Communities saddened by Leitir NS closure

OFFICIALLY CLOSING June 28 will be the last school day at Leitir NS.

News of the closure of Leitir National School, between Castlebar and Newport, has been received with shock and dismay by the community, according to local Cllr Martin McLoughlin.
Describing it as another nail in the coffin of rural Ireland, Cllr McLoughlin said the closure of Leitir school underlined the neglect of once-vibrant and sustainable communities.
Leitir school will officially close for the last time on June 28 next, when the number of pupils at the one-teacher school will reduce to four, with the departure of two children to commence second level education.
“When the school was built in 1963, it had a pupil enrolment in excess of 50. Leitir was one of five schools in the parish of Islandeady. Following the closure of Glenisland school three years ago, only Cloggernagh, Cornanool and Cogaula now remain,” said Cllr McLoughlin.
When Leitir school was built on a new site in 1963, it replaced the old 19th century school where the late Henry Kenny, TD and Minister, had been principal from 1948 until his election to DΡil Éireann in 1954.
The two-classroomed school had enjoyed healthy enrolment numbers for many decades, supported by a staff of two mainstream teachers, a resource teacher, a part-time learning support teacher, and two special needs assistants. However, population decline had led to falling numbers, the reduction to one teacher, and finally the decision to close the school at the end of the current school year.
“The closure of Leitir school is a reflection of the trend in rural Ireland,” said Cllr McLoughlin. “The decision to close had become inevitable, but that does not make it any easier for the local community to accept. The lights are going out all over the countryside, and we will learn to regret only when it is too late.”
He said the closure of Glenisland school three years ago had sounded the alarm bell for the parish.
“Glenisland has now lost its school, its Post Office, its Garda station, and even its resident Catholic curate,” Cllr McLoughlin said.