The Principal of Coolmeen National School says the community was determined to prevent the school from closing when it was reduced to one teacher seven years ago.
When then Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn increased the student:teacher ratio, the school suddenly found themselves short of the threshold to qualify for the retention of a second teacher.
Principal Gráinne Sheehan found herself alone at the helm, with chairperson of the school at the time, Fr. Albert McDonnell, predicting that the school would be facing amalgamation or closure within two years.
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However, the school have now increased their number of pupils and once again have a second teacher, which Grainne says was hard fought for.
