Shrone National School
School Details
Location
About
Shrone National School is a small, rural primary school situated in the village of Shrone, Rathmore, County Kerry. It serves children from junior infants to sixth class, offering a full national curriculum that balances core subjects such as Irish, English, mathematics and science with practical and creative activities including manual instruction, drawing, cookery and physical drill. The school places a strong emphasis on community ownership and participation, reflecting the long‑standing tradition of national schools acting as local hubs for meetings and events. The learning environment is characterised by modest, well‑maintained facilities that have evolved from the original two‑room building erected in 1863. Small class sizes enable personalised attention and a supportive atmosphere, while the school’s commitment to the Irish language and cultural heritage is evident in its curriculum and extracurricular programmes. Parents and local residents are actively involved in school life, reinforcing the close ties between the school and the surrounding community.
History
Shrone National School was founded in 1863 by Rev. E. Walsh, with the Bishop of Kerry acting as patron and Canon Walsh as manager. The original two‑room structure (each 22 ft × 20 ft) was built largely by local hands; the Boys’ School opened on 2 February 1863 and the Girls’ School followed a month later. Throughout the period of British rule (1863‑1922) the school operated separate boys’ and girls’ sections, employing a succession of principals and assistants, and delivered instruction entirely in English under a curriculum that included kindergarten, manual instruction, drawing, elementary science, singing, cookery, physical drill, English and arithmetic. Following Irish independence, the Department of Education reinstated the Irish language in the curriculum, and the school has continued to serve the community into the present day.