Trafrask National School in Adrigole recently celebrated its 175th anniversary with a special Mass and a display on the school’s history put together by its pupils.

The school which was founded in 1851 currently has 18 pupils and two teachers along with a shared special education teacher.

Principal Louisa O’Donoghue said that in the lead up to the day of commemoration the pupils had worked with their families to interview people in the parish on the history of the school.

‘We started the day with a special Mass celebrated by Fr Martin and Fr Amos and the children’s stories were displayed in the school along with some of the original roll books and some old
photos.’

The school is very much part of the local area with many of the current pupils’ parents and grandparents having attended the school said Principal O’Donoghue.

‘One of our current pupils told us from interviewing her family members she discovered that she was the sixth generation of her family to attend Trafrask National School.’

The school is still based in the original two storey building from the 1850s, the school principal explained.

‘The building is still in very good condition, we have a new sensory room which has been a fantastic addition to the school and also a new extension known as Aidan’s wing which opened in 2022.’ Aidan’s Wing was named in memory of the late Garda Aidan Cremin who passed away in 2019. Garda Cremin was a member of the School’s Board of Management, and had, before his death worked tirelessly to support the school.

In recent years the school also opened a new playground with a donation which was received from a past pupil now living in the USA.

The school ended their day of celebration with a special cake which was cut jointly by the current youngest pupil and the second oldest living pupil, Timmy Downey.

‘Unfortunately our oldest surviving pupil William Blake who is 101 was unable to attend on the day but sent us a lovely letter on his memories of Trafrask School.’

The day ended with three trees which were planted in the school grounds, the first tree was planted by past pupils, John and Joseph Blake  the second by current pupils to symbolise the present and the third for the future, was planted by Croía O’Sullivan, Jackie O’Grady, and Lucy and Emma O’Shea.