Togher N.S.

Minister for Health and Children, Michael Martin TD, performed the official opening of the new extension at a school that has experienced a major turnaround through a tremendous collaborative effort on behalf of teachers, board of management, parents and the wider community.

Togher National School is a four teacher school at the foot of the Shehy Mountains six miles north of Dunmanway. It was built in 1939.

In 1996 Togher NS became part of the rural Breaking the Cycle, clustered with three other schools. This pilot initiative was intended to serve pupils in disadvantaged rural area. A parents association was formed in May 1997. Togher women’s group was formed in the same month and is also based at the school. Togher NS Sports Club was formed with funding from Cork County VEC, and a pre-school induction group was started. The school now has a full time resource teacher, a FAS Classroom Assistant, is a participant in the Bantry/Dunmanway Early School Leavers Initiative and has organised in-service training. All these developments have had a very positive effect on the whole community.

The school had 88 pupils on roll in September 2000. The new extension provides two new classrooms, a staff room, storeroom and improvements to the old building and a play area. The work was a collaborative effort on behalf of all the partners involved in the school and the wider community.

Minister Martin described it as a great privilege to be invited to a school as dynamic as Togher. ‘Something very valuable is happening in this school’ he said. ‘Teachers have made a huge commitment here; they have played an important role in the rejuvenation and development of the school.’ He referred to the significance of a school like Togher turning around and said it was a sign of the renewed vibrancy that is coming back into rural Ireland. ‘The school had achieved viability by working with all the agencies’ he said.

He highlighted the important role that the teachers and the parents association played in providing extra curricular activities from sport to art to culture. ‘Obviously there is great leadership here from Mary Keane and the previous principal as well, who have made an outstanding contribution for their tremendous commitment to the school,’ the Minister said.

Minister Martin went on to describe the school as a pioneering one, ahead of other schools in terms of the utilisation of technology. The school was chosen as lead school for the Schools Integration Project funded by the National Council of Technology in Education. . He saluted the school for taking part in the ESAT Young Scientists 2000 exhibition and the West Cork Network which he described as a dynamic force and a collaboration between a network of small rural schools proving that technology is a new way of eliminating peripherality. The school was also one of the few selected to participate in the INTO/Eircom Information Age Magnet schools project. Mary Keane acknowledged teacher Helen O’ Connell for enthusiastically co-ordinating these pioneering initiatives.

Mrs Mary O’Neill on behalf of the Board of Management made a presentation to the Minister saying that she was happy that their hard work had come to fruition and that they were proud of their achievement.

Catherine Cotter spoke on behalf of the Parents Association. Other speakers included Fionnbarra O’Tuama the local school inspector and Canon Forde and Michael McCarthy, Chairman of the Western Division of Cork County Council. The new extension was blessed by Fr Kelly and Rev. Hewitt.

School Principal, Mary Keane, then read an evocative extract from ‘The Master’ by Brian McMahon in which he recalled his experience of moving into a new school in the 50s which summed up her experience of moving into the new classroom.

Mary then introduced the children who gave their own impressions through essays and poems. Ash Cracknell, made a short speech in which he said that children were definitely special because they had a Minister while there was no minister for mammies, daddies or teachers!


Mary Keane acknowledged the many people who have contributed to the success of the school during the last number of years. She expressed gratitude to members of the Board of Management, parents and representatives of statutory and voluntary bodies.

She paid special tribute also to the former principal Mrs Nan Hurley, and thanked Joan Collins and Richard Swan and teachers Kathleen McCarthy, Helen O’ Connell and Majella Daly.

Two members of the Oireachtas were present; Donal Moynihan TD (FF) and Michael Creed TD (FG).

The children completed the proceedings by playing a number of tunes on the tin whistle. The Minister then visited the school garden and enjoyed a cup of tea and a chat with invited guests.