In 1875, the Sisters of Mercy Clonakilty, County Cork were invited to Kilmacthomas, by Reverend David Hearne, C.C. Of Newtown. The sisters arrived in 1876 To take charge of the workhouse, four sisters arrived to answer the invitation. A temporary school was soon opened and they were promised a new convent and school. The sisters at Kilmacthomas discovered that they were required to go back to Clonakilty in August 1878. They left in May 1878 as sisters from the Cappoquin convent had been asked to take over from the departing sisters by Father Hearne. They arrived in Kilmacthomas on May 20th, 1878. Mother Stanislas Lawrence, the mother superior, along with five sisters to found the convent here. These sisters were Gertrude Whelan, Joseph Harnett, Bernard Hennessey, Xavier Meade and Columba Fives. All are interned in the cemetery at the convent. Some of the sisters worked in the workhouse which remained open until 1926. The other sisters taught in the school and in a tiny house until a new convent, Chapel and school were to be built. Father Hearne employed a Mr M.T. O'Keefe to design and draw plans for a new convent and school, as well as a beautiful Gothic Church of local stone with limestone, if you wish to see this original design please follow this link, https://www.archiseek.com/2016/1880-convent-church-school-kilmacthomas-co-waterford/
The contract for the construction work was given to Mr Ed Shinnick of Limerick. The foundation stone of the school was laid in September 1878 and the convent February 1881. But before the convent was complete Mr. Shinnick’s company became bankrupt and another builder had to be found to finish the work. Much of the original ambitious plans could not be completed due to lack of funds. The proposed Gothic church was abandoned altogether. A temporary Chapel was erected adjoining the convent- the wooden church which was formerly a miners hut brought from Bonmahon, please follow this link to see a picture of the convent and church form 1910.
https://www.waterfordmuseum.ie/exhibit/web/DisplayPrintableImage/K0FQuYCznM3H2/
This building lasted to a number of years ago and served as the public and convent Chapel. The sisters, who taught in the local school also provided night classes, for girls who worked at Stevenson’s Woolen Mill. They learned the basics, reading, writing and arithmetic and religion, of course, so that could be prepared for confirmation.
When the workhouse closed in 1926, the sisters who had been working there came to live in the convent as well as teaching. The sisters have always been closely association with the local community. The original school, that was built, is now the Church of Our Lady of Mercy 50 metres away from tour present day school, consecrated in C. 1998. This building was used as school until 1973- it was over 90 years old at this point.
The School building itself was outdated by the late 1960s early 1970s. It lacked electric light, water, reliable heating. The children's toilets were across the yard outdoors. Talk of a new school was in the air in the early 1970, eventually permission was granted for the construction of a modern 4 classroom building together with a general-purpose room and staff room begun in 1971/ early 1972, to be ready for children for the start of the 1972 school year. Land was acquired beside the convent and construction was begun.
The new school was due to open in 1972. As shown on the plaque on the exterior wall of the building, however new houses were built in the area and this gave rise to an increased demand for school places, so another classroom was required. This was added to the eastern end. There was great excitement when moving into the new school. It didn't take long to settle into everyone's routine and way of life in the new building. However, the official opening did not occur until September 1974. Bishop Michael Russell and the Regional and District School inspectors together with the architect from the Board of Works Builders representatives and staff were in attendance together with a host of local people. The teaching staff at the time included Sister Joseph Cunningham, Principal, Sister Catherine Kirwan, Sister Teresa Tobin and Judith Flynn. A past pupil of the convent school and the first lay teacher. For the duration of one year, Sister Angela Keating taught in the school, travelling from the Stradbally convent. She was replaced by the second lay teacher, Colleen O’Connell. The School flourished, various activities such as piano lessons, Irish dancing classes. Over the years new members of staff added to the wealth of experience of the school. Sheila Creed, who recently retired as principal, Sheila Thornton, Mary McGrath, Sister Assumpta Hackett, Sister Antoinette Kennedy and Marie Mulhearne, all joined the staff.
In the early 2000’s as a sign of the changing times, the boys school in Currabaha and the Convent school were amalgamated to form Bunscoil Choill Mhic Tomaisin. The school operated over 2 campuses for the first number of years- as there was not enough room at the Convent site to host over 140 children. Land was purchased in the mid 2000s and a prefab was located on the site. The first principal of this new school was Sheila Creed, ably assisted by Ann Keane as deputy principal, Jack Giles and Breda Behan part of the staff here also.
A new school extension was finally granted, we moved in January 2016- and this is the present structure you see today- the western two classrooms of the original building have been re-configured to house 2 Special Education rooms, a meeting room which now host our lunch preparation area and a staff room.
Our School Crest:
A school uniform was proposed for the convent school and that remains the crest for Bunscoil Choill Mhic Tomaisin, it suggested by Judith Flynn to ‘Coughlans wood’ across the road from the school as a starting point for the crest- in ordnance survey maps it was call the ‘Horseshoe wood’
due to its shape- thus the horseshoe and trees formed part of the crest.
The contract for the construction work was given to Mr Ed Shinnick of Limerick. The foundation stone of the school was laid in September 1878 and the convent February 1881. But before the convent was complete Mr. Shinnick’s company became bankrupt and another builder had to be found to finish the work. Much of the original ambitious plans could not be completed due to lack of funds. The proposed Gothic church was abandoned altogether. A temporary Chapel was erected adjoining the convent- the wooden church which was formerly a miners hut brought from Bonmahon, please follow this link to see a picture of the convent and church form 1910.
https://www.waterfordmuseum.ie/exhibit/web/DisplayPrintableImage/K0FQuYCznM3H2/
This building lasted to a number of years ago and served as the public and convent Chapel. The sisters, who taught in the local school also provided night classes, for girls who worked at Stevenson’s Woolen Mill. They learned the basics, reading, writing and arithmetic and religion, of course, so that could be prepared for confirmation.
When the workhouse closed in 1926, the sisters who had been working there came to live in the convent as well as teaching. The sisters have always been closely association with the local community. The original school, that was built, is now the Church of Our Lady of Mercy 50 metres away from tour present day school, consecrated in C. 1998. This building was used as school until 1973- it was over 90 years old at this point.
The School building itself was outdated by the late 1960s early 1970s. It lacked electric light, water, reliable heating. The children's toilets were across the yard outdoors. Talk of a new school was in the air in the early 1970, eventually permission was granted for the construction of a modern 4 classroom building together with a general-purpose room and staff room begun in 1971/ early 1972, to be ready for children for the start of the 1972 school year. Land was acquired beside the convent and construction was begun.
The new school was due to open in 1972. As shown on the plaque on the exterior wall of the building, however new houses were built in the area and this gave rise to an increased demand for school places, so another classroom was required. This was added to the eastern end. There was great excitement when moving into the new school. It didn't take long to settle into everyone's routine and way of life in the new building. However, the official opening did not occur until September 1974. Bishop Michael Russell and the Regional and District School inspectors together with the architect from the Board of Works Builders representatives and staff were in attendance together with a host of local people. The teaching staff at the time included Sister Joseph Cunningham, Principal, Sister Catherine Kirwan, Sister Teresa Tobin and Judith Flynn. A past pupil of the convent school and the first lay teacher. For the duration of one year, Sister Angela Keating taught in the school, travelling from the Stradbally convent. She was replaced by the second lay teacher, Colleen O’Connell. The School flourished, various activities such as piano lessons, Irish dancing classes. Over the years new members of staff added to the wealth of experience of the school. Sheila Creed, who recently retired as principal, Sheila Thornton, Mary McGrath, Sister Assumpta Hackett, Sister Antoinette Kennedy and Marie Mulhearne, all joined the staff.
In the early 2000’s as a sign of the changing times, the boys school in Currabaha and the Convent school were amalgamated to form Bunscoil Choill Mhic Tomaisin. The school operated over 2 campuses for the first number of years- as there was not enough room at the Convent site to host over 140 children. Land was purchased in the mid 2000s and a prefab was located on the site. The first principal of this new school was Sheila Creed, ably assisted by Ann Keane as deputy principal, Jack Giles and Breda Behan part of the staff here also.
A new school extension was finally granted, we moved in January 2016- and this is the present structure you see today- the western two classrooms of the original building have been re-configured to house 2 Special Education rooms, a meeting room which now host our lunch preparation area and a staff room.
Our School Crest:
A school uniform was proposed for the convent school and that remains the crest for Bunscoil Choill Mhic Tomaisin, it suggested by Judith Flynn to ‘Coughlans wood’ across the road from the school as a starting point for the crest- in ordnance survey maps it was call the ‘Horseshoe wood’
due to its shape- thus the horseshoe and trees formed part of the crest.