Gleneely National School
School Details
Location
About
Gleneely National School is a vibrant Catholic‑ethos primary school situated on the Finn Valley, offering a well‑ordered, caring and secure learning environment for children aged 4‑12. The curriculum is broad and diverse, designed to meet the intellectual, spiritual, physical, moral and cultural needs of each pupil, while promoting personal responsibility, leadership and teamwork. Catholic values underpin daily practice, with prayer, liturgical celebrations and a strong emphasis on respect for all faiths and nationalities, fostering a community spirit that extends to families and the wider parish. The school’s facilities have developed considerably since its origins, now comprising a modern main building with multiple classrooms, a purpose‑built hall, a library/resource room, a staff room and well‑maintained play areas including a water tower and play sheds. Recent extensions (2002, 2009) have added further classrooms and specialist spaces, supporting a growing enrolment and a fifth teaching post. Outdoor spaces are landscaped for sport and recreation, reflecting the school’s commitment to holistic development in a safe, happy setting.
History
The earliest record of Gleneely National School appears in the 1835‑36 Ordnance Survey Memoirs, noting a Roman Catholic school with 34 pupils under teacher Alexander Craig. A one‑room school was built in 1847 on land owned by John Bradley for £70, later resold to the Bradley family in 1959. In 1958 a new building was erected on the present site, completed in October at a cost of £12,000. A third teacher and a prefab classroom were added in 1982, with a permanent classroom added in 1994. Major government‑funded extensions in 2002 introduced an extra classroom, purpose hall, library/resource room and staff room, followed by further classroom conversions in 2003 and an additional classroom and resource room in 2009, reflecting ongoing growth and community support.