HISTORY OF BALLYMACTHOHAS AND FLEMBY SCHOOL

Ballymacthomas National School was built in 1867 in the townland of Ballymacthomas in the parish of Ballymacelligott and according to the register of the time officially opened in July 1868. It was built using “Board’s Funds and Local Funds”. There were two schools in the building — a boys’ and a girls’. Each school consisted of one school room with internal dimensions of 30feet long, 20 feet wide and 10.5 feet high. There were six long desks in each room with narrow seats.

There were 15 boys and 20 girls on the first register in the year 1868. A report in 1898 states that “Moral tone and discipline were satisfactory’. A historic comment in a report in 1923 is as follows: “In consequence of frequent military operations in the neighbourhood, the average attendance in this school declined considerably during the last four months of 1922”.

In 1926, the two schools were amalgamated. Flemby National School, was officially opened in 1966, on a site acquired from Sean Prendiville,
at a cost of £9,000. It was built by Mr. John Falvey, The Kerries, Tralee. Bridget Mc Donnell is the current Chairperson of our Board of Management. Until recently, the Chairperson of the Board of Management was the Parish Priest. The Parish Priest still sits on the Board and we
have been blessed with dedicated Boards of Management through the years.

Succeeding principals, with the support of Boards of Management, have maintained and improved the building and site, ensuring it always is a modern school suited to meet the needs of the children at the time. The current school building has two classrooms, a Learning Support room, a Principal’s Office and a Staff Room. The classrooms are bright and stocked with educational equipment to teach the Curriculum. Both classrooms have interactive whiteboards.

The play area was extended in the ‘90s to include a fenced off basketball court. Play involves much more than football and basketball now thanks to the variety of play equipment dotted around our school (all made from natural materials), ensuring a rich and diverse play experience for everyone. In recent times we’ve gone back to the tradition of gardening that was in Flemby in the ‘60s and ‘70s. We have a polytunnel, vegetable beds and flower beds.

It is still a two teacher school with a Principal and Teacher. However since the 1990s, we’ve shared Learning Support and Resource Teachers with other schools. We also have two Special Needs Assistants on the current staff.

Ballymacelligott 1 National School Ethos Statement

Ballymacelligott 1 National School is a co-educational Catholic primary school under the patronage of the Bishop of Kerry. We strive to be a warm and welcoming community where each child is nurtured to reach their full and unique potential as a person made in the image and likeness of God.

Our school’s heart is a deep relationship with Jesus Christ, guiding our values, practices, and interactions. We are committed to fostering a sense of awe, wonder, and gratitude for God’s creation while encouraging each student’s spiritual, intellectual, physical, cultural, and moral development. Our curriculum is enriched by the Grow in Love religious education programme, and our daily routines are infused with prayer, reflection, and celebrating Catholic feasts and traditions.

Academic achievement is a key priority at Ballymacelligott 1 NS. We believe in the transformative power of education and strive to cultivate a love of learning that extends beyond the classroom. Our goal is to equip every student with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to pursue lifelong learning. By fostering a growth mindset, we encourage our students to embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, and value the process of learning as much as the outcome.

We highly value our relationships with parents and the wider community, recognising their vital role in a child’s holistic development. We aim to work in partnership with families to promote values such as truth, trust, faith, honesty, and justice, which permeate the life and culture of our school. Together, we create a nurturing environment where every child’s best interests are prioritised, ensuring their holistic development and growth.

As a learning community, Ballymacelligott 1 NS promotes and values lifelong learning for all. We uphold high professional standards in teaching, ensuring that each child receives the support and encouragement needed to thrive academically, spiritually, and personally. Our commitment to inclusiveness, cultural and religious diversity, and social justice shapes our education, fostering compassionate individuals prepared to contribute positively to society.

In partnership with the home and community, Ballymacelligott 1 NS is dedicated to creating a faith-filled environment where the Gospel values of love, respect, and service guide every aspect of school life, providing a secure and spiritually nourishing space for our students.