Rathnageeragh NS
I got a lovely message way back in 2014 from Edmond Spruhan, formerly of Naomh Eoin, who had emigrated to Boston wishing me well as the new Carlow Football Manager and also wishing Pat English every success with the hurlers. It meant an awful lot to me and I never forgot it.
Leo McGough filled me in on his playing career – what an encyclopaedia of all things GAA! Ed was a great character with the county under age teams, he was goalkeeper on the 2002 minor team that beat Laois and drew with Dublin in the championship proper before losing to Dublin by a point in a play-off. That team later won that years All-Ireland minor B. They had lost the final the year before when Edmond was full forward. He played for five years with the county U-21s, winning 3 Leinster Specials, beaten in two All-Ireland finals. He hurled with the county seniors in 2003 and 2005, his 03 debut v Longford at full forward scoring 1-1 in a Dr Cullen Park NHL game but by the last game of the league he was in goal and in the championship was No 1 in the win over Meath in Navan and the losses to Laois and Kerry (in the All-Ireland qualifiers). In 05 he played four more games in goal, won a Kehoe Cup medal. In 2005 too he won his biggest honour of all, a Carlow SHC medal as Naomh Eoin goalkeeper, Myshall’s last title. It’s sad that Naomh Eoin have been in the wilderness ever since; it would do wonders for the game to see them back competing on County Final day.
On my bike rambles back in 2017, I travelled the back roads around Myshall, along what I dubbed ‘The Hidden Sky Road”. You might have noticed the signposts marking that cycle route from Borris to Myshall via Tomduff Cross and looping back around through Garryhill.
I took some photos of the derelict Rathnageeragh Schoolhouse in 2017.
I was struck by the beauty of this old ruin and its location on the side of the mountain. It looked bleak the day I was there but the setting was idyllic, with a view back down towards Rathnageeragh Castle from the gate. I couldn’t but wonder on how many local children got their first education here and how their lives were improved by their learning. There’s a great bit of history on it on the parish website:
It was built by local funds in 1883 and by 1896 it had 96 pupils!! It continued to provide education in the locality until it closed in 1967.
Ed was recently in touch asking me if I still had the photos I had taken back in 2017 as he explained that he had begun restoring the school 3 years ago. Nothing would do me but to get the bike out and head back down to have a gander. A strong cold wind was blowing up from the south as I headed out through Kellistown, Rathoe, Ballon and over by Taylor’s Cross. The morning had started bright and sunny but by the time I passed through Ballon, a few drops began to fall. Thankfully it held off and I eventually got to Rathangeeragh after about 90 minutes.
The almost fully restored Rathnageeragh School! Isn’t it class?
Rathnageeragh Castle ruins
Didn’t expect to see this sign for Graiguecullen in Shangarry!
