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“SAVE our school” is the rallying cry of the parents of pupils at Two Mile (Cahooreigh) National School. Members of the local community have called on the Diocese of Kerry as well as the Department of Education to ensure the school remains open.

Two Mile NS is poised to become a one-teacher school in September, following a reduction in pupil numbers to 17 last year.

Past pupil Lisa Casey, who is also a member of the local community with a young child, attended the public meeting to discuss the future of the school last November. “It was asked why the student numbers had dropped and it was explained that the demographics of the area meant that there were no children available to attend the school,” said Lisa. “This raised eyebrows among community members in attendance, particularly given the number of new houses in the area with young families.”

It should also be noted that while, in recent years, the Two Mile was reducing from a three-teacher school with approximately 80 students to a two-teacher school with 17 students, multiple new school classrooms have been added to the surrounding schools, according to Lisa.

“As a taxpayer and a parent I’m delighted to see Government expenditure on schools, but it frustrates and saddens me to think that the Two Mile School, a perfectly good three-classroom school, could be sitting empty,” she added.

Community members carried out a survey of the immediate Two Mile School area. The results showed an overwhelming desire of those surveyed, to send their child/children to the school should certain changes occur, added Lisa. “It is sad when declining population leads to the closure of the post office, the church and the school,” she said. “This can destroy what is left of the local community. But don’t be fooled. That is not what is happening here. The community is strong and growing around the Two Mile. For bad things to happen all that is needed is for good people to do nothing.”
 

 
Pictured above: Community members call for action on Two Mile School NS.