{"id":2660,"date":"2018-12-22T13:14:09","date_gmt":"2018-12-22T13:14:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.design42.com\/ireland\/?p=2660"},"modified":"2023-08-26T12:36:58","modified_gmt":"2023-08-26T12:36:58","slug":"the-deserted-school-houses-of-ireland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.design42.com\/ireland\/2018\/12\/the-deserted-school-houses-of-ireland\/","title":{"rendered":"The Deserted School Houses of Ireland"},"content":{"rendered":"

I drove by an old school behind Ballinalacken Castle not far from the Cliffs of Moher.\u00a0 I wanted to learn more about it.<\/p>\n

\"Bally

Bally something National School House 1840, Burren, Ireland<\/p><\/div>\n

This is the road that runs behind Ballinalacken Castle.<\/p>\n

\"Bally

Bally something National School House 1840, Burren, Ireland<\/p><\/div>\n

The sign said \u201cBallynalackan National School House 1840.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Bally

Bally something National School House 1840, Burren, Ireland<\/p><\/div>\n

From the Doolin area into the Burren >
\nA castle, abandoned houses, an old school and an old tomb or something. ><\/a><\/p>\n

I was trying to find out more about it and found the Disused Schoolhouses blog, endaoflaherty.com<\/a>.
\nI messaged Enda O\u2019Flaherty and he was really helpful.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve followed him on Facebook ever since, www.facebook.com\/eanna81\/<\/a><\/p>\n

He photographs these abandoned schools and collects the memories of people who went to them. The photos are beautiful. He also puts them into historical perspective.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The Deserted School Houses of Ireland Book by Enda O\u2019Flaherty<\/p><\/div>\n

This year he collected these photos into a beautiful book. It was published by Collins Press.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The Deserted School Houses of Ireland Book by Enda O\u2019Flaherty<\/p><\/div>\n

The Deserted School Houses of Ireland Book by Enda O\u2019Flaherty<\/h2>\n
\n

Beside yon straggling fence that skirts the way,
\nWith blossomed furze unprofitably gay,
\nThere, in his noisy mansion, skill\u2019d to rule,
\nThe village master taught his little school
\nOliver Goldsmith, \u2018The Deserted Village\u2019<\/p>\n

Schoolhouse ruins are a common sight in the Irish countryside, wherever the fabric of a once vibrand community is slowly perishing. Within their collapsing walls, friends were made and lessons were learned. These schoolhouses had a significant impact on generations of pupils. Once pivotal to their communities, they now lie abandoned.<\/p>\n

Enda O\u2019Flaherty\u2019s work as an archaeologist brought him all over Ireland, and throughout his travels he grew ever more intrigued by these common features of the landscape. He began actively seeking them out, photographing, researching their histories and interviewing those who attended them. In exploring the buildings, he was also collecting a treasury of childhood memories.<\/p>\n

After he set up a blog, the author\u2019s compelling material began appearing in national media outlets, as well as international publications like Lonely Planet and Atlas Obscura. More and more locals came forward to share their stories. Each empty building has a story to tell, and in this thoughtful collection, they whisper a poignant narrative of a disappearing Ireland\u2014of changing needs, desires and ways of life.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"The<\/a>

Example of some of the richly colored photographs in The Deserted School Houses of Ireland Book by Enda O\u2019Flaherty<\/p><\/div>\n

The book is filled with beautifully photographed old schools. The colors are wonderful.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

Hey! That’s me!
Acknowledgements in The Deserted School Houses of Ireland Book by Enda O\u2019Flaherty<\/p><\/div>\n

And I just noticed, I was thanked! \u00a0The author listed me as one of the people that gave support and encouragement! Cool!<\/p>\n

The School House I Saw Now<\/h2>\n