The Nat'l Archives, Bishop St. Dublin 8, houses an abundance of records re the teacher's of the National Schools during the 19th century. As my own ggrandfather John RYAN was such a National school teacher, from 1846 (Famine years) through 1872,and a professor in 3 Catholic Colleges throughout Ireland, I am most interested in this topic. Due to the combined efforts of my cousins in Australia and myself, we have been able to trace the whereabouts and career of JR, using these resources. If you are researching a teacher, and have an idea of even one school in which he or she taught, the possibilities are endless.
If you are not privy to this information, check all available directories for your particular area. You may contact your county's local library in Ireland (via email) and request particular city and town pages-from a chosen directory- to be xeroxed and mailed to your home address. I, personally, have done this with the libraries in Galway, Cork , Wexford and Waterford.
If you are fortunate enough to visit Ireland, these records are a must.
Having only known that JR was a headmaster at the Piscatory Nat'l School in Claddagh, Galway, mid 19th c., my cousin John MacLeod was able to find the following information: Our ggranfather was trained-prior to Sept 1846 in the Dublin Normal School. He taught at Cappaduff-Sept 1846--Mar 1847. Dec. 29th 1847 he was appointed to the Kilkerran NS, Moyrus, Galway until leaving on Feb 11, 1850. From there he went to Newcastle, Limerick, where he was employed at the Courtenay NSbetween March 1, 1850 and July 1st 1851. (This information gives us a new parish to research re: his marriage, as we've long been unable to find any records of such having occurred in Galway.) On May 2, 1852, John was appointed to Tully NS, in the Connemara section of Galway. He resigned his position on Dec 31, 1852-only to be re-assigned on April 1, 1853 through Dec 31, 1854. He then transferred to the Claddagh NS, Galway on Jan 1, 1855, where he stayed until Oct 31, 1872. Because, 3 of his children had been born in the schoolhouse, we've long searched the wrong area for John's marriage, having been unaware of his previous teaching assignments!
Besides being able to trace the steps of your teacher, the records offer some insight into their own education, skills, deficits and character. We now have quite a collection of notations about our own forbear, helping to 'put some flesh on the bones'.
A card index for the schools is likely the best place to begin. They are in a free access area,in drawers in a cabinet. They are separated by counties, and the schools are then arranged alphabetically. The handwritten information denotes all the references for the particular school, to be found in the ED/1 to ED/9 records, with the exception of the ED/4 Teachers Salaries. (ED/4 records are kept at the Four Courts building and must be requested to be delivered to Bishop Street a day in advance.) Note which records are available and which you would like to review. A librarian will then retrieve the appropriate book for you.
Unfortunately, all records must be used in conjunction with each other , if you wish to trace the teacher's 'entire' career...quite an effort!
ED/1-"Application for Grants"
Arranged by County.
Example Contains Applications for Salary requests, Request for grants to build schools.
The information contained varies. My cousin found an excellent one noting: teacher's name, age, 'model school' in which one received training, notation of any previous Nat'l school experience(place and dates), date of appointment to present school.
ED/2-"National School Registers"
These incorporate 'Inspector's reports' Arranged by County and range of years.
Many provide confirmation and date of teacher's appointment to the present school as well as noting from which school he came. Also includes-promotions, demotions, comments about the individual's skills and deficiencies, date and reason for retirement. Notes date school established, patrons, dimensions.
ED/3-"Registers of District Model Schools"
ED/4-"Teacher's Salary Books"( National Schools)
.(1844-1855)- Arranged by Province/Years, then in appropriate book by counties. 1856-1870 arranged by Counties. After 1870 arranged by Districts. Notes teacher's name and salary changes.(Gives an idea of what type of lifestyle was affordable, based on salary). Many times notes from whence the teacher came and to where he next transferred.
ED/5-"Teacher's Salary Books (Model Schools)
ED/6-"Salary Books" (National Education Office)
ED/7-Newspaper Cuttings
ED/8-"Miscellaneous"...Index of teachers qualifying at training colleges 1893-1907; those competent to teach Irish 1895-1912...Most interseting of all-letters to Inspectors, often detailing qualities, or those lacking, of said teacher.
I will be adding further information on this topic re further educational resources, as time allows.
