Scoil na gCruach 1907-1971

CROAGHS ELEMENTARY EVENING NATIONAL SCHOOL There was no national school in the Croaghs district until 1907. Most of the older generation never got an opportuni ty to get education as the nearest school was in Commeen, at least six miles from Croaghs. Master Charles Coll from Gweedore who was the first teacher in the Croaghs National school suggested that a night school would be very beneficial to the senior members of the community. The curate in Edeninfagh , Fr Art O'Friel, heartily agreed and the people were delighted at the opportunity of getting some education. Permission was granted from the Board of Educa6on and the evening school was started in October 1910. The me n of the area from the age of 15 yrs to 60 yrs attended the night school four nights a week from 6.00pm until 8 .00pm The master was very patient as most of them didn't even know the alphabet. Reading (Irish and English), Writing and Arithmetic were the sut~ ects taught. Attention was paid also to some health education under the heading "Health and Habits" The n igh t school was for the long Winter nights as the men had to attend to their farm duties from early Spri ng. Al though the night school e nded in 1911 it was never forgotten by those who attended and many a funny story was told and re-told about the ha ppen ings of the eager stude n ts of the Croaghs Elementary Evening National School. 41