History of Education in Broadford Parish
Hedge Schools
In 1808 there were 3 schools in the parish of Broadford. Two of the schools were located in the townlands of Ahaclare and Gortnaglough while there was another in operation in the village of Broadford. In 1821 it was recorded that there were 6 schools in operation in the parish, four in Kilseily (later Broadford) and two in Kilokennedy (later Kilbane).
Note: Hedge School is the name given to an educational practice in 18th and 19th century Ireland, so called due to its rural nature. It came about as local educated men began an oral tradition of teaching the community. With the advent of the commercial world in Ireland after 1600, its peasant society saw the need for greater education. While the 'hedge school' label suggests classes took place outdoors (next to a hedgerow), classes were often held in a house or barn. Subjects included primarily basic Irish language grammar, English and maths (the fundamental "three Rs").
National Schools
Broadford
In 1836 a new school under the direction of the local parish priest was built in the village of Broadford. The school was built from stone, with a thatched roof and occupied part of the recently disused Catholic Church. The school consisted of two rooms. The boys' room measured thirty feet by eighteen and the girls' room ten feet by eighteen. An Application was made to the Commissioners of National Education in March, 1842 for recognition of this parochial school as a national school. By this time the school had one hundred and eighty children on the roll, one hundred boys and eighty girls. Only about half of the children in Kilseily parish were enrolled in the school. School furniture consisted of six twelve foot writing desks. School commenced each day at 9 a.m. and finished at 4 p. m, with the exception of a half day on Saturday. The Boys School was accepted as a National School and received additional furniture as an immediate consequence. However the application for the girls' school was rejected, on the grounds of inadequate classroom size.The parish proceeded to erect a new classroom for the girls and in 1844 this school was also accepted into the national system.The Protestant Rector opposed the establishment of these schools and he continued to operate a Bible School at the northern end of Broadford village. There was also a rural hedge school still in operation just 2 miles outside the village.
Woodfield N.S.
In 1845 an application was made to the Commissioners of Education for a National School at Woodfield. The school was located in a one room, thatched stone building which was provided rent free by the protestant landlady. Class was held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. There were 108 children, seventy five boys and thirty three girls enrolled in Woodfield School. When Woodfield school experienced difficulties in 1848, local priests seized the opportunity and took over the management of the school.
Scoil na Maighdine Muire
In 1951 Scoil na Maighdine Muire moved to its current site from its old site at the Fairgreen on the Ardskeagh road.
Broadford & Kilbane N.S.
In August 2014, Scoil na Maighdine Muire in Broadford and St. Joseph's N.S. in Kilbane decided to amalgamate to createa single national school called Broadford & Kilbane N.S. The site of this new school is on the grounds of Scoil na Maighdine Muire.
Hedge Schools
In 1808 there were 3 schools in the parish of Broadford. Two of the schools were located in the townlands of Ahaclare and Gortnaglough while there was another in operation in the village of Broadford. In 1821 it was recorded that there were 6 schools in operation in the parish, four in Kilseily (later Broadford) and two in Kilokennedy (later Kilbane).
Note: Hedge School is the name given to an educational practice in 18th and 19th century Ireland, so called due to its rural nature. It came about as local educated men began an oral tradition of teaching the community. With the advent of the commercial world in Ireland after 1600, its peasant society saw the need for greater education. While the 'hedge school' label suggests classes took place outdoors (next to a hedgerow), classes were often held in a house or barn. Subjects included primarily basic Irish language grammar, English and maths (the fundamental "three Rs").
National Schools
Broadford
In 1836 a new school under the direction of the local parish priest was built in the village of Broadford. The school was built from stone, with a thatched roof and occupied part of the recently disused Catholic Church. The school consisted of two rooms. The boys' room measured thirty feet by eighteen and the girls' room ten feet by eighteen. An Application was made to the Commissioners of National Education in March, 1842 for recognition of this parochial school as a national school. By this time the school had one hundred and eighty children on the roll, one hundred boys and eighty girls. Only about half of the children in Kilseily parish were enrolled in the school. School furniture consisted of six twelve foot writing desks. School commenced each day at 9 a.m. and finished at 4 p. m, with the exception of a half day on Saturday. The Boys School was accepted as a National School and received additional furniture as an immediate consequence. However the application for the girls' school was rejected, on the grounds of inadequate classroom size.The parish proceeded to erect a new classroom for the girls and in 1844 this school was also accepted into the national system.The Protestant Rector opposed the establishment of these schools and he continued to operate a Bible School at the northern end of Broadford village. There was also a rural hedge school still in operation just 2 miles outside the village.
Woodfield N.S.
In 1845 an application was made to the Commissioners of Education for a National School at Woodfield. The school was located in a one room, thatched stone building which was provided rent free by the protestant landlady. Class was held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. There were 108 children, seventy five boys and thirty three girls enrolled in Woodfield School. When Woodfield school experienced difficulties in 1848, local priests seized the opportunity and took over the management of the school.
Scoil na Maighdine Muire
In 1951 Scoil na Maighdine Muire moved to its current site from its old site at the Fairgreen on the Ardskeagh road.
Broadford & Kilbane N.S.
In August 2014, Scoil na Maighdine Muire in Broadford and St. Joseph's N.S. in Kilbane decided to amalgamate to createa single national school called Broadford & Kilbane N.S. The site of this new school is on the grounds of Scoil na Maighdine Muire.
