Irish Palatine Students in Rathkeale National School

Over half of the pupils of Rathkeale National Schools Number 2 and Number 3 had names that are readily recognised as having Irish Palatine origin, whilst many more bear the names of families who inter-married with their Irish Palatine neighbours.

Rathkeale Number 2 School

In the last 130 years, the majority of children from Irish Palatine families in Rathkeale have attended Rathkeale No 2 National School. The School stands on the main road, next to the Church of Ireland.
Every new pupil has been recorded in the School Register. There are two large bound books, one for girls and one for boys. These two books were started in 1873 and are still in use.
The school caters generally for pupils between the ages of 4 and 12, although until 1917 younger entrants into the Infants School were also noted in the Register. Today, as for many years, the school is small, with usually less than twenty pupils. They often occupy just one classroom. The numbers are now sufficient to justify a second teacher and the use of a second classroom. The early years of the Register suggest that numbers may once have been much greater.
Between 1873 and 2000, the names of over 800 pupils have been entered into the Register. Some names appear twice, recorded when they entered the Infants and later when they started at the main school. The number of entries in each register up to the year 2000 is as follows: Boys 428, Boys Infants 99, Girls 384, Girls Infants 103.

Rathkeale Number 3 School

This, the Methodist school, existed for just 20 years, from 1886 to 1906. It was located in the grounds of the former Methodist Church and manse, on the main road, almost opposite the entrance to Rathkeale House Hotel.
Until the church closed in 1968, the old school building was used for social functions and children's parties. After the church building was demolished the remaining property was bought by a doctor, who later sold it to the present GP.
The Register contains the names of around 160 pupils. Some names appear more than once. It appears that pupils were re-registered on return after an extended period of absence. They were also registered when they entered the Infants and later when they started at the main school. The number of entries in each register is as follows: Boys 82, Boys Infants 46, Girls 87, Girls Infants 41.

Alphabetical listing of Rathkeale School registrations 1873 to 1910, including both Schools 2 and 3

This information has been compiled in 2001 by Janice and Ken McDonald. They acknowledge the help given by No 2 School, and Adare & Ballingrane Methodist Circuit, who made the records available.

Privacy, Copyright and Data Protection (Rathkeale Records)

Individuals have a right to privacy. This right is enshrined in the law of some countries, including data protection legislation in Europe.

The paper version of this compilation is in two sections, entitled "Public Information" and "Protected Information". Only the former is shown on this web site.

Only four copies of the complete compilation have been produced, and these are held by the Irish Palatine Association, Rathkeale No 2 School, Adare & Ballingrane Methodist Circuit and the compilers, Janice and Ken McDonald. These parties may allow public access to the full content of this book, and they have no objection to anyone transcribing, photocopying, reproducing or publishing anything in the "Public Information" section.

However, in order to protect the privacy of living individuals, the parties limit the use of the "Protected Information" to researching individual enquiries, under supervision. These pages may not be photocopied and lists may not be transcribed from them.

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