Up to 1811 the only form of education the poor people of Ireland could avail of were hedge schools or fee paying schools. Then, in 1831, a board of commissioners was established to direct & develop the national school system.
Meelickmore national school was built in 1883 by Fr. Ulick Burke P.P. and was opened to receive pupils on the 3rd of March 1884. The building consisted of one room with a turf fire providing the heating, the pupils provided the fuel.

On the first day 63 children attended and a further 9 the following day. They ranged in age from 4 years to 15 years and only three of the 72 had ever attended any other school. Eleven subjects were taught in the school from the very start, amongst them agriculture for boys and needlework for girls.
Attendance, especially for the boys was irregular until compulsory education was introduced in 1926. Most boys were absent for the summer months as they were required to help on the land at home. They became known at school as the ‘winter birds’. The girls were more regular attendees.
The introduction of compulsory Irish after the state was set up posed a problem for the Meelickmore teachers as they had no knowledge of the language.
The first principal teacher of the school was Thomas Hopkins & he served for 40 years.
Seamus O’Malley, captain of the Mayo team that won the all Ireland in 0936 taught in the school. He resigned in 1932 & 1937 to go to the USA with the team. The morning after the All-Ireland, he cycled to the school for work with the Sam Maguire cup on the handlebars. Incidentally, the GAA was founded the year Meelickmore national school was opened.
Meelickmore national school has spanned one of the most turbulent periods of Irish history, a period that has brought the greatest social & political changes for centuries. It encompassed the land war, Parnell & Davit, 1st world war, 1916 rising, the war of independence, the troubles, the establishment of the free state, the economic war & the world war 2 emergency.
In celebrating the opening of the new extension our thoughts go back to all our friends and relations who passed through this school. They gained a solid education to start them in life. we remember them all today with the managers & teachers who gave such devoted service to education in our community. May Meelickmore School, its staff & pupils endure & prosper for many years to come.
Pupils & Statistics
Management Boards for National Schools were established in September 1975.
A major renovation of the school building was carried out in 1944 and the school was divided into classrooms measuring 20′ x 18′.
Further improvements were made in 1959, 1971, 1976, 1978 and 1983.
The first boy enrolled on 3.3.1884 was:
John Staunton(T), Meelickmore, aged 12
and the first “Infant” boy enrolled was:
Thos. Cussane, Meelickmore, aged 61/2
The first girls enrolled was:
Maggie Higgins, Meelickmore, aged 8
and the first “Infant” girl enrolled was:
Delia Brennan, Ballykinave, aged 6
In the first 60 years the most common surname in the school was Staunton (42), followed by Mullaney (37), Gibbons (36), Griffin (33) and Cussane (31).