Pupils at a north Clare primary school say they’ll be “very upset” if their school is forced to close its doors due to low enrolment numbers.
Furglan National School is racing against the clock to bring four additional students onto its books before next Tuesday, to evade the threat of closure.
Located in a remote townland between Inagh and Ennistymon, it’s unsurprising that Furglan has had a more modest student body than most of its counterparts throughout its history.
Established in 1879, the school has been responsible for the education of local families for generations.
When its current building was constructed in 1963, there were roughly 70 attending the school.
Fast forward 62 years, the number of pupils on its books now stands at a tenth of this figure, with just seven now walking its corridor each day.
The school hasn’t had a child enter Junior Infants in the last two years and as per Department of Education requirements, it must have a total of 11 enrolled by September 30th to guarantee its survival into the next school year.
These pupils say the prospect of the school’s demise is worrying but they’re remaining optimistic it can find the numbers before the deadline.
The principal of Furglan National School, Patricia Vaughan, has issued an urgent appeal for four extra students.
She’s targeting parents in the area whose children haven’t started school yet as well as families who’ve moved away from the area but may have an interest in sending their children to school there.
The appeal has also been extended to those who’ve come to Ireland from abroad and are looking for an area to relocate to.
Patricia believes the community spirit of North Clare will see the school through the difficult period it finds itself in.
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