History

The original building was completed in 1852 - over 170 years ago. The building started out as a Workhouse. There were 163 Workhouses in Ireland. The need for the Workhouses arose out of the great famine. If people could not support themselves, they could come into the workhouse. where they would complete manual work in return for food. The West of Ireland was one of the most affected areas during the famine and the years after. The Workhouse closed its doors in 1919.

· The Black and Tans were based in the building during the War of Independence. They shot at the bell to claim the building as their own.

· In 1922 the Irish Free State Army were based here during the Civil War. They too shot at the bell to mark the building as theirs.

· In 1923, in preparation for their first victorious All-Ireland Final, the Galway Senior Hurling Panel moved into the building for the 3 weeks before the match.

When ‘Mountbellew Workhouse’ was advertised for sale in 1931, Galway Vocational Education Committee took out a lease on the present building for 99 years. Work was then carried out on the building so that it could be used as a school.

The Vocational School offered day and night classes, with most students completing one or two years of education. In 1932 the building became known as Mountbellew Vocational School and was one of the first rural vocational schools opened in this country. Adopting the name of the great scholar St Jarlath whose chariot wheel broke in the diocese of Tuam, the school began with the basic subjects of reading, writing, and arithmetic. This was quickly added to with the introduction of Woodwork, Metalwork, Domestic Science and Drawing. The school has pioneered, developed and introduced new programmes over the years as the need arose and has served with distinction the many pupils placed in it’s care.

The first Principal from 1932 to 1967 was an Achill man, Mr Sean Kilbane, followed by the man from the Aran Islands, Micheál Ó Dálaigh, from 1967 to 1977. Then a local man, Mattie Kilroy, from nearby Caltra was appointed Principal in 1977, he retired in 2009. The current Principal is Ann Marie Carroll a native of Ballygar. Ann Marie was seconded to the Department of Education from 2020 - 2025. Acting Principal Pauline Davoren from New Inn held the position until 2022. In January 2023 Teresa Silke from Glinsk served as Acting Principal of Coláiste an Chreagáin.