Offaly National School marks big milestone with 150th anniversary celebration

An Offaly primary school has celebrated 150 years of providing education to the children in the community.

Seir Kieran’s NS, Clareen celebrated the incredible milestone and Bishop of the Diocese of Ossory, Bishop Niall Coll, led the celebration of Mass on the school grounds, starting with Mass at 7pm in the evening.

Following the Mass, the school launched its book ‘Then and Now 1874-2024’, a celebration of the past 150 years of primary education in Seir Kieran’s NS.

The large gathering present then came back up to the Parish Hall and the school, where light refreshments were served, as well as providing everyone with the opportunity to view photographs, old roll books and projects, all celebrating this special event.

Principal of the school, Jonathan Dunne, extended a warm welcome to all past pupils, past staff as well as all those who are in the community, who were attending the celebration. “150 years is a special milestone for any school to reach and we wanted to mark the occasion in a special way.”

Bishop Coll said Seir Kieran is an island parish and is an extremely important parish in the Diocese of Ossory because of its important monastery founded about 1,500 years ago.

He spoke about the vital importance of the monastic spirit in Christianity, an impulse which originated in dissatisfaction with the Church's direction and a desire to follow a more rigorous path. This impulse led to the foundation of remote monasteries in the desert. Irish monks were often driven by this impulse as well (as we can see in places like Skellig Michael and Tory Island).

“They wanted to live a special life, away from the comforts and temptations of society,” said the Bishop.

The Bishop added that since the foundation of Seir Kieran there have been about 50 generations of Christians in the region. “Today we are celebrating 150 years of the school. We are also honouring all those who have been part of the school for the last century and a half and we are honouring all the good Christians who have lived here for the last 1,500 years. Most of them lived a life which wasn't as materially rich as ours. Things are difficult today but in reality we live better than most who have gone before us.”

Fr Michael Reddan said he settled in the parish four years ago “and I have loved it. The priests in the Ossory Diocese have been very friendly and supportive. Prior to that I enjoyed 14 happy years in the Diocese of Killaloe. The Greek philosopher Socrates described education as 'the kindling of a flame and not the filling of a vessel.'

"Thankfully the days of rote learning, dull repetition and the dreaded stick have long been removed from the classroom and have been replaced by enquiry and fun, discovery and affirmation. Today our beautiful school echoes to the sound of enthusiastic chatter and singing and laughter and that is how it should be. This school has mapped the journey from the misery of a post famine country to the bright vibrant Ireland of today.

"Many good people, teachers and pupils alike, have been part of that journey. Where once there were clay floors, rattling windows, hungry, unkempt children and slates to write on, there are now warm carpeted rooms, double glazed windows and happy, well cared for children. The crude writing slates of long ago have been replaced with colourful text books and the very latest in computer technology and digital learning aids.”

The Principal Jonathan Dunne welcomed the Bishop, the priests, public representatives, staff members present and past, and the pupils and parents. “This is a day when we can be justly proud of our school and what has been achieved. We are mindful of the extraordinary and fruitful journey that has been travelled over the last century and a half.

“Since Fr John Purcell started in 1874 we have been so fortunate with our priests who came and served in our parish. One of them was Fr Collier who was very popular and served here for over thirty years. We have also been fortunate with our excellent Boards of Management who have served with distinction since 1975.

“This school has always benefited greatly from the spirit of volunteerism and good people stepping up to the plate to do what had to be done. There is no National School in the land which would survive without this crucial spirit of volunteerism; without those who stepped up and served on the Boards of Management. We are very grateful to the successive Boards because without them we wouldn't be the successful school that we are today.

“It is very good to see former staff members here this evening.”

Much-loved staff members over the years included the late Sean O'Neill who worked in the school for 42 years. “Whoever worked here felt a sense of pride in being here.

“We are also blessed with the quality of people who live in the parish. In the parish we have lost our shop, our post office. Now we have the GAA, the Church and this school. This school is essential to the heartbeat of the local community. We have a number of excellent groups in the parish, including the Active Retirement Group, who raised money for the school; a water scheme; the parish choir. All in all we are truly blessed with our community.

"We are truly blessed with our children. They are a gift. A school is nothing without the children who attend it. Over the past 150 years, we have been truly blessed with the children, who have passed through our gates. Testimony from the current staff and past staff supports me in recognising the decency of the children who have attended and who continue to attend Seir Kieran's NS.

“There is also a common thread about the character of the people who have been educated in Seir Kieran's. It is an innate decency. This comes from the message of Jesus which is at the heart of our school. This message is about love, respect and tolerance for others.

“Here's hoping that future generations will carry on all the proud traditions of Seir Keiran's NS and when it comes to the 200th year anniversary those present then can reflect back with the same sense of pride as we feel today, on our 150th year anniversary.”

He praised the current staff members Sinead Murphy, Mariosa Kennedy, Fiona Birmingham, Edel Kealey, Leanne Kelly, Maria Harding, Gerardine Kealey, Brendan Collins and Gill Dunne.

He also recognised the efforts of those who put together the book “St Kieran's National School Then and Now” to mark the birthday. The Principal pointed out that a lot of the work had already been done by those who compiled the compilation celebrating the school's 135th anniversary. “In this publication we have simply sought to build upon their excellent work.”