Ballyverdaugh National School
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It may seem incredible to us today, but in the mid-1800s, most Ulster folk couldn’t read. However, because of National Schools, such as this one from County Antrim, the proportion of people over 5 years of age who couldn’t read or write dropped from 53% in 1841 to 14% in 1901.
Ireland's National Education system was established in 1831. The role of the National Schools was to provide education for all children between the ages of 6 and 12 years by a system of secular education, with provision for religious instruction by the various clergymen outside normal school hours.
Ballyverdagh National School was established in 1836 and is one of the oldest National Schools in Ireland, being No. 7 in the chronological list of applications for grant aid. It was built on land donated by a local farmer, and until 1889, the building housed two separate schools - the boys' National School on the ground floor, and the girls' National School on the first floor. From 1889, until the school finally closed in 1935, all children were educated in the upper room.
The Commissioners for National Education published a range of reading books (1-6). In fact these were more than just reading books as they contained almost the entire curriculum and body of knowledge thought necessary for children to know. Other books widely used included the handwriting and drawing exercise books designed by the Belfast philanthropist and educationalist, Vere Foster.
The National School system provided an excellent basic education, and perhaps its greatest achievement was the significant increase in literacy in the 19th century.
Original location: Ballyverdaugh, Ballycastle, County Antrim
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