Boltifree School.

The remains of Boltifree NS

In around 1860 there was a Master Kerrigan teaching in a sod house on Neill Herron's land in Meenalig. Kerrigan was a travelling teacher who spent a week in each area. The pupils at his school were charged fourpence each and they had to bring turf and potatoes to school.

Master Kerrigan had one deformed hand so the children had to peel the potatoes for him. One day one of the girls in the class reported that she had heard a cracking noise. That day, while everyone was outside at lunchtime, the roof caved in.

In 1866 Boltifree School was built. We know that Ellen Houston (nee Molloy) was teaching there from the early 1900's until her death in 1928. She was succeeded by Nelly O Donnell from Moneen who was only there for about a year until Mary Ellen Houston from Stranabrattogue was appointed principal there. Mary Ellen remained there until her marriage in 1935.

On October 1st 1935, Miss Annie Gallagher from Strath Salach in Glenties was appointed Principal. Miss Gallagher had qualified the previous June in Colaiste Bhridghde and had been teaching in Donegal Town since then. Miss Gallagher (now Mrs Dunlevey) still recalls arriving at Cloghan Station by train and making her way towards Boltifree. She enquired at Frank Houston's house as to where she might find lodgings and she was offered a room complete with a daily supply of turf, milk and potatoes for the grand sum of £1 per month.

Miss Gallagher introduced innovative ideas such as the use of drama to help impart knowledge to her pupils. Many times she used her own finances to transport pupils to competitions in different parts of the country. She recalls on one occasion six pupils and herself being driven to Rossnowlagh by Maurice Mc Menamin and the whole journey including a meal costing only 10 shillings.

Miss Gallagher's efforts got their just rewards in 1940 when four of her pupils won 'The Gaeltacht Schools Competition' at the National Drama Festival Finals in the Abbey Theatre with Mairead Nic Daibhid taking the Gold Medal for 'Best Individual Acting' in the competition. Miss Gallagher recalls the journey to Dublin driven by Gusty Bonner. They stayed overnight with Teresa and Mary McGeehan, two sisters from Meenagoland, who had a house in Harcourt Street. Mary McGeehan was a N.S. Inspector and Teresa was an official of the Department of Education. They were the sisters of Michael McGeehan Ballinamore and the aunts of Canice McGeehan. The McGeehan sisters did not charge for the lodgings and instead gave each of the children half a crown for pocket money.

Mrs Nell Foley (nee Brennan)

Many children from outside the immediate catchment area went to Boltifree School at that time and at one stage Miss Gallagher taught 47 students on her own before Mrs Kitty Mc Glynn (Houston), who had been teaching in Ardlaghan where numbers had fallen, was transferred to Boltifree to assist her. Mrs Mc Glynn and Miss Gallagher became close friends and on June 2nd 1941 Miss Gallagher held vigil at her bedside as she died.

After the death of Mrs Mc Glynn there were a number of assistants to Miss Gallagher in the school, including John Boyle from the Reelin and Anne Quinn from Glenties.

After her marriage to Frank Dunleavey in 1947 Annie Dunleavey left Boltifree and Miss Kathleen Browne from Galwolie, who was awaiting a call to training college, temporarily replaced her.

In 1949 Nell Brennan, a sister of Master Brennan in Letterbrick, became principal in Boltifree. This was Nell's first teaching post. By Christmas of 1952 conditions in Boltifree were so poor that Miss Brennan approached the then Parish Priest Fr. William Sheridan and told him that she would not return to the school after Christmas. He decided to close the school. In January 1953 Boltifree School was amalgamated with Teevogue School.