Stair na Scoile
Stair na Scoile
Bhí cúig scoil i bParóiste na Dromoda fadó: Scoil Chill Mhic Chiaráin, Scoil Mháistir Gaoithe, Scoil an Chaisleach, Scoil Doire Ianna agus Scoil Cathair Sabháin.
D’oscail Scoil Doire Ianna in 1882 agus dúnadh í cúig lá déag roimh thús laethanta saoire an tsamhraidh i 1968. D’oscail Scoil an Chaisleach i 1915. Nuair a d’éirigh Pádraig Breathnach as mar phríomhoide i 1968, bhog Nora Bn. Uí Churráin agus a naonúr dalta ó Dhoire Ianna go Scoil an Chaisleach. Mhúin sí ann in éineacht le Kathleen Bn. Uí Shé go dtí gur aistrigh siad go Scoil Náisiúnta Chillín Liath i Meán Fómhair 1973.
D’oscail Scoil Chill Mhic Chiaráin i 1883. Nuair a dúnadh í i 1969, chuaigh na páistí a bhí ann ar scoil go Máistir Gaoithe. Bunaíodh Scoil Mháistir Gaoithe i 1847, i mbliain an Ghorta Mhóir. Scoil beirt mhúinteoir a bhí inti agus mhúin Paddy agus Agnes Ó Siocriú ann. Tar éis éirí as Agnes, tháinig Maureen Bn. Uí Shiocriú ina háit. Dhún an scoil i 1973.
D’oscail Scoil Cathair Sabháin i 1869 mar scoil beirt mhúinteoir. Ba iad Máire Bn. an Rí agus Máire Bn. Uí Shé na múinteoirí deireanacha ann agus dúnadh an scoil i 1973.
Ar an gcéad lá de Mheán Fómhair 1973, osclaíodh an scoil nua — Scoil Náisiúnta Chillín Liath. Ba chónascadh í idir Scoil an Chaisleach, Scoil Mháistir Gaoithe agus Scoil Cathair Sabháin. Thóg Tom Keane an scoil ar thalamh a bhí le John Dinny Ó Sé. Ag an am, bhí Máire Bn. Uí Shé mar phríomhoide agus bhí Nora Bn. Uí Churráin, Maureen Bn. Uí Shiocriú agus Kathleen Bn. Uí Shé ar an bhfoireann teagaisc. Bhí 104 dalta ar an rolla an lá a d’oscail an scoil.
Ba í an scoil an chéad fhoirgneamh i mbaile beag Chillín Liath agus is inti a cuireadh tús le forbairt an phobail a bhfuil bríomhar inniu. Sa bhliain 1989 thóg muintir Uí Chonchúir an teach tábhairne, The Inny Tavern. I 1990 tógadh an séipéal Our Lady of the Valley agus leanadh leis an bhforbairt le Forbairt na Dromoda i 2000 agus le Cúram Leanaí na Dromoda go gairid ina dhiaidh sin. Tá sé de phribhléid againn a bheith i gcroílár an phobail seo agus táimid an-bhródúil as an ról lárnach atá ag an scoil i saol na háite.
I 2017, thosaigh an scoil i mbun oibre ar an Scéim Aitheantais mar Scoil Ghaeltachta. Mar thoradh ar an obair agus ar an dtiomantas don tumoideachas ó shin, fuair Scoil Náisiúnta Chillín Liath aitheantas oifigiúil mar Scoil Ghaeltachta sa bhliain 2023. Bhí ócáid speisialta againn an bhliain chéanna chun 50 bliain de Scoil Chillín Liath a cheiliúradh i bpobal bródúil agus fuinniúil.
School History
Long ago, there were five schools in Dromid Parish: Kilmackerin, Mastergeehy, Cashlagh, Derriana, and Cahersavane.
Derriana School opened in 1882 and closed just 17 days before the summer holidays in 1968. Cashlagh School opened in 1915 as a one-teacher school. When Principal Pádraig Breathnach retired in 1968, Mrs. Nora Curran, who had been Principal of Derriana, moved with her nine pupils to Cashlagh. She taught there with Mrs. Kathleen Shea until both transferred to the new Scoil Náisiúnta Cillín Liath in September 1973.
Kilmackerin School opened in 1883 as a one-teacher school. It closed in 1969 and its pupils transferred to Mastergeehy School. Mastergeehy School dated back to 1847, the worst year of the Great Famine. It was a two-teacher school with Paddy and Agnes Sugrue as teachers. When Agnes retired, she was replaced by Mrs. Maureen Sugrue. The school closed in 1973.
Cahersavane School opened in 1869 as a two-teacher school. The last teachers there were Mrs. King and Mrs. Shea before the school finally closed in 1973.
On 1st September 1973, the new Scoil Náisiúnta Cillín Liath opened its doors. The school was an amalgamation of Cashlagh, Mastergeehy and Cahersavane. It was built by Tom Keane on land owned by John Dinny O’Shea. Mrs. Máire Shea was appointed as the first Principal, with Mrs. Nora Curran, Mrs. Maureen Sugrue and Mrs. Kathleen Shea joining her as teachers. There were 104 pupils enrolled on opening day.
The school was the first building in what is now the beautiful village of Cillín Liath and it became the heart around which the community grew. In 1989, the O’Connor family built The Inny Tavern, followed in 1990 by the church Our Lady of the Valley. In 2000, Forbairt na Dromoda Community Centre was opened and shortly afterwards Cúram Leanaí na Dromoda childcare centre was established. We are deeply proud that the school has always been a central part of this vibrant and growing community.
In 2017, the school joined the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme. Thanks to its commitment to immersion education, Scoil Náisiúnta Cillín Liath was officially recognised as a Gaeltacht School in 2023. That same year, the community proudly celebrated the school’s 50th anniversary.
