Áit Tí na Scoile/Attinaskollia “the place of the schoolhouse” Áit Tí na Scoile / Attinaskollia
Date: 28/08/2023
With the end of the Summer holidays approaching it is interesting to note the townland names Attinaskollia/Áit Tí na Scoile “the place of the house of the school, of the schoolhouse” in Mayo and Tinnascolly/Tigh na Scoile “the house of the school, of the schoolhouse” in Kilkenny. Notably, no schoolhouse is recorded in either of these townlands, and the placenames themselves are the only evidence for such a feature. It is frequently the case that placenames are the only evidence for physical or manmade features that have been otherwise erased from the landscape. In the case of Áit Tí na Scoile and Tigh na Scoile the earliest evidence dates from 1617 and 1567, respectively, so these schools certainly long predated the National School system introduced by the British government in the 1830s. More information here and here.
(Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich & Aindí Mac Giolla Chomhghaill)