Author donates books to Kilbeggan library

Around 30 years ago, Kinnegad's old primary school first came on the market. It was purchased privately, but the sale was never completed.

In the local area plan for Kinnegad, the old primary school was zoned for educational use.

County Westmeath VEC expressed interest in running various courses, mainly for adults, in the Kinnegad area and were eager to acquire the school. At the time, the department did not permit the VEC to purchase it. A rental agreement was instead arranged, and the VEC carried out some repairs over the following years. The building saw extensive use. A local farmers market was also held there once a week.

Eventually, the school was once again put up for sale. Some local residents feared that if it were sold privately, both community use and the VEC's involvement would come to an end.

As a former councillor and a local member of the VEC, I was approached by a concerned group from Kinnegad who were anxious about the school being lost to private ownership.

This group included Eamon Gorman, who worked for 20 years with the VEC in the school, Mrs Flynn, the retired principal of the primary school, Gerte Costello, and her late husband Eddie Costello.

They asked if I could request a meeting with the late Minister Mary O’Rourke, who would be passing through on her way to Dublin that Monday. The minister kindly agreed to meet us, visited the school, and saw first hand its value.

Looking around, she said: “The VEC must purchase this lovely building,” and promised to push for funding.

Within a few weeks, the CEO of the VEC, Gearóid O’Brady, received confirmation from Minister O’Rourke that funding had been approved for the purchase of the school.

Local effort gets its reward.

I recently published a book, Tales of Westmeath: History and Folklore from the Schools Collection, which features excerpts written by students in Westmeath schools in 1937–1939.

Some of the stories in this book were written by pupils of this very school, as well as others in nearby Coralstown, The Downs, Knockaville, Rathwire, and Raharney, all of which share many townland boundaries with Kinnegad.

I have decided to donate several free copies to the new library, and I hope the new Kilbeggan library users enjoy them.