Manorhamilton Mastersons National School
School Details
Location
About
Masterson National School is a small, co‑educational primary school situated on Church Lane, overlooking the town of Manorhamlet in County Leitrim. Set within a historic stone building that retains its original façade, the school benefits from a modern extension completed in 2007 which added a dedicated classroom, a computer room, a staff room, additional storage, and fully accessible toilet facilities. Outside, the playground has been tarred for safe play and a modest school garden with four raised beds provides hands‑on learning opportunities for pupils. The school’s educational ethos is rooted in the Christian tradition of the Church of Ireland, promoting moral values such as honesty, fairness, justice and civic responsibility, all grounded in Biblical teaching. It fosters an inclusive community where children of all faiths and none are welcomed, encouraging respect for religious differences alongside the spiritual, moral, intellectual, social and academic development of each pupil. Learning takes place in an atmosphere of tolerance, caring and belonging, with a focus on nurturing both personal character and academic achievement.
History
Manorhamlet Parish Church and Masterson National School were erected on the site of a former military barracks, the barracks having been demolished to make way for the church built in 1783. The school is believed to have originally served as a dispensary for the barracks before being converted for educational use, with the earliest roll books dating from 1860. The institution was established through an endowment of £900 left by local benefactor John James Masterson, recorded in the Church of Ireland Vestry minutes of 1809, to support the religious education of parish children. For many years the school operated with a single teacher until 1996, when a second teacher joined the staff. A significant refurbishment and extension project, approved in March 2007, added new classrooms, a computer room, modern toilet facilities and a playground, while preserving the original stone building’s exterior.