125 years on, Cornamaddy NS revisits its past

The past was alive at Cornamaddy National School last week. To mark the 125th anniversary of the school's foundation, pupils and staff captured its history with a wonderful exhibition of photos and projects. The collection was displayed to parents, former staff and past pupils of the school on Thursday and Friday last. It will also be on display when local voters come to cast their ballot at the school in this Friday's general election. The attractions on view when the Westmeath Independent visited last week included a powerpoint presentation on the school's history, a 'school museum', stories by pupils about when their parents attended Cornamaddy, minutes of the first parents association meeting from 1981, and a timeline showing noteworthy events in world history since the school first opened. The school was celebrating a milestone anniversary, but its origins date from even further back than 125 years ago. The forerunner to Cornamaddy NS was the Blackberry Lane School, which was located directly across the road from what's now the entrance to the Ericsson's premises. That school operated from 1829 until 1886, when it was discontinued and a new school, Cornamaddy National School, opened at its current site. Lord Castlemaine was the grantor of the new school, and its first appointed teacher was Miss Alice Curley. The first Cornamaddy school building was replaced by a new structure in 1953, and an extension was opened in 1987. Among the fascinating artefacts displayed at last week's exhibition was a 'School Register Book' which was used at Blackberry Lane School before being employed as a register for Cornamaddy. The register was in use from 1870 to 1936. A famous name which it contained was that of Sean Costello (listed on the register as 'John Costello') who enrolled in 1899 at the age of six. Costello died after taking part in the Easter 1916 Rising, and a street in the centre of Athlone is named after him. Discussing the anniversary celebrations, School Principal Aidan Barry said: "These celebrations mark the historic move 125 years ago and the arrival of Cornamaddy School at its present location." He added: "This year is significant for two other reasons. Thirty years ago a meeting was held in our school, which lead to the founding of Garrycastle GAA Club. The club and the school have maintained strong links since then. A special part of our exhibition has been dedicated to this. "Our exhibition also shows that in 1981, our first ever Parents Association meeting took place. The minutes of that first meeting are on display and show a great desire to work with the Board of Management and staff of the school for the betterment of all the pupils. This cooperation and great work continues today."