In conclusion, and I must  emphasise there never would be a  conclusion as there is a wealth of information available by all those who ‘walked the hill’,I outlined in my synopsis the provision that Shelagh school school delivered within its community.From my research I have identified a educational establishment that provided its pupils, staff and parents with a recognisable and rememberable place in society, while overcoming poverty,  out living protestant land dominance and living peacefully with British partition.

I began this project with a limited amount of information about a townland and its school that is only five miles away from my home and one that I pass through on a regular basis. In spite of this i have manged to acquire the most interesting and enlightening facts about the schooland its history. From the history of the townland, the heritage of teachers, the folklore commission participation and the past pupil accounts i have become engrossed in an establishment who delivered an excellence in educating and caring for  those on the register. 

At the beginning

This is an original imge of Shelagh School building

I contacted a local histroiran past pupil of Shelagh School and Past teacher.Her father and mother both worked in the Shelagh school.She was so helpful and dedicated to remembering the school and church of Shelagh

Shelagh School is on the site of an old ring fort, clearly identified by this image.

History Recorded

This is the first recorded land survey ever recorded of the Shelagh Townland

Early land divisions

This is an area map of the Shelagh townland and surrounding areas, in the early nineteenth century.

Folklore heritage

This an image of the collection of Folklore stories that were sent to the Folklore commission in 1937 - 1942 commission

This is a sketch of the Old Shelagh school.

Research Synopsis

I have decided to research a local national school in the south of Ireland, Shelagh School in county Louth. Founded in 1881 Shelagh National School educated one thousand six hundred pupils and employed thirty teachers. It finally closed its doors in1963 and located to a new site two mile down the road. I intend to contact Louth county council about parish records at this time; I intend to contact catholic education authority for information on the pupil numbers and pupil/teacher ratios for this time also. I also aim to visit the school and inform them of my intention to research their establishment, having it in mind that they will have a wealth of knowledge to share with me. If possible I would like to access any records that are held on pupils from this time with a view to gaining the catchment that the school covered. I will also be referring to the dominant influence of the local hedge schools in the area and the need for the Catholic Church to retain a catholic education within the local community. I plan to visit the Louth County Library in Dundalk.It will give me access to Applotment books, freeholders lists. It also contains a Catholic Church database that covers 21 parishes in the Louth County. The reference and local history department of the library will supply me with census records (most importantly 1901) and electoral lists that will all create the back drop to the school environment. I propose to speak to local people from the area that attended the school and have a constant flow of local and traceable knowledge of school life and influence. I mean to visit the Irish library in Armagh to access newspaper and journal reports that influenced school life at this time.

During Mid-term break i contacted irish Studies library in Armagh.They where unable to help me with my research but they recommend i talk to Roddy Hegarty in the O'Faich Library in Armagh.I emailed the Library and Roddy but to date have had no feed back.Will must probably visit the Library at the weekend.
I also visited Dundalk Library.Was speaking to a delightful man who was able to steer me in the direction of the significance of oral history, and how the folklore commission had recorded stories from pupils that received their education in Shelagh school.