In the aftermath of the closure of Rathkenny national school, concerned members of the parish held a meeting on Wednesday evening to discuss what could be done to save the school. The reality of falling numbers left the Board of Management no choice but to close, but many in the parish were completely shocked at the sudden closure. The community emphasised they want to have a say and be part of the solution. This was about what the community can do for the school. There will be another meeting in coming weeks to form a committee in the parish to work together to see if a successful outcome can be reached.
The meeting planned for the evening was an Information Meeting where the organisers wanted to find solutions going forward and at the outset ‘I ask everyone to be respectful’ said Siorán Ní Neíll . There was a 10 point agenda to discuss the issues that arose in particular that ” dealt with the school being no longer viable, mainly due to declining numbers. This despite a major fundraising event and a new extension with state of the art facilities with” great enthusiasm of the staff, students, parents, past pupils and the local community”.
Fr Gerry Boyle explained to the people in the hall, the reason for the sudden closure. There were 12 students the previous school year, six students left at the end of the school year and there were indications there would be new pupils coming. However, ”no students came into the school”. The staff is currently planning an orderly close down of the school, to protect the assets and records he explained.
Susan Reilly, who could not be there, a parent of the last child enrolled, and a past pupil herself, asked for a statement to be read out on her behalf. The statement captured her thoughts, love and pride of Rathkenny NS, ”I was heartbroken to see the doors close.” and in her own experience ”It had been more than just a place of education, it had been supportive, nurturing and vibrant community. The dedication, enthusiasm and kindness of the teaching staff, have been at the very heart of it.”
Going on to wish every family well for the future she added, ”Every family must do what is best for their own child.” finally saying ”My hope is something positive may yet come from this closure and the incredible spirit and the commitment shown here tonight will continue to benefit the children for the years to come.”
Ronnie Owens spoke for many people at the meeting when he said the rot set in years ago when other local schools like Grange and Creewood closed with students bussed out of the area to Stackallen. If that was reversed it would have helped. He pointed out at the magnificent resource, that Rathkenny NS is. He felt if the parish could be organised to facilitate school numbers to attend the school, it would be a way forward, There are over 200 juveniles in the parish. Smaller classes are better too and if we could regenerate the school with a bit of management. He suggested we could ”regress the problem” to a large applause from the crowd.
There were a number of political representatives in attendance that included Minister Helen McEntee, Deputy Darren O’Rourke, Cllrs Paddy Meade, Sarah Reilly, and Michael Gallagher.
When the minister spoke she spoke in support of the community and the school. ” Quite simply the children weren’t there, the enrollment wasn’t there.” she pointed. Acknowledging a lot of work and effort went into try and keep the school open and recognised that staff have been affected as well. They will be redeployed. There is actually an 800 year lease that was signed back in 1911 and the fact the department invested in school, no one thought we would be in this position. ”
”The lease is with the department of education. What happens next is for the diocese, the patron body, the community, and work with my department. We do to look and see what happens now. There was no definite answer proffered by the minister but she didn’t rule out that the school could be reopened. She had seen this happen before.
On a number of questions from the floor one person felt more could have been done to keep the school open or how could the school be open again were points raised. ”Everything that could have been done, not just in the last few weeks or months, but in the last few years has been done, to keep the numbers up” she said. This was not accepted by a lady in the audience. The question was also put to the minister could the school be used for children with special needs. However, those needs are currently catered for according to the minister. It could be looked at in the future if there was need, but given it is a rural area, transport and access would have to be looked at.
Another question was asked why were children being bussed to Stackallen when they could have been bussed here. The bus system operates on where they are and where they are going, pointed out the minister. Another family member pointed out she had to use the bus service as she and her husband both worked. ”There was no help given to parents who needed assistance” was her position. This was clearly a bone of contention with families.
Cllr Paddy Meade ‘It’s a very sad day to be here’. He himself went to Heronstown, an 80 student school at the time. ”That to him was part of his identity. There are 690 people living in the Rathkenny parish, average about nine children per year enrolling that would give about 80 in the school in theory.” he said. He recalled the day, when 21 students left and they thought the school could be gone. He pointed out the outdated system of the school transport system. They could get on the bus as long as they went to Stackallen which he described as ”totally ludicrous” , they couldn’t get off at Heronstown. People love convenience he pointed out, ”It is a massive factor, the question is how are we going to get the school back.”
As to the future ”how can we get the school back open” or turn it into a different unit of education. Transport was a key issue in his thinking. ‘ We have to be able to match every other school. Rathkenny NS has incredible facilities, second to none. We need to entice people and work towards a new solution.” he concluded.
Sinn Féin Deputy Darren O’Rourke pledged his support along Cllr Michael Gallagher, his view was he was ”more hopeful’ with the minister in the room”. We need to hold onto that hope ,this is a piece of state infrastructure in the parish that we can hold onto for the community, that it will have a bright future. I think it is you for the community to decide what that future is. You have the right people in the room, in the government, in opposition and stakeholders. that we are willing to help in any way we can. He agreed with Cllr Meade on the issue of transport. Why are people passing Rathkenny NS to go to other schools and what are those issues as transport and afterschool. Let’s work to sort this out. He expressed confidence that we can have a successful outcome.
