McGlynn's of Cloonyquinn

You may have heard of "The Kennedy’s of Castleross" or "The Riordan's of Leestown" but I reckon that McGlynn of Cloonyquinn would have given them a good run for their money. The McGlynn family were the last residents of the old Cloonyquinn Schoolhouse which was built in 1877. The McGlynn family may not have been the first residents there, but they had lived in the house since at least 1901 and are recorded in the 1901 census and again in the 1911 census.

No surprise that the head of the family - Mr. Francis McGlynn, aged 37 in 1901, was the resident schoolmaster at the time. It is also noted that his good wife, Bridget, was also a schoolteacher and they had six children - Thomas, Michael, Francis Junior, Pauline and Patrick. In the 1911 census they had an additional member of the family, John, and Thomas, the eldest son, had moved on, even at the tender age of 18 years. Michael McGlynn, the second eldest son, was also a teacher and purchased the house in 1943 from his father. He was married to Winifred (nee Webb).

While many details are known of the McGlynn Family, more information is required in relation to the schoolhouse and school activities.

The Schoolhouse:

The school in Cloonyquinn had two class rooms, one 23 ft x 12 ft and the other 12 ft x 12 ft. The principal Michael Owens left on 31 October 1860. William Mulligan replaced Mr. Owens in the position of principal. He died in 1888 after 28 years in the role and was replaced by none other than Mr. Francis McGlynn Senior, who, at the young age of 24, had achieved the position of principal.
Monitors who are known at the school were John, Patrick and Dominick Owens, Patrick Vaughan, Thomas Daly, William Brislane, Thomas Jones and Peter Feeney. In the female school the Principals were Annie McGauran, Mary Fallon and Kathleen Waldron. Assistants were Ann Conlon and Bridget Beirne.

When the school became a mixed school around 1921 Francis McGlynn Junior became the principal, proudly following in his fathers footsteps, following his retirement aged 57. Francis Junior was aided by Mrs. Shaughnessy and Mrs Mulleady (his sister) as assistants. Other principals known for the school were Tom Gilmore and Lawrence Mannion.

Band practice, meetings and dances were held in the school. The schoolhouse was closed in 1955 and the new school building beside Killina Church was opened with Josie Kelly as principal. The old schoolhouse is now undergoing a complete refurbishment.

Denis Vallely 2010.

More information, photographs etc. wanted. Please contact the author by clicking on his name.

BACK TO ROSCOMMON PEOPLE PAGE