In the 1880s a two-teacher school was built in Magoola near Lower Dripsey near the Cork Road. The ruins of this school can still be seen. Michael Murphy and his wife Ann (Delaney) taught there. They lived at Dripsey Cross, until the teacher’s residence was built in Magoola. Michael Murphy retired in 1919. He was succeeded by his son Batt, who taught there until 1935. When the truce was signed in June 1921, the school in Magoola was over-crowded. When the troops vacated the military barracks which were situated across from the West County Inn, it was intended to move some of the scholars into them. However, the barracks were burned down some days before the proposed move.

To relieve the over-crowding the infant classes were taught by Mrs. Murphy in the teacher’s residence. Mr. James Ring remembers being taught here, when he started school. Mr. John Twohig was appointed as principal teacher to the school at Magoola early in 1936 and taught there until 1957. On the 3rd December 1939, the new school was opened and blessed by Bishop James Roche. Mr. Twohig was the headmaster. When the building was begun it was to accommodate two teachers. Before it was completed pupil numbers had risen and the area intended for two teachers was divided into three classrooms. The builder was Jackie O’Leary from Donoughmore. The cost was £3,400. The site was bought from Mr. James Ring for £70. Pupil numbers dropped once more to two teachers in the 1940s and ‘50s. Mr. Twohig retired in the late 1950s and was succeeded by Mr. Desmond.

Numbers rose gradually until it became a six-teacher school in 1983. There were two pre-fabs at that time and one teacher in a cloakroom. The extension was opened in September 1985. In 1993 Mr. Desmond retired and went on to be ordained as a priest. He is now a curate in Carriganima near Macroom.. Mr. Gerry Dineen succeeded Mr. Desmond as principal. In the meantime, some staff have changed and more have been added to deal with the changing face of education. It is now a six-teacher school with three Special Needs Assistants and a secretary. The school also benefits from the expertise of a visiting Speech and Drama teacher, and a Music teacher. The school looks forward to continuing to educate and enrich the lives of the children of the Dripsey area for many years to come.

Sincere thanks to the staff at Dripsey National School especially to Nancy O’Donovan, Vice-Principal and Gerry Dineen for their help and hospitality

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