Claires Ancestry

I was recently sent a news clipping of children who attended Cornagague Primary School in 1957, so I have decided to put up a schools page for old school photos and stories of going to school in years gone by. If you have anything to contribute, I would very much appreciate it and I'm sure so would many people who may come across my site. It is quite wonderful the pleasure many people have expressed to me just from seeing the old photos.

Aughnashalvy School

The following three photos of Aughnashalvy School (1927) were kindly sent to me by Hugh McKenna. I'd really love to hear from you and tell your stories if you know anything at all about the school, the history or the pupils or teachers. A townland map shows the townland of Aughnashalvy and surrounding townlands. You will see that Aughnashalvy school was in the Monaghan portion of Clones Parish.

The Chapel School

This is the School that was attached to St. Tierney's Church in Roslea. From 1934 the Chapel School was known as St. Tierney's School. The school building (ground floor) was also used for the horses of Canon McGlone during the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Canon would ride from Annashanco (now known as Lakefield) to St. Tierney's Church for mass. I am in touch with the grand-daughter of Michael Joseph McCabe who was Canon McGlone's right hand man and used to look after his horses. The school building now houses the Roslea Heritage Centre which holds many birth/marriage records as well as many items of interest from Roslea and local history.

One of the teachers at the Chapel School was Mrs O'Rourke, who taught my father back in the 1930s (by this time the name had changed to St. Tierney's school) before he went on to school at Cordoola.

The Chapel school taken around the 1950s

This photo is from the book 'Roslea Remembers' (available from the Roslea Heritage Centre). It was probably taken around the early 1930s.

This photo is from the book 'Roslea Remembers' (available from the Roslea Heritage Centre). It was taken in 1947.

Front of the Chapel School taken in 1976 when Michael Joseph McCabe's son, Joseph McCabe (pictured here) visited Roslea from Canada.

Cornagague Primary School

The photo below was featured recently in the Fermanagh Herald newspaper and was sent to me by Brid, a fellow member of the Fermanagh Gold Mailing List. Brid's Maguire ancestors no doubt would have attended the school through the years, indeed Brid's Grand-Aunt, Eliza Maguire was principal of the school. She can be seen in the top left of this photo. I am sure Brid would love to hear from anyone who remembers her Grand-Aunt Eliza so if you do, please contact me and I will put you in touch. I have included a map showing the school around the 1830/1850 period. The school is situated just above the towland of Kilridd which is where some of the Maguire family moved to from Dernacloy (Derrynacloy). To search old Northern Ireland maps go here