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The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Beloved school in Irish village closes for good after 101 years as last-ever two pupils leave on ‘very sad day'
A HISTORIC Irish primary school which has been open for 101 years will be forced to close today after its number of pupils dwindled to just two. St Oliver's national school in Stonetown, Dundalk, Co Advertisement 4 Barry O'Brien with his children Barry Og and Sheila Credit: Louise Walsh Collect 4 They are the last two pupils at Stonetown School which is closing its doors for the last time in 101 years Credit: Louise Walsh Collect 4 Barry said his children will miss the school Credit: Louise Walsh Collect Barry Og O'Brien, 11, will start post-primary school in Carrickmacross, Co Father of the two students, Barry, said he is saddened to see a Originally from Lisdoo, Barry and his wife Majella moved to the parish 21 years ago and four of his seven children were educated at Stonetown. Barry said: "When we moved three of our children were already settled in school in Dundalk so we left them there but our youngest four all completed their education at Stonetown and were very happy there. Advertisement Read more in News "Hundreds of past pupils attended the 100th year anniversary celebrations last year and shared so many wonderful and cherished memories of their time here. "Over the years, the numbers just dropped off until my two children were the last pupils in the school last September. "We did approach all the politicians for help and Peter Fitzpatrick did try and help by organising a meeting with the then education Minister Norma Foley." He continued: "We thought maybe we could get students bussed out from areas in Dundalk but unfortunately, the general elections were called and that was that. Advertisement MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN "Peter retired from politics and the education ministry changed. "None of my children ever missed a day at Stonetown School and they left every morning and came home every afternoon with smiles on their faces. They were very happy there. 'WILL MISS THEIR SCHOOL' "Barry Og and Sheila will miss the school but they are happy to go to a new school with more students and new friends. "I know the school couldn't carry on without students but I know it was a hard decision to be made to close it and it is a very sad day for the area." Advertisement In a statement the Department of Education and Youth said: "The decision-making authority for a school closure is the patron of that school. "Any proposal to close a school must involve consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders, parents, teachers, students and local communities and follow decisions taken at local level. "A proposed closure is then subject to the agreement of the Department of Education and Youth. "The Patron of Stonetown National School, Dundalk, Co Louth (roll number 16431Q) requested the closure of the school at the end of the current school year and the Department has agreed to this request. Where a decision is made to close a school, all relevant teachers are redeployed in time for the new school year." Advertisement 4 St Oliver's national school is set to close its doors after the school's only sixth class student graduates Credit: google maps
The Irish Sun
09-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Peace-making pig farmer cooking up storm with colourful sausages for Meath & Louth fans ahead of Leinster GAA final tie
A FREE-RANGE pig farmer has calmed tensions between GAA fans on the border of Meath and Louth by serving up colourful sausages ahead of the Leinster football final. 4 Peter Whelan, Aisling Mooney, and Frank Taaffe with the sausages on the border Credit: Louise Walsh Collect 4 Louth captain Sam Mulroy and Meath captain Eoghan Frayne will clash in the final Credit: Sportsfile 4 Peter has made 10kgs of both red and green sausages for the occasion Credit: Louise Walsh Collect The colourful grub is planned to be cooked barbecue breakfast style at Dolly Mitchells Pub before Meath and Louth fans head off to The showdown is the first time the teams have met in a Peter who owns The Whole Hoggs Farm in Slane, Co Meath has a herd of Irish Grazer pigs which are free to roam over 60 acres of farmland and supplies his award-winning produce to the Pantry cafe at the popular pub. Dolly's lies just on the border of Meath and Louth, between Slane and Drogheda, and the counties are divided by the nearby Mattock river. Read more in Sport Peter has made 10kgs of both red and green sausages for the occasion - and may try to entice fans to try and down each other's colours without gagging. He said: "Dolly Mitchells is within yards of the Louth border and so the place has regular customers from both counties. "I've lived in Meath for 35 years but I'll always be a Dub, coming from Castleknock, and over the years I've got the slagging from both sets of fans when I wear the Dublin jersey to the pub. "The Meath and Louth customers would say that Dublin were only winning because of the money being thrown at them and I always said that Meath and Louth had to get their game on to reach the high standards that Dublin had set but it was always just banter. Most read in GAA Football "When Meath beat the Dubs, I was genuinely delighted because people needed fresh teams in Croke Park and everyone will be more interested in this final because Dublin isn't in it. "I do live in Meath but I will stay neutral in Dolly Mitchells for this showdown. I've made the sausages for both and it would be nice if they were mixed between the fans - but I doubt it. BUS SHARING "It is unusual that Meath and Louth fans will share the bus from Dolly Mitchells - can you imagine the atmosphere on the way home. They are already fighting over seats." It is also hoped that there will be enough sausages for an apres match style barbecue on Sunday evening. Meanwhile, Meath supporters have taken things up a gear ahead of the final - by spray painting a car in the Royal colours. Friends Callum White, Cathal Melia and Meath Other pals soon joined in the collective effort and over 20 donations from helping hands made it possible to buy the car and all the materials needed. 4 Friends Callum White, Cathal Melia and Oran Boylan are excited for the match Credit: Louise Walsh Collect
