A little Information about our school's history.

On 18th April, 1825 a school opened on these grounds and became a recognised school ten years later with 90 boys and 89 girls attending. Among those who signed the application to make Newcastle an 'official' school were Lord Cloncurry and John Locke Skeritt. The pupils paid between a halfpenny and a penny per week. Older children had a reading, spelling and arithmetic book as well as book-keeping and measuring books. School was open from 10.00 am - 4.00 pm, six days per week, but on Friday only religion was taught. Eight to ten pupils sat at a desk with an inkwell in front of each pupil. Boys were taught on the ground floor and girls were taught upstairs.

When the old school was built in the 1930's, the firt school continued to be used as a classroom whenever extra space was needed.

In the late 1970's the new school with its modern facilities, including a large gym hall, was built and the original school building is currently being used as a parish meeting room.

A list of the Aims of our school

The ideal of Co-operation

The school is appropriately named after St. Finian who is known as the 'teacher of the Saints of Ireland'. Continuing this tradition, the school has down the years endeavoured to create a warm, safe, secure environment for all our children. This has been achieved by a combination of the efforts of teaching staff and the development of close and appropriate links between home, school and the local community. These links have contributed to the enrichment of the lives of our pupils.

The School Day

The school opens at 9.05 am and finishes at 1.45 pm for Infants and 2.45 pm for all other pupils. There is a morning break from 10.45 am to 11.00 am and lunch is from 12.20pm to 12.45 pm.

Find more information in the Parent's Area and more photos in the heritage tour

Schools Adopt Monuments.

We are a founder member of Schools Adopt Monuments, a pan-European programme which promotes heritage and local culture for all of Europe's children. Our school is acting as the moderator for the group, which is comprised of over 100 schools across all 15 E.U. member states.

{Click here to visit the European Schools Adopt Monuments site.}