Survey Data
Reg No
40812007
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Social
Previous Name
Scoil Náisiúnta An Fál Carrach [Falcarragh National School]
Original Use
School
In Use As
Church hall/parish hall
Date
1870 - 1880
Coordinates
193919, 432242
Date Recorded
24/11/2010
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached four-bay single-storey former national school, built c. 1877, having projecting single-bay single-storey entrance porch to the east elevation. Now in use as church hall associated with Eaglais Naomh Fionán [Saint Finian's Catholic Church] (see 40812008) adjacent to the south-west having modern three-bay single-storey extension attached to the south gable end. Pitched artificial slate roof with cast-iron rainwater goods, scrolled cut stone kneeler stones to the gable ends at eaves level, and with two slightly projecting splayed squared and snecked rubble stone chimneystacks to the east elevation having feathered ashlar skews and with moulded copings over. Mono-pitched slate roof to porch having scrolled cut stone kneeler stones to the gable ends at eaves level. Squared and snecked rubble stone walls with flush rusticated\mildly rock-faced block-and-start quoins to the corners. Square-headed window openings to the west elevation having chamfered ashlar surrounds, sills and lintels, paired square-headed window openings with central chamfered ashlar mullion, and with replacement windows. Tripartite square-headed window opening to the south gable end having chamfered ashlar surround, sill, lintel, and mullions, squared rubble stone relieving arch over, and with replacement windows. Pointed arched door opening to the north face of porch having chamfered ashlar block-and-start surround, and with replacement battened timber door. Set back from road to the east of the centre of An Fál Carrach [Falcarragh]. Located adjacent to Saint Finian's Catholic church (see 40812008). Tarmacadam forecourt to the west, gravelled yard to the east, and small garden to the north-west and west. Rubble stone boundary wall with rubble stone soldier coping over to road-frontage to the north, the east boundary, and short section to the north-west. Pedestrian gateway to the north having a pair of ashlar gate piers (on square-plan) having decorative pitched ashlar coping stones over with roll moulding to ridge, replacement metal gate, and with cut stone steps.
Appraisal
Although now extended to the south and converted for use as a church hall, this attractive former school, of late nineteenth-century date, retains its original character and form. It is robustly constructed using squared and snecked rubble stone masonry with rock-faced quoins to the corners while the good-quality chamfered surrounds to the openings are clearly the work of skilled masons. The contrast between the dark grey mildly rock-faced dimension stone and the smooth pale grey ashlar surrounds to the openings adds some subdued but appealing textural and tonal variation. The window openings with mullions, pointed-arched doorway, and the kneeler stones to the eaves helps to give this building a mildly Tudor Gothic architectural character that was commonly used for school buildings in Ireland at the time of construction. The original form of this building, having central entrance porch to the east elevation, suggests that this was originally a two-classroom school, possibly with separate classrooms for boys and girls, which was a common feature of Victorian schools reflecting the strict social thinking of the time. This building is more elaborate than the majority of contemporary school buildings found in Ireland; this suggests the input (or partial input) of the local landlords at the time, The Olpherts of nearby Ballyconnell House (see 40812001). This building was originally built to designs by O'Neill and Byrne Architects, a firm based in Dublin and Belfast at the time of construction. This firm carried out numerous contracts for the Catholic Church in Ireland from c.1869 until c.1885; this work included the designs of a number of churches County Donegal such as Saint Agatha's (see 40909404) at Clar, near Donegal Town, Saint Columba's (see 40903104) at Drung, near Moville, and the fine Saint Patrick's (see 40839017) at Crossroads, near Killygordon. This firm was also responsible for the church that formerly stood adjacent to the south-west. This church, Eaglais Naomh Fionán [Saint Finian's Catholic Church], was originally built in 1877 in an Early English Gothic style that complimented the form of this school; this church was demolished c.1982 and replaced by a modern church building (see 40812008). This former school is an integral element of the built heritage and social history of An Fál Carrach [Falcarragh], and is an interesting feature in the streetscape to the east end of the village. The simple rubble stone boundary walls to site, and the good quality gateway to the north with ashlar piers and pitched ashlar coping over add to the setting and context.