Local History and Heritage
At school level, we put a great deal of emphasis on fostering an awareness and appreciation among our pupils of the rich history and heritage of the local area in which they live. This involves undertaking studies of various different aspects of the built heritage, local folktales (of which there are many), local folklore and the social and cultural history of the locality. We regularly undertake fieldtrips to local heritage sites of interest within the locality.
In the school year 2021-2022, all of the pupils in the school went out into the local area and further afield in certain instances, and interviewed members of the community and those who were connected with the community in times past, for a local history and folklore collection. This project was aligned with the principles of 'The School's Collection'/'Bailiúchán na Scol' of 1937 to 1939, as part of which pupils across the 26 counties of the Irish Free State went out into their communities and interviewed neighbours and family members about a myriad of different topics under the umbrella heading of local history and heritage. Their findings were then recorded for posterity. Transcripts of the original Shanahoe School Collection from 1937-1939 can be accessed by clicking the button below.
In the school year 2021-2022, all of the pupils in the school went out into the local area and further afield in certain instances, and interviewed members of the community and those who were connected with the community in times past, for a local history and folklore collection. This project was aligned with the principles of 'The School's Collection'/'Bailiúchán na Scol' of 1937 to 1939, as part of which pupils across the 26 counties of the Irish Free State went out into their communities and interviewed neighbours and family members about a myriad of different topics under the umbrella heading of local history and heritage. Their findings were then recorded for posterity. Transcripts of the original Shanahoe School Collection from 1937-1939 can be accessed by clicking the button below.
Thanks to generous sponsorship, the Shanahoe School's Collection of 2021-2022 was published in book form entitled 'Tracing our Past: Scoil Fionntáin Naofa, Shanahoe' and was formally launched in December 2022 by former school Principal, Mr. David Brickley who fostered a great interest, awareness and appreciation of local history and heritage in its many forms during his tenure as Principal from 1979-2011. A link to a feature article by local newspaper 'Laois Today' detailing the official launch can be accessed by clicking the button below.
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5th & 6th Class Pupils with the mural of the local folktale 'The Ditreabhac's Legacy' in Shanahoe Village.
Pupils creating still images of key moments from 'The Ditreabhac's Legacy'
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The carriage driver discovering the Ditreabhac in the snowdrift.
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Mr. Bourden of Springmount House, Shahanoe tending to the Ditreabhac.
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A visit to St. Fintan's Monastery at Cromogue as part of the Confirmation retreat for 5th & 6th Class. St. Fintan is the patron saint of our school.
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St. Fintan's Holy Well at Cromogue-a Sacred Place.
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As part of their unit of work on the Celts, 5th & 6th Class visited the local rinfort at Rathsass.
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Following the path of the Celts- exploring the ringfort at Rathass
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Fieldtrip and History Trail at St. Fintan's Monastery at Clonenagh
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Working as historians at St. Fintan's Monastery at Clonenagh
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Historical investigative skills at Clonenagh
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Walking Tour of our local town Abbeyleix
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Congregating under the old railway bridge in Abbeyleix
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Visiting the sexton's house in Abbeyleix
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The Boccough Ruadh of Poor Man's Bridge created by the senior classes under the direction of former Principal Mr. Richie Connor
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Local history and heritage themed paintings created by the pupils in the senior classes
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Clay model of Poor Man's Bridge created by the pupils in the senior room
5th & 6th Class visit Springmount House, Shanahoe by kind permission of the Shortall Family
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Clay model of Gortnaclea Castle created by pupils in the senior room
Local historian, author and past pupil of the school, Tony Delaney speaks to 5th & 6th Class about the local folktale 'The Ditreabhac's Legacy' and its connection to Springmount House
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Paintings of Springmount House by 5th & 6th Class
Observing a model of the distinctive built heritage of Abbeyleix in Heritage House, Abbeyleix
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Paintings of Springmount House Take 2
Abbeyleix in Times Past-Model in Heritage House, Abbeyleix
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Local historian, author and past pupil of the school Tony Delaney talks to 5th & 6th Class about the local folktale 'The Ditreabhac's Legacy'
This mural on the rear wall of the school was completed by the pupils in 5th and 6th Class in the school year 2021-2022 under the 'Blast Artist in Residency' scheme which was awarded by Laois Education and Support Centre and which in turn was funded by the Department of Education. The pupils in 5th and 6th Class worked with Laois based artist Mary Slevin of Mount Henry Art Studio in Killenard to create the large-scale local history and heritage themed mural. The mural includes elements of the built heritage of Shanahoe and environs including the Anglo-Norman Gortnaclea Castle, the iconic Poor Man's Bridge which spans the river Nore in close proximity to the school and St. Fintan's Monastery and Holy Well at Cromogue. Local folktales namely 'The Ditrebhac's Legacy' which is represented by the stagecoach on the brow of the hill, 'The Banshee of Gortnaclea' seen with her long flowing black locks and 'The Boccough Rua of Poor Man's Bridge' with his distinctive red attire and wooden leg also feature prominently therein. The text in the mural is drawn from the famous poem 'Caoch the Piper' penned by renowned poet John Keegan (1816-1849) of Shanhoe and the roofless and ruined stone dwelling in the left background with its ivy clad top is the dwelling house of his uncle hedge school master Thomas Moloney in the townland of Killeaney who operated the first school in Shanahoe dating back over 200 years. The painting of the mural in the school year 2021-2022 coincided with the compilation of our school based local history and folklore collection 'Tracing Our Past: Scoil Fionntáin Naofa, Shanahoe' which was officially launched in December 2022. A photograph of the mural in fact forms the front cover of this collection.
