GLINSK NATIONAL SCHOOL… The Early Years.

Located in the valley of the River Suck, the area consists mainly of limestone soils and there are also large areas of raised bogland.  Lakes connected with the River Suck provide an ideal resource for the coarse angler.

Glinsk Castle stands as an impressive reminder of the architectural skills and styles of the Norman era.  A castle, whose plan is unique in Ireland, reputed to  be the “last castle ” built in this country.  It is a National Monument under the guardianship of the OPW.

Ballinakill Abbey traces the history of  worship within the area from early Christian times.  The site holds the remains of the earliest Gothic church in Connacht.  Its flamboyant window retains all its glory.  The burial chapel of the Burkes house the beautiful effigy of a Norman Knight – probably the likeness of William (the Conqueror) DeBurgh – the first Burke to set foot on Irish soil.

The current  lay-out of the parish owes much to the work of CDB in the early days of the twentieth Century.  The dormer houses on 40 – 50 acre holdings gave to two generations a viable lifestyle.  The size of farm allocated to many families in those years no longer retain their viability.

“Despite all the gloomy signs for the future of rural areas in this part of  Co. Galway – Despite the apathy which at times borders on utter hopelessness there still remains in Glinsk an indominatable spirit of self help and community action.  It is in its people that Glinsk has its greatest wealth :  a people who, above all else, have a very strong sense of  ” Community ” and it is this traditional value and support for community effort that remains the greatest asset and the greatest hope for this community”.(Joe Rea-1990)

Agriculture has been the mainstay of the Glinsk population – Energetic families managed the once viable farms.  The Lemass era and Whittaker’s programmes for economic expansion led directly to industries being located in nearby towns such as Roscommon, Castlerea and Ballygar led to off- farm employment opportunities which brought prosperity to both the towns and surrounding hinterland.

The early years of this new Millennium are providing many challenges for this community which, in the last generation, was totally dependent on farming.  Today, it is a community in transition – To remain sustainable it can no longer be totally dependent on farming.

The term ‘Rural’ deserves to be re-examined in view of its changing status.  Once ‘Rural’ and ‘Agricultural’ were interchangeable but this is no longer the case. The rural population is no longer the homogenous grouping of the mid-20th Century – rather the rural population is becoming an increasingly diverse grouping adapting many of the characteristics of an urban society – though occupying more sparsely populated areas.

A new era in Education began in Glinsk in 1983 with the closure and

amalgamation of three small schools, which had served the area well,

and the opening of the new central school in Glinsk.

Ballincurry NS  1925-1983

Toberroe NS   1901-1983

Sonnagh NS  1896-1983

Glinsk School opened in 1983 with a staff of six.

Left to Right: Marty Ward, Josephine Nolan, Mary Kelly, James Shevlin, Mary Neary, Jim Mitchell(Principal)

Falling enrolment , in the 1980’s, resulted, sadly, in Mary Kelly moving to Creggs NS so the staff was then reduced to Five teachers.

The management and staff  of the school have always embraced progress and new opportunities to improve the services provided by the school.   The school has adopted many new  opportunities which  became available from the Department of Education so that the number of staff at  the school quickly increased to nine members on its staff:-

Back: Mr James Shevlin NT, Mrs Gráinne Nolan NT, Mrs Josephine Nolan(Resource Teacher), Mr Marty Ward NT, Principal

Front: Mrs Ann Ryan(Caretaker) Ms Pat Lyons NT(Learning Support Teacher),

Mrs Mary Neary NT, Mrs Mary Timothy(Secretary), Mrs Lily Conneran(Special Needs Assistant.

The School is a Barometer of the Health of  the Rural Community around it!!

1983-2004: The Enrolment at Glinsk NS fell by 38%.

In the ten years(1994-2004) Enrolment fell by 15%.

==13% of the 2004 enrolment was made up of families who had

 moved into the area who had no previous connection with the area.

==5% of the 2004 enrolment was made of families who had

 returned to live in the area.

Without the families who came to the Glinsk area and the families

who had returned to live in the area – Glinsk NS would not have retained its staff level.

“IRISH INDEPENDENT”  – “BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE”  — 2002

An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD, presented Marty Ward NT, Principal of  Glinsk NS with its award in the

“Irish Independent-Building For the Future”  competition in September 2002.

The project from Glinsk NS was winner of the Connacht/Ulster region and secured a prize of €25,000 for Glinsk NS

The official awards were presented by An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern at a ceremony held in Dublin,

attended by the Glinsk students, teachers and Board of management with their triumphant return marked by bonfires throughout Glinsk.

Glinsk N.S. receives its cheque for €25,000 in recognition of being the National Runner-up

in the Irish Independent “Building for the Future” competition for Schools in 2002.

Major Renovation work undertaken at Glinsk NS 2002/2003:-

Main Renovation and Refurbishment Work included:-

=All new Windows and doors;  Insulation upgraded;

=Heating Boiler and Heating system upgraded;

=Electrical installation completely renewed and upgraded.

=All Floor covering renewed;  Ceilings renewed;

=Wheelchair access provided; Alarm systems installed;

=All Painted internally and externally; Hot water to all classrooms;

Total Cost of Main Refurbishment contracts:- €182,820.76  (90% funded by DES)

Contribution by School:- €20,191.33.

OTHER WORK COMPLETED 2002-03:

===Resource Teacher room provided.

===Portacabin provided as external changing room.

===Fully equipped Computer room provided.

===ISDN  Phone lines installed.

===Internet Access provided in all classrooms.

===Infant Playground completed.

GLINSK NS HAS ALWAYS BEEN CENTRAL TO ACTIVITIES IN THE WIDER COMMUNITY:-

Dr Jim Frawley of Teagasc, Mr Noel O’Meara of Galway GRD(Leader) with members of Glinsk Community Council

at the Launch of the GALWAY RURAL STUDY at Glinsk NS in Sept. 2002.

Glinsk NS was the centre for the Launch of the “Farm Opportunities” programme. 

Photo shows= Back: Fr. Peter Thompson(CC Glinsk) Mr Brendan Heneghan(Teagasc)  Mr Eamon Kiely(GRD),  Mr Frank Dawson(CEO of Galway Co.Development Board,),

Mr Pat Gibney(FAS)  Front: Margaret Farragher(Glinsk) Ms Brid Martin(Teagasc) Mickie Grady(Glinsk).

Glinsk NS has provided  a broad range of  Night and Week-end Adult Training courses for Adults in the Community over the years.

These included Computer Training Courses and an E-Commerce course provided by Galway County Enterprise Board.

Pupils supported the Tidy Towns Committee by doing posters.

Patrick Scott and Brian Kilcommons were among the parent who came to the school grounds to

plant the “Family Trees” around the perimeter of the school grounds.

‘Ring of Flowers’ built 2001.

Thinking of those who need help : “Shoeboxes” were prepared and sent to Eastern Europe each Christmas.

Pupils saved their  pocket money and sent €350 to the victims of the Tsunami -2005.

Daffodil Day was always a big day in Glinsk NS – with funds being donated to help Conquer Cancer. (2004)

National Award for Kevin in Art Competition.

In 2005, Cathy’s poster made it all the way to the Credit Union Calendar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pupils regularly competed successfully in the Annual Handwriting Competition – Oonagh was a winner in 2004.

 

 

Connacht And Regional Awards for Marian, Claire and Louise in the PTAA Essay competition-2001

When Donncha O’Dulaing re-created the epic march of O’Sullivan Beare in  1987 –

Glinsk NS, its Staff, Pupils and Parents played a central role in celebrating the memory of the epic march which took place in 1602-03.

The “O’Sullivan Beare Tree” still stands in the school grounds.

In 1988, A class project for a competition organised by the Co. Galway Game Council

secured first prize for this group of pupils and a brand new Encyclopedia for the School!

Young Broadcasters: Carmel, Austin, Enda and Richella were the first Glinsk NS pupils to broadcast on RTE Radio

when they recited a poem by Marty Ward which remembered the March of O’Sullivan Beare.

SPORT IN GLINSK NS. IN THE EARLY YEARS:-

Glinsk NS became County Champions in 1988!

The 1988 Glinsk NS team who brought County Championship glory to Glinsk with Trainer, James Shevlin NT.

In 2002, Past -pupils,  Gillian and Emma visited the school after All-Ireland honours for both of them.

Glinsk N.S. Football Team 2002 with trainer, James Shevlin NT.

The football panel at Glinsk NS during 2002