By the time it was only twenty years old, the primary school in Rathcoole had fallen into disrepair. On the 20 July 1874, it was struck off the register of Irish National Schools. It then became a fee-paying or hedge-type school.
Twelve years later, in 1886, a decision was made to build a new National School. A site was chosen at the Green and Rathcoole's first purpose-built National School was opened. The total cost of the building was £459.
Boys from Rathcoole National School, 1931
Photograph of boys from Rathcoole National School in 1931.
© South Dublin Libraries.Boys from Rathcoole National School, 1931
© South Dublin Libraries.
© South Dublin Libraries.
Boys from Rathcoole National School, 1931
Photograph of boys from Rathcoole National School in 1931.
© South Dublin Libraries.This photo shows a class of boys in the school in 1931.
Girls from Rathcoole National School, 1930
Photograph of girls from Rathcoole National School in 1930. Back: Sue (Monahan) Sweeney, Catherine (Reilly) Keane, Maggie Dunne, Mabel Montgomery, Eileen (Murphy) Kelly, Bridget (Mansfield) O'Neill, Mary Casey. Front: Paddy McEntee, Bridie (McEntee) O'Neill, Nellie (Coogan) Hart, Kathleen (McNally) Mansfield, Rose (McMahon) Hannon, Maureen Quinn, Annie (McMahon) Timmons, May (Keogh) Timmons, Lil Byrne, Mary Murphy.
© South Dublin Libraries.Girls from Rathcoole National School, 1930
© South Dublin Libraries.
© South Dublin Libraries.
Girls from Rathcoole National School, 1930
Photograph of girls from Rathcoole National School in 1930. Back: Sue (Monahan) Sweeney, Catherine (Reilly) Keane, Maggie Dunne, Mabel Montgomery, Eileen (Murphy) Kelly, Bridget (Mansfield) O'Neill, Mary Casey. Front: Paddy McEntee, Bridie (McEntee) O'Neill, Nellie (Coogan) Hart, Kathleen (McNally) Mansfield, Rose (McMahon) Hannon, Maureen Quinn, Annie (McMahon) Timmons, May (Keogh) Timmons, Lil Byrne, Mary Murphy.
© South Dublin Libraries.This photo is the girls' class in the same school in 1931.
There was a roll of 150 students at the newly built school. The building was in use as a school until 1965 and is now a Scouts' Den.