Survey Data
Reg No
13401925
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Social
Previous Name
Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Brighde
Original Use
School
Date
1930 - 1940
Coordinates
217408, 270367
Date Recorded
22/07/2005
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached six-bay single-storey former national school, built c. 1937, having gable-fronted two-bay single-storey projection to rear (north) having entrances to side elevations. Now disused. Pitched natural slate roofs with metal roof vent and cast-iron rainwater goods. Slightly projecting red brick chimneystacks to gable ends (east and west) partially supported on brick cobbled course. Smooth rendered walls with carved limestone name and date plaque to front façade (south). Square-headed window openings with remains of six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows and rendered sills. Four-over-four pane timber sliding sash windows to north face of rear porch projection. Square-headed door openings to side elevations of rear porch having timber battened doors. Set back from road in own grounds to the northwest of Ardagh. Rubble and coursed limestone boundary wall with cement coping over to road-frontage (south) and rubble stone wall to the rear (north) dividing enclosed area into two separate yards. Main entrance gateway to the south comprising a pair of coursed limestone gate piers (on square-plan) having cut stone coping over and a pair of wrought-iron flat bar gates. Low rubble stone boundary walls to the west wend of boundary wall to road frontage having wrought-iron railings over. Cast-iron post box (13401903) built into boundary wall.
Appraisal
Although now derelict, this former school building retains much of its early character and form. Its simple symmetrical form is typical of the standard school buildings designed and built in great numbers by the Office of Public Works for the Board of Education during the first decades of independence, particularly from c. 1925 to c. 1939. This particular school was built in 1937 (OPW). Its form suggests that it was originally built as a two classroom school, possibly with separate classrooms for boys and girls as was common practice at the time of construction. This impression is reinforced by the boundary wall to the rear, which divides the yard into two separate enclosed spaces. The school retains many original features that enhance the façade such as the slate roof, timber sash windows and the carved limestone with incised Gaelic script. This simple school building is of social importance to the local community and represents a modest addition to the built heritage of the local area. The present school replaced and earlier school house at Laughil, which was located a short distance to the east at the far side of the road (Ordnance Survey six-inch maps 1838 and 1913).