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Brief History of Inver National School
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By Micheál McGarry (School Principal)
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Children in the Inver area were attending school from about1830.Peter Williams had a hedge school here in1834.In 1843 a school was officially established by the same man.
In 1848, Mr.Williams (being friendly with the local Wesleyan preacher) was accused of interfering with the religious
beliefs of his pupils. The charges were not proved, but recognition for the school was broken in the same year.
Another school was established in 1855 , only to be closed, and yet another one established in 1856. The Parish Priest , a Rev Domnick Madden, from the neighbouring parish of Belmullet was the new manager. The first teacher in the school was a Bridget Clarke, who received £5 per year, while the children's fees were between 6d. (old pennies) and 1/- (shilling) per quarter.
In December 1856, a William Folleth accused the unfortunate Ms.Clarke of undue severity towards his child. He also complained that she had attended fairs and dances !.She was severely reprimanded by the authorities. She left the school in 1858.
In 1866 another school was opened in Inver. The new teacher's name was Thomas Egan. Another teacher who lived here at the time was found to be unsuitable for the post, because of being guilty of drunkenness!!
The present school was built in 1885. John Caulfield was appointed principal. In 1897 the manager, a Rev. John J. Hegarty , reported that the school was closed at 2.45 p.m. on the 20th July, 1898, without permission, so that the teachers could attend horse racing. Such a misdemeanour!
Because some of our present teachers may date from the turn of the century, we may pass no more comment on teachers in our school. However, watch this web page, and we will update this history as the decades roll by.
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