Life

The present school building was completed in 1985 although there has been a school in the Valley since the nineteenth century. It stands in the heart of the Valley, surrounded by high mountains on all sides. There are 23 pupils aged from 4 years to 13 years, some of whom live locally and some of whom travel in from the nearby town of Kenmare.

The principal, Maureen Finnegan, is herself originally from the Valley and today she drives the Kenmare children the 40 minute journey to the Valley by minibus. There are 2 classrooms so each teacher has a wide range of ages to teach. Maureen teaches the older children, Janice Gaine teaches the younger half of the school and they are assisted by Mrs Green, the resources teacher, and Marguerite Casey the classroom assistant. The school is unique in many ways: nature walks and art are an important part of the curriculum.
All children learn Irish dancing with Seamus McGowan and there are also Irish tin whistle and accordion lessons with Peggy Healy. They do cookery every week and recently made blackberry jam using fresh local fruit! The view from the classroom windows must be the most spectacular in the world.

James and Rory who have been in charge of both web site design and photography for this
page of the website, would like to tell you about what it's like to go to school in the Black
Valley:

"My name is James (see right). I go to school in the Black Valley. I am 11 years old. I am in 5th Class. There are 5 in my class. I like Geography and maths. Myself and Rory have muscular dystrophy. We live in Templenoe.My favourite website is www.lego.com. My favourite movies are Jurassic Park 1, 2 and 3."

"My name is Rory (see left). I go to school in the Black
Valley. I am 7. I am in second class. There are 5 children
in my class. There are 23 children in my School. My
favourite website is www.chelseafc.com. My favourite
football player is Gianfranco Zola. My Mum's name is
Gail and my Dad's name is Jimmy."

The Black Valley
a poem written by the pupils
of the Black Valley National School

This Valley is a peaceful place
Furry rabbits run a race
Mute swans and cygnet flow
In the secret water we all know
O the silver salmon leap
And the brown trout frisk about
As I fish beside the sally
In this place we call the Valley

I ride my pony through the Gap
And hear the hooves go clippity clap
I wouldn't change it for a queen
I love those pretty sights serene

I hear the barking dogs
In the scary moonlit air
As the deer run through the bogs
See the bounding frightened hare

Leaping through the heather wild
Where the sly red fox prowls
In the starlit midnight air
To grab a timid lamb in Croc
While Purple Mountain and Reeks just stare

I'd long to walk the Valley woods
And see the birds fly high
I'd love to hear the sparrow sing
And watch as time goes by.