Rylane National School
School Details
Location
About
Rylane National School is a mainstream, co‑educational Catholic primary school serving Junior Infants to Sixth Class in the rural townland of Mountrivers, Rylane. Nestled amid the green countryside with views of the Muskerry mountains, the school provides a tranquil learning environment for its 67 pupils. The ethos, embodied in the school crest of heritage, learning, sport and community, promotes the holistic development of each child – academically, physically, intellectually, spiritually, socially and emotionally – under the guiding motto *Chun Mhaitheas an Linbh* (“For the Good of the Individual Child”). The school’s facilities include a spacious reception area, four classrooms, a dedicated Special Education room, a PE hall, a library and a well‑maintained playground split between a front yard and a larger rear yard adjoining the school pitch. An on‑site polytunnel, tended by a gardening committee, supports experiential learning in horticulture. Modern digital learning resources complement a broad and balanced curriculum, while a committed team of staff, including a teaching principal, mainstream teachers, a Special Education teacher and support assistants, ensure a supportive and inclusive atmosphere for all learners.
History
The original school, known as Knocknagoun School, stood beside the local post office before being replaced by the “new school” in 1914‑1915 at its present central location. Initially operating as separate boys’ and girls’ schools, each with its own entrance and divided by a wooden partition (removed in 1990), the school was led by Master Kelleher (boys) and Mrs Kelleher (girls), later succeeded by Miss Cunningham. In the late 1930s, declining numbers prompted amalgamation of the two sections, with Michael Buckley appointed principal on 1 July 1930. The building, lacking electricity and running water at its opening, has evolved over the century, celebrating its centenary in 2014.