Glan community's bid to save school

 

The decimation of rural community populations and the effect it has on sustaining local services was the focus of a community meeting in west Cavan last week.

Those in attendance heard that Curravagh National School near Glangevlin could close and forced to amalgamate estimated pupil numbers of below 15 for 2018-2019 and they lose their second teacher.

In what could be termed as a community 'Desperately Seeking', the local community is however prepared to follow the example led by Kiltyclogher, Co Leitrim with their 'Kiltylive' campaign.

Launched last year when facing a similar predicament of population decline, the community however secured vacant housing for new arrivals to the locality, thus saving the school and revitalising their local community.

Recent Census figures revealed the Curravagh NS catchment area suffered a near nine percent drop in the five years period 2011-2016.

Located en route to Dowra, and three miles from Glangevlin village, Curravagh NS is one of two national schools in the county preparing to lose a teaching post next year.

The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources is pupil enrolments on the previous September 30.

 

See this week's newspaper for full report from meeting in Glangevlin