Our Great History

A primary school was established in Crinkill in 1851, the money for which was provided by the Catholic Bishop of Killaloe, Dr. Kennedy. The school was located in School Road, in the premises which later became the private residence of Danny and Noel Hogan. That little school provided education for the children of Crinkill until 1958.

On 22nd September 1958, pupils moved into the new school built by Mr. M Loughnane. It must have been a very exciting and momentous occasion, but no account of the occasion exists in the school records beyond the obligatory entry in the Daily Attendance Book. Enrolment on that day was 84 pupils – 53 boys and 31 girls. Fortunately, the Midland Tribune published a worthy account in its publication on 27th September 1958.

In 1966, Fortal National School was closed, and most of the pupils came to Crinkill. Enrolment steadily increased with the developing village, and in 1979, a fourth teacher was appointed. A prefabricated building was sourced to accommodate the extra class. Expanding enrolment over the next decade resulted in a further increase in staffing, bringing the number of teachers to 6 in 1991. A second prefabricated classroom was acquired to cater for the increasing numbers. This particular prefab had already served its time accommodating classes in the Presentation Brother Secondary School and bore the scars of having to accommodate adolescent boys! It proved to be the catalyst for a vigorous campaign aimed at refurbishing the school. Parents and Board of Management campaigned unrelentingly until the Department sanctioned an extension and refurbishment of the existing building. Builders, Frank Murray and Sons commenced work on the extension in April 1992. Three teachers and their classes had to decamp to the old St John’s Convent Secondary School while building was in progress. In December 1992, they returned to the newly refurbished and expanded school. Three new classrooms had been added. A general-purpose room, store, and shelter which were financed by the local community completed the complex. Oil-fired central heating replaced the storage heating of the original school.

An Official Opening took place - this time with much fanfare and celebration on June 18th, 1993. Bishop Michael Harty of Killaloe performed the blessing, and Brian Cowen, Minister for Transport and Energy and Communication performed the official opening. Very Rev. Michael Harty, Bishop of Killaloe celebrated Mass in the new G.P. Room with a congregation overflowing to an adjoining classroom where the ceremony was relayed on C.C.T.V. courtesy of Peter Eastwood. Pupils and teachers settled in to the new surroundings and enjoyed the benefits of extra space which made the delivery of the revised curriculum more feasible. The Community benefited by having the use of the new general-purpose room for meetings.

As the millennium approached, increasing numbers yet again created a demand for extra accommodation. The Department responded by providing a prefabricated extension to the rear of the school. Completed in 2002, it provided two new classrooms, a staffroom, and a learning support room. The B.O.M. applied to the Department for a permanent structure. This was sanctioned in 2005. Planning permission was granted in January 2008 and after numerous delays, the building was finished in 2012, bringing extra classrooms, resource rooms, a dedicated library, and a wonderful new sports hall. BOM also secured extra playing field space for the school.

Over the years, the school has responded to the needs of the community, the demands of the Department of Education, and the changing pupil profile. The first Board of Management was established in October 1975. Monsignor Patrick Hamell was the first Chairperson. In 1997, Mrs. Ming Loughnane was appointed as the first lay Chairperson. A school uniform was adopted in September 1994, and a Parents Association was established in 1995.