S.N. an Fhaithche

OUR HISTORY

 

Fahy National School is situated in the Parish of Kilmeena, in the barony of Burrishoole, Co. Mayo.  Fahy or Faiche means “green patch”.

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The modern Parish of Kilmeena dates from the early nineteenth century when the parishes of Myna (Cill Mhiona) Fahy (Kilmaclasser) were combined. The most of the land in and around Fahy was part of the Lucan Estate.

 

Fahy National School was built on a site provided by Lord Lucan’s Estate.  The school was built in 1888. The first teachers in Fahy N.S. were James and Margaret Cusack.  They were succeeded by Michael Kennedy and his wife Margaret.  In 1929 two extra rooms were added which now left it a four-teacher school with Eileen Daly and Beatrice Quinn as the new teachers.

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By the 1970’s the school was in danger of closure owing to a fall off in enrolment.  In 1970 the school had 28 pupils and two teachers.  However the support of determined parents and local community the school remained open. The 1990’s saw enrolment rising again.  A third teacher was appointed in 1996.  By this time it was felt that the school was not longer suitable for modern educational needs of pupils.  It was felt that extending the school was not really an option. The site was quite small and playground was sloping. (Two rooms were demolished in the 1950’s to provide stone for the building of the new Church).

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A Finance Committee was established to raise local contribution for a new build. A new site was acquired and work commenced on the present school building in 1999. The new school was officially opened on September 25th 2000.