Scoil Naisiunta An Carraig Liath
School Details
Location
About
Scoil Naisiunta An Carraig Liath is a vibrant primary school situated in Ballyduff, just five minutes from Dungarvan in County Waterford, close to the Brickey Valley and off the N25. With a roll of around 89 pupils, the school fosters a close‑knit community that values academic achievement, personal wellbeing and active citizenship. The curriculum is delivered within a modern purpose‑built facility opened in 2008, complemented by well‑maintained prefabricated classrooms for the younger classes, upgraded indoor toilets, new windows and a single, accessible entrance. A strong emphasis is placed on inclusive whole‑school activities, environmental stewardship and sport. The school has earned six Green Flags, recognising excellence in waste, energy, water, transport, literacy and mental‑health promotion, and regularly participates in local GAA competitions. Fundraising initiatives link pupils and families with charitable causes such as Crumlin Children’s Hospital, Pieta House and local nursing homes, reinforcing a culture of community service and social responsibility.
History
The original schoolhouse, now a private home, stood half a mile from the current site and was known locally as “the old schoolhouse”. In 1934 the school relocated to its present location as a two‑teacher institution with separate entrances for boys and girls and an external toilet shed. Over subsequent decades the school saw a series of principals—Miss Clancy, Anne Dalton, Moyra Baumann and Christine Dwyer—who oversaw gradual improvements, including the removal of the dividing wall, the installation of indoor toilets, new windows and a unified entrance in the late 1980s, as well as the addition of an orange prefabricated unit for younger classes. From the late 1990s the staff expanded to three teachers and later a learning‑support teacher. A major fundraising drive in 2005, supported by the Small Schools Initiative Fund, enabled the construction of a new school building, officially opened in May 2008 by Sean Haughey TD. Subsequent staffing changes have resulted in a current team of four teachers, with the school benefiting from Special Needs Assistants and various support staff over the years.