Just over 20 years ago, Liam Ahearne took over as principal of The Rock NS between Mountmellick and Emo.
Then a two-teacher school, it has grown in the years since, but photographer Alf Harvey captured a selection of great images from his trip there in early 2001.
For an accompanying feature in the Nationalist newspaper at the time, the paper noted that Liam Ahearne, a staunch Clonad GAA man, was introducing hurling to the school. They’ve since appeared in Cumann na mBunscol finals.
Indeed the Cumann na mBunscol got a special mention, specifically the girls team who managed to field a team despite having only eight girls from third to sixth class.
Also teaching in the school at the time was MichellE Kirwan who looked after the younger classes.
And a sign of the school’s low numbers at the time was that there was just two pupils each in junior and senior infants.
Paul and Conor Allen were in senior infants while Rebecca Mullen and Sarah Delaney were in junior infants.
Also working part-time in the school at the time was learning support teacher Florence Fennelly, teacher Mary Davis and caretaker Simon O’Meara.
You can check out Alf’s photos below.
Photo: Alf Harvey.
SEE ALSO – Check out more photos from our Moment in Time series here
