This historic Laois school is planning a reunion, but they need your help in resurrecting photos which show the full picture of its history in a commemorative reunion book.
Shanganamore National School opened its doors in 1831, in Barrowhouse near the Kildare border.
Making history at a national level
A national historic battle to keep this school, and other small schools open took place in 1975 when the Department of Education shut its doors.
The Shanganamore school community rallied around and dug deep to pay for the teachers and the school’s upkeep for a year, until a new government was elected and the closure was reversed.
Shanganamore NS moved to a new building in the village in 1998, while the old building became a community hall.
Barrowhouse is also the only part of Laois that is in the Dublin diocese, while also a part of Athy parish – although it is in Laois.
Dublin Bishop Eamon Walsh will celebrate mass for a reunion in the old school on Sunday, September 23. Refreshments will follow and a time to reminisce old school memories.
The book of old photos is hoped to be ready for launch on that day.
Some photographs already gathered date as far back as 1904. However former pupil John Langton explained that there is a lack of photos from the 1950s onwards – and they are looking for anyone with photos to please send them in.
To send photos, you can either email langtonsean7@gmail.com, or drop them into John at Kilmoroney, Barrowhouse.
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