The eerie, tumbling, and empty ruins of tiny one and two-roomed 19th and early 20th century school houses dot the Irish countryside, particularly in areas where emigration was and still is prevalent. For hundreds of thousands who emigrated from Ireland at an early age, their days spent in diminutive these school houses often represented the last formal education they received before seeking a brighter future abroad. Although many of these buildings are now physically empty or approaching a point of collapse, the physical structures are cognitive stimuli for those who attended, and hold a wealth of memory and associations that shaped their understanding of the world around them at an early age. From these small rural school houses the children of Ireland took what they had learned and went out to find fortune and to explore the greater world.

Many of the school houses are recorded in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage of Ireland based on their architectural merit alone. However, many are absent from this record, and though they may lack aesthetic appeal, they are undoubtedly culturally important as a common and shared focal point within local communities through the years.

I have been  documenting the architectural features and cultural significance of the many abandoned school houses dotted across the rural Irish landscape, and below you will find a gallery of some of the better images from my rambles.

The light shines through the simple sash square headed window of Réidh Reamhar (Reyrawer) National School, Reyrawer townland, Co. Galway. This school house, built in 1883 is located high in the Slieve Aughty Mountains in Co. Galway. It is reported as the highest school house in Ireland

Drumlish Co. Longford c.1930

Drumlish Co. Longford c.1930

Drumlish Co. Longford c.1930

Knockastolar National School Co. Donegal

Latton Co. Monaghan 1941

Drumlish Co. Longford c.1930

Mountpleasant NS Co. Cork 1876

Carrigan NS Co. Cavan 1897 Interior School Blue Room Doorway

The partially removed wainscotting from the walls of Lettermore National School in Co. Donegal built in 1909

Shanvaghera National School, Co. Mayo 1935

Carrigan NS Co. Cavan Interior School Room Blue Interior Doorway

Knockastolar National School Co. Donegal

Gaigue NS Co. Cavan: Now a mechanic’s workshop

Carrigan Co. Cavan 1897 Interior School Room

Corvoy Ns Co. monaghan 1902 Classroom with Piano

Bunnadden Co. Sligo 1883 Sheep in the Classroom

Kilnaboy National School, Co. Clare – 1884

Latton National School, Co. Monaghan 1941

Killymarly NS Co. Monaghan c1850 Ink-well

Mastergeehy NS. Co. Kerry 1870-1890 Classroom Interior

Drumcoe National School, Co. Donegal

Drumcoe National School, Co. Donegal

Ballymackeehola NS Co Mayo Doorway

Reyrawer NS Co. Galway 1883 Light through the open Door

Killymarly NS Co. Monaghan c1850 Classroom Desks

Ballycastle NS Co. Mayo Classroom Doorway

If you or someone you know attended one of these national schools, or if you have any further information about these featured schools – please do get in touch and share any stories, anecdotes, photographs, or any other memories you may have. If you know of  further schools that I could visit, please do let me know.