840. He has written a very interesting article on the Old School,
when the restoration and development project was launched on the Old
School two years ago. He would estimate that the Old School and teacher’s
residence here would be one of the very best examples in the State of
Schools of that period. So, it’s very encouraging to see their current
restoration.
- In the early 1980’s, a local history book on this
area was produced entitled ”Behind the Scenes” by Ernest Shepard.
- It contains an absorbing chapter on the
information in the old record books, raising inter alia, over the price of
quills, ink powder, bonnets, cotton reels, slate pencils, over the period
1825-1839. It is noted that Miss La Touche came across “to teach sewing”. And sadly there was frequent
“white washing” because of the cholera.
