Manister National School
  • Home
  • Our School
    • Pre-Enrolment & Admission
    • Booklists 2022-23
    • School Staff 2022-23
    • School Calendar 2022-23
    • School Uniform
    • School Day
    • School Information, Code of Behaviour
    • Board of Management
    • School History >
      • Old School Photos
    • Tips for Parents >
      • Homework Tips
      • Top 100 Books for Primary School Children
      • Useful Maths Websites
  • School Activities
    • Curriculum >
      • Numeracy >
        • Subtraction with "Renaming"
      • Literacy
      • Computers
    • Sacramental Registration
    • Halloween 2022
  • Class Blogs
    • Infants 2022-23
    • 1st & 2nd Classes 2022-23 >
      • 1st and 2nd Class Homework 22-23
    • 3rd & 4th Classes 2022-23
    • 5th & 6th Classes 2022-23
  • Archives
    • 2021-22 Archive >
      • News Feed 2021-22
      • COVID-19 Information
      • Booklists 2021-22
      • West Midlands Theatre - Robin Hood
      • School Calendar 2021-22
      • team Limerick Clean-up Friday April 8th 2022
      • Class Blogs >
        • Infants 2021-22
        • 1st and 2nd 2021-22 >
          • 1st and 2nd Class School Tour 26th May 2022
          • Picker Pals 2021/22
          • 1st and 2nd Class Homework
        • 3rd & 4th 2021-22
        • 5th & 6th 2021-22
    • 2020-21 Archive >
      • News Feed 2020-21
      • School Staff 2020-21
      • European School Sports Day 2020
      • Halloween 2020
      • School Calendar 2020-21
      • School Closure Work Feb 22nd - Mar 5th 2021
      • School Closure Work Jan 11th - Jan 22nd 2021
      • Class Blogs 2020-21 >
        • Infants 2020-21
        • 1st & 2nd 2020-21 >
          • 1st 2nd Walk to Old School
          • 1st/2nd Sports Day June 17th 2021
          • Butterfly Story April 2021
        • 3rd & 4th 2020-21
        • 5th & 6th 2020-21
    • 2019-20 Archive >
      • News Feed 2019-20
      • School Calendar 2019-20
      • School Staff 2019-20
      • Booklists 2019-20
      • School Activities 2019-20 >
        • School Closure Work June 15th to June 25th
        • School Closure Work June 8th to June 12th
        • School Closure Work May 25th to June 5th
        • School Closure Work May 11th to May 22nd
        • School Closure Work April 27th to May 8th
        • Mr Musgrave's Birdhouse
        • School Closure Work April 13th to April 24th
        • School Closure Work March 30th to April 10th
        • School Closure Work March 18th to March 27th
        • Grandparent's Day 2020
        • Gaelbhratach 2019-20
        • Halloween 2019
        • Skip Hop 2019
      • Class Blogs 2019-20 >
        • Infants 2019-20 >
          • Infants 2019/20 >
            • Aistear 2019/2020
            • Grandparents Day
            • Activities for School Closure
        • 1st & 2nd Classes 2019/20 >
          • Literacy
          • Numeracy
          • SESE
          • Arts
          • COVID-19 Shutdown
          • Other
        • 3rd & 4th Classes 2019/20
        • 5th & 6th Classes 2019/20
    • 2018-19 Archive >
      • Class Blogs 18/19 >
        • Infants 2018-19
        • 1st & 2nd Classes 2018-19 >
          • Literacy - 1st & 2nd Classes 2018-19
          • Art - 1st & 2nd Classes 2018-19
          • SESE - 1st & 2nd Classes 2018-19
          • Maths - 1st & 2nd Classes 2018-19
          • Frog Story
          • First Holy Communion 2019
        • 3rd & 4th Classes 2019/20
        • 5th & 6th Classes 2018-19 >
          • Confirmation - 5th and 6th
          • Rosie's Animal Magic - 5th and 6th
          • Valentine's Day - 5th and 6th
          • Grandparents' Day - 5th and 6th
          • Work with magnets - 5th and 6th
      • News Feed 2018-19
      • School Activities 18/19 >
        • Infants Sports Day 2019
        • Sports Day 2019
        • Infants School Tour 2019
        • Zumba 2019
        • 1st/2nd School Tour 2019
        • Russian Adventure 2019
        • 3rd - 6th School Tour 2019
        • National Tree Week 2019
        • Rosie's Animal Magic Wildlife Rescue 2019
        • Geoff Hunt Biodiversity Feb 2019
        • Manga High 2018
        • Futsal
        • SEAI Visit
        • Halloween 2018
        • Liam McCarthy
    • 2017-18 Archive >
      • Class Blogs 17/18 >
        • Infants 2017-18 >
          • Infants Sports Day June 25th 2018
          • Sowing May 2018
          • Aistear Infants 2017/18
          • Maths Infants 2017/18
          • SESE Infants 2017/18
        • 1st & 2nd Classes 2017-18 >
          • 1st/2nd Literacy 2017/18
          • 1st/2nd Maths 2017/18
          • 1st/2nd Art 2017/18
          • 1st/2nd SESE 2017/18
          • 1st/2nd Various 2017/18
        • 3rd & 4th Classes 2017-18
        • 5th & 6th Classes 2017-18 >
          • 5th and 6th - PE 2017/18
          • 5th and 6th - Art 2017/18
          • 5th and 6th - Maths
          • 5th and 6th - SESE 2017/18
          • Seachtain na Gaeilge 2018
      • Booklists 2017/18 >
        • Junior Infants Booklist
        • Senior Infants Booklist
        • 1st and 2nd Classes Booklist
        • 3rd Class Booklist
        • 4th Class Booklist
        • 5th Class Booklist
        • 6th Class Booklist
      • News Feed 2017-18
      • Infants, 1st and 2nd School Tour June 2018
      • School Activities >
        • Sports Day 2018
        • School Note March 5th 2018
        • Various Infants 2017/18
        • Seachtain na Gaeilge 2018
        • Grandparent's Day 2018
        • School Note 16th Jan 2018
        • Internet Safety Talk
        • School Note 7th Dec 2017
        • School Note 29th Nov 2017
        • Gaelbhratach 2017-18
        • Halloween 2017
        • Tommy McCarthy Memorial Tournament 2017
        • Green Schools
        • Harvest 2017
    • 2016-17 Archive >
      • School Activities 2016-17 >
        • Maths
        • Gaelbhratach 2016-17
        • Flash Mob Dance
        • Sports Day 2017
        • Penalties on the principal
        • Walk a mile (or more)
        • Yoga with Stephanie
        • Infants, 1st and 2nd School Tour June 2017
        • Wizard William
        • 3rd to 6th School Tour 2017
        • School Garden Sowing 2017
        • First Holy Communion
        • Green School Litter Pick 2017
        • Féile Luimní
        • Seachtain na Gaeilge
        • Grandparent's Day 2017
        • Art Exhibition Dec 2016
        • Halloween Festivities 2016
        • Cumann na mBunscol Boys Football Final 2016
        • Skip Hop
        • Take on the Teachers
        • Harvest 2016
        • News Feed 2016-17
        • School Tours
        • School Plays
        • Charity Work
        • Archive of School Activities
      • School Staff 2016-17
      • Infants 2016-17 >
        • Our Plants
        • Easter Egg Hunt 2017
        • Chicks 2017
        • Pancake Day
        • Planting
        • Literacy
        • Numeracy
        • Science
        • ICT
        • Run a mile
        • Art
        • Frosty The Snowman Dec 2016
        • Aistear
        • Halloween
        • Speak like a pirate day
        • Infant Autumn Trail 2016
        • Infants Maths Week 2016
        • Drama
        • 1st & 2nd Classes 2016-17 >
          • Art
          • First Holy Communion
          • Life Cycle of a Butterfly
          • Science
          • Numeracy
          • Some memories of the current 4-6th classes >
            • Halloween Activities
          • 10@10
          • P.E
          • Computers
          • Skip Hop 2016
      • 3rd & 4th Classes 2016-17 >
        • School Activities 2015-16 >
          • School Tours 2016
          • Euro 2016 Prediction Competition
          • Sports Day 2016
          • The Golden Dragon
          • Animal Magic Wildlife Rescue
          • Green School Litter Pick
          • Proclamation Day
          • Maths Week 2014-15
          • First Holy Communion
          • First Confession
          • Feile Luimnigh 2016
          • Seachtain na Gaeilge
          • Grandparent's Day 2016
          • Class Blogs 2015-16 >
            • 1st & 2nd Class >
              • Our Class Chicks
              • Art
              • School Tour 2016
              • Active Week
              • First Holy Communion
              • Hurling
              • Class Blogs 19/20
              • Maths
              • Science
              • Rosie's Animal Magic Wildlife Rescue
            • 3rd & 4th Class
            • 5th & 6th Class
          • Receiving our National Flag
          • Charity Work 2015-16
          • Halloween Festivities 2015
          • Maths Week 2015-16
        • 3/4 S.E.S.E 2016/2017
        • 3/4 Literacy 2016/2017
        • 3/4 Gaeilge 2016/2017
        • 3/4 Numeracy 2016/2017
        • 3/4 Interesting Websites !
    • 2015-16 >
      • News Feed 2015-16
      • School Staff 2015-16
      • School Calendar 2015-16
    • 2014-15 >
      • School Tours 2014-15
      • Astronaut Al Worden - June 2015
      • Sports Day 2014-15
      • Charity Work 2014-15
    • 2013-14 >
      • Tips for Parents of Primary School Children
      • School Tours 2013-14
      • Charity Work 2013-14
      • Maths Week 2013-14
    • 2012-13 >
      • School Tours 2012-13
    • 2011-12 >
      • School Tours 2011-12
      • Photos from 2011-12
    • 2010-11
    • 2009-10
    • 2008-09
    • 2007-08
    • Pre 2008
  • Virtual Tour
    • School
    • Playschool
    • Manister Before & After School Club >
      • Sinéad's Easter Camp 2016
  • Kids Zone
  • Contact Us

School History

Our school is officially known as Ballymartin National School.

1700s - 1800s
Hedge schools and Classical Schools provided basic education. The church gallery was also used to provide schooling. In 1831 the Irish National School System was established. It's main principle was to provide schools which offered "combined moral and literary instruction" and also to "unite in one system children of different creeds". The Rules for National Education schools remained unchanged from 1831 to 1965 when the then minister for education revised and amended them. 

1850s
The original Ballymartin National School was built in the 1850s. It looked like a large single story slated house of the time and consisted of one large room, partitioned into two classrooms. See some photographs below of the school as it looks today. Upwards of 100 pupils were taught in the school. Dry toilets were located at the back of the school and a nearby pump supplied spring water. Heating was provided by an open fire and a small stove. It was normal for each child to bring solid fuel each day, perhaps a sod of turf or some wood to keep the fire going during the school day. This building is now derelict and is a protected structure. ​

1968
In the 1960s, government policy was to amalgamate the many small one or two teacher schools. These were by then in very poor condition, lacked in space, had only very basic facilities and unsuitable for a modern education system. The original school was to be closed and a new school at a new site built. The new site was close to the church at the towns-land of Grange Hill and was donated by John Hanley of Springlodge. Following local representation, a two teacher pre-fabricated structure was sanctioned by the Department of Education . It was light-filled, airy and had running water, indoor toilets and in time a telephone. Staff and pupils re-located to the new school in November 1968. The building served education well and was possibly the oldest pre-fabricated school in the country when it was dis-continued for use in the late 1980s. In fact the pre-fab units were subsequently used as a playschool and a temporary church.

1989
In 1989 plans for a new school building were submitted to the Department of Education and again the question of amalgamation was suggested. Eventually, after an epic struggle the department granted the monies to build a new two teacher school. Unfortunately plans for a staff-room and learning support room were rejected, which was short-sighted indeed. As pupil and staff numbers increased pre-fab classrooms located in the school yard were provided.

2006
In early 2004 plans were drawn up to extend and renovate the school and replace the pre-fabs with permanent structures. Once again the Department were reluctant to invest in the project and many obstacles had to be overcome. The newly-renovated building was officially opened in 2006 by Minister of Education Bat O'Keeffe. It consisted of 4 classrooms, Learning Support Room, Resource Room, Staff Room and two offices. It also incorporated a fully equipped pre-school. This well maintained modern facility is furnished with the newest educational aids and provided education to the highest degree.
​
2013 - 2015
  • A site next to the school was procured by the Board of Management. This will be our new sports pitch.
  • 24 new laptops were purchased for the school.
  • A Morning and After-School Club opened up in the Community Hall next to the school.

Thanks to former school principal Ann Murphy who provided the above information.


Below is a map of our locality which we created.
Picture

​Here are some photographs of the old school at Ballymartin, which was vacated in 1968, as it is today (February 2016).

New extension official opening in 2006

Class and Group Photos down through the Years

Do you recognise anyone in these photos? Maybe an aunt, uncle, Granny or Grandad!!


​Old Photographs

Schools Folklore 1937-38

In 1937 the Irish Folklore Commission, in collaboration with the Department of Education and the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, initiated a revolutionary scheme in which schoolchildren were encouraged to collect and document folklore and local history. Over a period of eighteen months some 100,000 children in 5,000 primary schools in the twenty-six counties of the Irish Free State were encouraged to collect folklore material in their home districts. The topics about which the children were instructed to research and write included local history and monuments, folktales and legends, riddles and proverbs, songs, customs and beliefs, games and pastimes, traditional work practices and crafts, etc. The children collected this material mainly from their parents and grandparents and other older members of the local community or school district.

You can find the collection from Manister (Ballymartin National School at the links below). The teacher at the time was Teresa Lynch. 
  • Manister Abbey
  • ​Tory Hill
  • Biddy Early and the Tory Hill Orchard-man
  • Tale of Tory Hill Men
  • Tory Hill and the Battle of Manister 1579
  • The Burnt Cross
  • Knockfierna
  • Legend of Tory Hill and Lough Nagirna
  • A Holy Well - Lachtin's Well (Story told by Patrick Allen, Parkaree)
  • Sketch of Tobar Lactín (Sketch)
  • Rathmore Castle
  • Croom and its Castle - 
  • Ballinagarde and its Holy Well - 
  • Knockaine or Áine's Hill
  • Lough Gur (The Enchanted Lake)
  • Adare - its Abbeys and Castle
  • Kilmallock - its Abbey
  • A Holy Well (by Kitty O'Brien as told by Mrs Mary Kirby, Main Street, Croom)
  • Herbs (as told by Mary Kirby) 
  • Old Graveyards (as told by Mary Kirby)
  • An Old Story (as told by Mary Kirby)
  • Local Cures
  • Local Place Names (by Joan Greensmyth, Roxborough, Willie Hartigan, Roxborough and Mary Leo)
  • Townslands (by Maurice Clifford, Tubberquin, Ballyneety, Mary Leo, Ballyclough and  Mrs A Browne, Dooradoyle)
  • The Haunted Mansion (by Martin Moloney, Dooradoyle as told to Martin by his father) - 
  • Local Superstitions (by Mary Leo)
  • St Domnic's Well and the Turks (by Martin Moloney as told to him by Thomas Heirlihy, Friarstown) - 
  • Home
  • Our School
    • Pre-Enrolment & Admission
    • Booklists 2022-23
    • School Staff 2022-23
    • School Calendar 2022-23
    • School Uniform
    • School Day
    • School Information, Code of Behaviour
    • Board of Management
    • School History >
      • Old School Photos
    • Tips for Parents >
      • Homework Tips
      • Top 100 Books for Primary School Children
      • Useful Maths Websites
  • School Activities
    • Curriculum >
      • Numeracy >
        • Subtraction with "Renaming"
      • Literacy
      • Computers
    • Sacramental Registration
    • Halloween 2022
  • Class Blogs
    • Infants 2022-23
    • 1st & 2nd Classes 2022-23 >
      • 1st and 2nd Class Homework 22-23
    • 3rd & 4th Classes 2022-23
    • 5th & 6th Classes 2022-23
  • Archives
    • 2021-22 Archive >
      • News Feed 2021-22
      • COVID-19 Information
      • Booklists 2021-22
      • West Midlands Theatre - Robin Hood
      • School Calendar 2021-22
      • team Limerick Clean-up Friday April 8th 2022
      • Class Blogs >
        • Infants 2021-22
        • 1st and 2nd 2021-22 >
          • 1st and 2nd Class School Tour 26th May 2022
          • Picker Pals 2021/22
          • 1st and 2nd Class Homework
        • 3rd & 4th 2021-22
        • 5th & 6th 2021-22
    • 2020-21 Archive >
      • News Feed 2020-21
      • School Staff 2020-21
      • European School Sports Day 2020
      • Halloween 2020
      • School Calendar 2020-21
      • School Closure Work Feb 22nd - Mar 5th 2021
      • School Closure Work Jan 11th - Jan 22nd 2021
      • Class Blogs 2020-21 >
        • Infants 2020-21
        • 1st & 2nd 2020-21 >
          • 1st 2nd Walk to Old School
          • 1st/2nd Sports Day June 17th 2021
          • Butterfly Story April 2021
        • 3rd & 4th 2020-21
        • 5th & 6th 2020-21
    • 2019-20 Archive >
      • News Feed 2019-20
      • School Calendar 2019-20
      • School Staff 2019-20
      • Booklists 2019-20
      • School Activities 2019-20 >
        • School Closure Work June 15th to June 25th
        • School Closure Work June 8th to June 12th
        • School Closure Work May 25th to June 5th
        • School Closure Work May 11th to May 22nd
        • School Closure Work April 27th to May 8th
        • Mr Musgrave's Birdhouse
        • School Closure Work April 13th to April 24th
        • School Closure Work March 30th to April 10th
        • School Closure Work March 18th to March 27th
        • Grandparent's Day 2020
        • Gaelbhratach 2019-20
        • Halloween 2019
        • Skip Hop 2019
      • Class Blogs 2019-20 >
        • Infants 2019-20 >
          • Infants 2019/20 >
            • Aistear 2019/2020
            • Grandparents Day
            • Activities for School Closure
        • 1st & 2nd Classes 2019/20 >
          • Literacy
          • Numeracy
          • SESE
          • Arts
          • COVID-19 Shutdown
          • Other
        • 3rd & 4th Classes 2019/20
        • 5th & 6th Classes 2019/20
    • 2018-19 Archive >
      • Class Blogs 18/19 >
        • Infants 2018-19
        • 1st & 2nd Classes 2018-19 >
          • Literacy - 1st & 2nd Classes 2018-19
          • Art - 1st & 2nd Classes 2018-19
          • SESE - 1st & 2nd Classes 2018-19
          • Maths - 1st & 2nd Classes 2018-19
          • Frog Story
          • First Holy Communion 2019
        • 3rd & 4th Classes 2019/20
        • 5th & 6th Classes 2018-19 >
          • Confirmation - 5th and 6th
          • Rosie's Animal Magic - 5th and 6th
          • Valentine's Day - 5th and 6th
          • Grandparents' Day - 5th and 6th
          • Work with magnets - 5th and 6th
      • News Feed 2018-19
      • School Activities 18/19 >
        • Infants Sports Day 2019
        • Sports Day 2019
        • Infants School Tour 2019
        • Zumba 2019
        • 1st/2nd School Tour 2019
        • Russian Adventure 2019
        • 3rd - 6th School Tour 2019
        • National Tree Week 2019
        • Rosie's Animal Magic Wildlife Rescue 2019
        • Geoff Hunt Biodiversity Feb 2019
        • Manga High 2018
        • Futsal
        • SEAI Visit
        • Halloween 2018
        • Liam McCarthy
    • 2017-18 Archive >
      • Class Blogs 17/18 >
        • Infants 2017-18 >
          • Infants Sports Day June 25th 2018
          • Sowing May 2018
          • Aistear Infants 2017/18
          • Maths Infants 2017/18
          • SESE Infants 2017/18
        • 1st & 2nd Classes 2017-18 >
          • 1st/2nd Literacy 2017/18
          • 1st/2nd Maths 2017/18
          • 1st/2nd Art 2017/18
          • 1st/2nd SESE 2017/18
          • 1st/2nd Various 2017/18
        • 3rd & 4th Classes 2017-18
        • 5th & 6th Classes 2017-18 >
          • 5th and 6th - PE 2017/18
          • 5th and 6th - Art 2017/18
          • 5th and 6th - Maths
          • 5th and 6th - SESE 2017/18
          • Seachtain na Gaeilge 2018
      • Booklists 2017/18 >
        • Junior Infants Booklist
        • Senior Infants Booklist
        • 1st and 2nd Classes Booklist
        • 3rd Class Booklist
        • 4th Class Booklist
        • 5th Class Booklist
        • 6th Class Booklist
      • News Feed 2017-18
      • Infants, 1st and 2nd School Tour June 2018
      • School Activities >
        • Sports Day 2018
        • School Note March 5th 2018
        • Various Infants 2017/18
        • Seachtain na Gaeilge 2018
        • Grandparent's Day 2018
        • School Note 16th Jan 2018
        • Internet Safety Talk
        • School Note 7th Dec 2017
        • School Note 29th Nov 2017
        • Gaelbhratach 2017-18
        • Halloween 2017
        • Tommy McCarthy Memorial Tournament 2017
        • Green Schools
        • Harvest 2017
    • 2016-17 Archive >
      • School Activities 2016-17 >
        • Maths
        • Gaelbhratach 2016-17
        • Flash Mob Dance
        • Sports Day 2017
        • Penalties on the principal
        • Walk a mile (or more)
        • Yoga with Stephanie
        • Infants, 1st and 2nd School Tour June 2017
        • Wizard William
        • 3rd to 6th School Tour 2017
        • School Garden Sowing 2017
        • First Holy Communion
        • Green School Litter Pick 2017
        • Féile Luimní
        • Seachtain na Gaeilge
        • Grandparent's Day 2017
        • Art Exhibition Dec 2016
        • Halloween Festivities 2016
        • Cumann na mBunscol Boys Football Final 2016
        • Skip Hop
        • Take on the Teachers
        • Harvest 2016
        • News Feed 2016-17
        • School Tours
        • School Plays
        • Charity Work
        • Archive of School Activities
      • School Staff 2016-17
      • Infants 2016-17 >
        • Our Plants
        • Easter Egg Hunt 2017
        • Chicks 2017
        • Pancake Day
        • Planting
        • Literacy
        • Numeracy
        • Science
        • ICT
        • Run a mile
        • Art
        • Frosty The Snowman Dec 2016
        • Aistear
        • Halloween
        • Speak like a pirate day
        • Infant Autumn Trail 2016
        • Infants Maths Week 2016
        • Drama
        • 1st & 2nd Classes 2016-17 >
          • Art
          • First Holy Communion
          • Life Cycle of a Butterfly
          • Science
          • Numeracy
          • Some memories of the current 4-6th classes >
            • Halloween Activities
          • 10@10
          • P.E
          • Computers
          • Skip Hop 2016
      • 3rd & 4th Classes 2016-17 >
        • School Activities 2015-16 >
          • School Tours 2016
          • Euro 2016 Prediction Competition
          • Sports Day 2016
          • The Golden Dragon
          • Animal Magic Wildlife Rescue
          • Green School Litter Pick
          • Proclamation Day
          • Maths Week 2014-15
          • First Holy Communion
          • First Confession
          • Feile Luimnigh 2016
          • Seachtain na Gaeilge
          • Grandparent's Day 2016
          • Class Blogs 2015-16 >
            • 1st & 2nd Class >
              • Our Class Chicks
              • Art
              • School Tour 2016
              • Active Week
              • First Holy Communion
              • Hurling
              • Class Blogs 19/20
              • Maths
              • Science
              • Rosie's Animal Magic Wildlife Rescue
            • 3rd & 4th Class
            • 5th & 6th Class
          • Receiving our National Flag
          • Charity Work 2015-16
          • Halloween Festivities 2015
          • Maths Week 2015-16
        • 3/4 S.E.S.E 2016/2017
        • 3/4 Literacy 2016/2017
        • 3/4 Gaeilge 2016/2017
        • 3/4 Numeracy 2016/2017
        • 3/4 Interesting Websites !
    • 2015-16 >
      • News Feed 2015-16
      • School Staff 2015-16
      • School Calendar 2015-16
    • 2014-15 >
      • School Tours 2014-15
      • Astronaut Al Worden - June 2015
      • Sports Day 2014-15
      • Charity Work 2014-15
    • 2013-14 >
      • Tips for Parents of Primary School Children
      • School Tours 2013-14
      • Charity Work 2013-14
      • Maths Week 2013-14
    • 2012-13 >
      • School Tours 2012-13
    • 2011-12 >
      • School Tours 2011-12
      • Photos from 2011-12
    • 2010-11
    • 2009-10
    • 2008-09
    • 2007-08
    • Pre 2008
  • Virtual Tour
    • School
    • Playschool
    • Manister Before & After School Club >
      • Sinéad's Easter Camp 2016
  • Kids Zone
  • Contact Us