Laois school celebrates its 150th birthday
Three generations who attended the school - Padraig, Ena, Laura and Bernard Graham
EXACTLY 150 years to the day since it officially opened, Mayo National School hosted a joyful gathering to celebrate the milestone anniversary.
First opened as Tolerton National School on 10 May 1875, the thriving rural school near the Laois/Kilkenny border holds a special place in the lives of local families, having taught generations of schoolchildren during its long and rich history.
Principal Liam Lalor, past and present staff and pupils, board of management members, parents, extended families and many well-wishers attended the memorable event on Saturday 10 May 2025, which began with a special mass celebrated by Bishop Denis Nulty at 3pm in Mayo Church.
Bishop Nulty warmly welcomed everyone, especially the children who all had a part to play in the mass. Following the ceremony, refreshments were served at the school and people were treated to a marvellous display of old roll books, photographs and stories spanning 150 years of education.
The fascinating exhibition included old photographs dating back to the mid-1930s, copies of stories from pupils in 1938 from the National Folklore Collection archives and old roll books going all the way back to the school’s first day.
The celebrations continued that evening in Behan’s of Tolerton, where MC Killian Whelan hosted wonderful chats with past pupils, as they shared favourite memories and stories from their school days.
In a social media post the following day, Mayo NS management said: ‘What a fantastic day we had yesterday at our 150th anniversary celebration. Thank you to each and every one of you that turned up and celebrated with us. It was fabulous catching up with everyone and hearing the many stories that you all shared.
‘The school was bursting with past pupils who all loved finding themselves and their ancestors in the old roll books and photos. And we finished our day in Behan’s, where Killian Whelan was brilliant with getting past pupils to share their favourite memories with everyone.’
It was a very special, sun-filled day for everyone involved with the school, as it looks forward to many more decades in the heart of the community.
