Social Media – Heritage House Abbeyleix

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Abbeyleix Heritage House

Abbeyleix Heritage House is Laois' biggest history museum, community centre and business hub.

4 days ago

Today’s CURATOR TUESDAY post is of a school roll book for the North Boys’ School from 1915-1920. Pictured are names of students who were in attendance in 1914/1915. The North Boys’ school was opened in 1884 and was to cater for the catholic boys of Abbeyleix. The school was run by lay people before the Patrician brothers took over teaching in the 1930s. The school closed and amalgamated with the convent primary school to form the current Scoil Mhuire. The building of the north Boys’ School was then refurbished and opened as Heritage House in 1997. The roll book shows the boys who were in each ‘standard’ in the school. Students had to have passed a certain standard to be able to leave school. The register/roll book notes the dates that each student was admitted to a certain standard. Some names are mentioned more than once throughout the standards, as pupils moved to different levels. Interestingly, children were excused from attending school if they had to partake in farmwork, or if they lived relatively far away from the school. Today, children missing school to farm would not be accepted, but was actually quite common over a century ago. If anyone spots a relative/ancestor please let us know in the comments! #abbeyleixheritagehouse #Laois #Abbeyleix #laoistourism #museum #localhistory #Irish #curatortuesday #archives ... See MoreSee Less

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Abbeyleix Heritage House

1 week ago

Today’s FOUND IN THE ARCHIVES POST is of a photograph of Mercier's store on Main Street of Abbeyleix (where EgoBoost is today!) The Mercier family were originally a French-Huguenot family that came to Britain after facing religious persecution under the reign of King Louis XIV. It is believed that an ancestor of the Merciers was granted land in Ireland for their involvement in the Battle of the Boyne, fighting for William of Orange. Branches of the Mercier family lived in Abbeyleix, Aghaboe and Durrow, and the owner of the Mercier shop in Abbeyleix was Charles Albert Mercier, whose brother David Mercier also owned a successful flour mill in Durrow. Relatives of Charles' were also involved in the milling industry in places such as Down and Limerick. Charles may have been born to parents David Mercier and Caroline Turpin of Erkina House Durrow c. 1849. David may have been married previously to Catherine Dobbs. Charles’ father died in an accident at his flour mill in Durrow when Charles and his siblings were still quite young. He fell and was crushed while clearing ice at the mill in January 1867. Charles’ older brother David subsequently took over the running of the mill. Charles Albert married Sara Alice Metcalfe, daughter of architect Alexander Metcalfe of Wellfield, Maryborough (Portlaoise), when he was 24 and she was 17 in 1873. Interestingly, Sara was born in Geelong, Australia. Together they had three children: Caroline Beatrice ‘Cora’ (born c. 1882), Rosamond Alice ‘Primrose’ (b. 1883) and Charles Oswald (b. 1886, d. 1887). They also had an unnamed child, who may have died during childbirth, on 14th November 1879. It is unclear when Charles moved to Abbeyleix, though he was living there at the time of his marriage in 1873. Caroline or ‘Cora’ Mercier would go on to become a governess, and would have her own school, Glen Ban, established in Abbeyleix. Glen Ban became one of the most prestigious schools around, with many pupils from around the country boarding there. Both Cora and Rosamond seemed to show academic prowess, with the two being commended for passing the Trinity College London Music Exam, and for winning prizes in English while being pupils of Mrs. Martha ‘Meta’ Dobbs’ school, Abbeyleix. Cora led a successful life teaching and managing the school at Glen Ban, and retired shortly before passing away in 1938. Cora left behind no family, but despite this seemed to have led a far from lonely life. She seemed to have been close to a cousin on her mother’s side, a reverend named Alexander Nesbitt, who had emigrated to America. Cora seems to have travelled quite regularly over to the states to visit her cousin, particularly in the years leading up to her death. Rosamond became a bookkeeper and lived with her parents in Abbeyleix for several years, before relocating to Arklow. Unfortunately Rosamond passed away in 1928 at the age of 42. She never married. Charles Oswald Mercier died as an infant in 1887 from pneumonia when he was less than a year old. Charles' shop sold a variety of items, including groceries, tea, coffee, coal, seed and even manure! He catered to much of the farming community's needs, and sold sheep dip. It may have been known as Durrow Mill Stores, Abbeyleix. Charles passed away on April 25th 1928 at his home in Rosebrook, Abbeyleix. #Abbeyleix #abbeyleixheritagehouse #laoistourism #localhistory #museum #Laois #foundinthearchives ... See MoreSee Less

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Abbeyleix Heritage House

1 week ago

Trivia ThursdayThis week's quiz is FLAGS OF THE WORLD. Try it now either through the link or over on our Instagram stories @ abbeyleixheritagehouseforms.gle/BK5ZHRio3cSKGS648 #abbeyleixheritagehouse #Abbeyleix #TriviaThursday ... See MoreSee Less

Flags of the World

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Abbeyleix Heritage House

2 weeks ago

Today’s school roll book is a roll book for Ballyroan Boys national school. The school did not close until 2017, when it amalgamated with the girls school in Ballyroan to form Scoil Eoin Phoil Naofa II, which was built on the site of the old girls’ national school in Ballyroan. The roll book dates from 1877-1939, and today’s post displays pages 3 and 4 with infant pupils from years 1877-1884. The pupils are as follows:Name, Age of Pupil on Last Birthday, Religious Denomination, Occupation or Means of Living for Parents1877John Ringwood, 6, R.C. Ballyroan, LabourerWilliam Dunne, 5, R.C., Ballyroan, LabourerMatthew McDonald, 5, R.C., Ballyroan, CarpenterThomas McDonald, 4, R.C., Ballyroan, CarpenterPatrick Ringwood, 4, R.C., Ballyroan, LabourerRichard Bourke, 4, R.C., Ballyroan, LabourerJoseph Holland, 4, R.C., Ballyroan, LabourerThomas O’Donnell, 4, R.C., Ballyroan, PolicemanPatrick Bale?, 4, R.C., Ballyroan, LabourerJames O’Donnell, 4, R.C., Ballyroan, PolicemanHenry McMahon, 6, R.C., Ballyroan, FarmerJohn Kelly, 6, R.C., Cullinagh, LabourerJohn Dunne, 6, R.C. Town, LabourerJoseph Costigan, 6, R.C., Red Hill, Labourer1878Joseph Quirke?, 5, R.C., Ballyroan, PolicemanJohn Brophy, 5, R.C., LarchfieldDaniel Holland, 5, R.C., Dooary, farmerJeremiah Delaney, 5, R.C., Ballyruin, labourerMichael Tobin, 6, R.C., Ballyruin, labourerThomas Dea, 4, R.C., Ralph’s Grove, StewardJames Ringwood, 6, R.C., New Town, LabourerMartin Scully, 5, R.C., New Town, farmerPatrick Scully, 3, R.C., Ballyroan, LabourerPatrick Lalor, 4, R.C., New Town, labourerMichael Boylan, 4, R.C., Ballyroan, LabourerMartin Carroll, 4, R.C., New Town, FarmerWilliam Roberts, 4, R.C., Ballyroan, shoemakerCharles Byrne, 4, R.C., Moyadd, FarmerJames Leigh, 4, R.C., Town, PolicemanMichael Tierney, 4, R.C., Ballyroan, LabourerDennis Mack, 6, R.C., Derryfore, LabourerJohn Scully, 4, R.C., Ballyroan, Labourer1879Patrick Byrne, 4, R.C., Ballyroan, shoemakerMichael Holland, 5, R.C., Dooary, FarmerJames Campion, 5, R.C., Cullinagh, FarmerMichael McDonald, 5, R.C., Ballyeagle, Farmer1880John Boylan, 3, R.C., Ballyroan, LabourerRobert Ringwood, 3, R.C., Ballyroan, LabourerJames Phelan, 5, R.C., Cloncullane, FarmerJoseph Keegan, 4, R.C., Ballyroan, shopJames Mulhall, 4, R.C, Ballyroan, shopPatt Delaney, 4, R.C., Ballyroan, shop(crossed out) Patt Lalor, 6, R.C., New Town, LabourerNext Page 1880Finton Ringwood, 5, R.C., Newtown, labourerFinton Holland, 4, R.C., Dooary, FarmerThomas Goulden, 4, R.C., Cullinagh, herdMartin Kelly, 3, R.C., Newtown, Labourer1881Arthur Fitzpatrick, 5, R.C., Ballyroan, LabourerThomas Scully, 4, R.C., Ballyroan, LabourerAndrew Dea, 4, R.C., Ralph’s Grove, FarmerFinton Hynds, 3, R.C., Crubeen, LabourerPatt Fitzpatrick, 6, R.C., Blandsfort, FarmerJames Walsh, 5, R.C., Raheenabrogue, LabourerEdward Bale?, 3, R.C., Ballyroan, labourerJames Delaney, 3, R.C., Ballyroan, shopkeeperRobert Carter, 5, R.C., Ballyroan, Widow (father died in 1878)William Carter, 3, R.C., Ballyroan, Widow (father died in 1878)Joseph Corcoran, 6, R.C., Crubeen, farmerJames Dunne, 6, Ballyruin, Labourer(crossed out) Matt Whelan, 2, R.C., Ballyroan, LabourerJoseph Delaney, 3, R.C., Ballyroan, ShopPatrick Bergan, R.C., Ballyeagle, Labourer1882Peter Bergan, 3, R.C., Ballyroan, LabourerJohn Lawlor, 5, R.C., Red Hills, FarmerMichael O’Donnell, 3, R.C., Ballyroan, PolicemanJoseph Dunne, 6, R.C., Cashel, labourerWilliam Carroll, 4, R.C., Newtown, labourerMatt Whelan, 3, R.C., Ballyroan, LabourerPatrick Carroll, 4, R.C., Red Hills, LabourerJohn Walsh, 5, R.C., Ballyruin, WidowJohn Mack, 5, R.C., Blandsfort, FarmerMicahel Bergin, 6, R.C., Ballyeagle, FarmerThomas Kinsella, 3, R.C., Dooary, farmer1883Lawrence McDonald, 6, R.C., Crubeen, FarmerWilliam Phelan, 6, R.C., Maryborough, shopJames Mcmahon, 3, R.C., Ballyroan, farmerThomas Scully, 4, Ballyroan, LabourerJohn Corcoran, 4, R.C., Crubeen, FarmerJoseph Bergin, 4, R.C., Ballyeagle, saddlerWilliam Bergin, 4, R.C., Ballyeagle, saddlerPatrick McEvoy, 5, R.C., Blandsfort, LabourerWilliam Delaney, 3, R.C., Ballyroan, ShopWilliam Byrne, 3, R.C., Ballyroan, labourer1884Matt Wall, 4, R.C., Ballyroan, policemanJohn Dunne, 5, R.C., Ballyruin, FarmerJames Ringwood, 3, R.C., Ballyroan, Labourer #abbeyleixheritagehouse #museum #localhistory #Abbeyleix #laoistourism ... See MoreSee Less

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Abbeyleix Heritage House

2 weeks ago

Thanks so much to the Underground Cinema Film Festival for selecting Abbeyleix, the Titanic connection, showcased online this weekend as part of this year's ongoing monthly Festival, alongside a plethora of other great shorts. The film is not intended or created for festival submission. But I thought that William and Eliza's story was so moving it would be a shame not to try. The link is here. www.underground-cinema.com/july-line-upOnce again, thanks to CreativeIrl, Creative Ireland Laois, Abbeyleix Heritage House and Laois LibrariesAnd to the brilliant Gary Hetzler for lending his voice to the story. ... See MoreSee Less

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