St Iberius National School
A Brief History:
William Tate, a Wexford born Jamaican sugar plantation owner, had his will drawn up in 1792. In it he stated that capital (from the sale of 2 plantations and a house) was to be invested in a “charity school” in Wexford for as many pupils as could be admitted; girls were to be admitted on the same terms as boys. He also stipulated that “any child of any religious persuasion should be considered eligible for admittance”.
A codicil in the will which bequeathed grazing rights for the lifetime of some named tenants delayed the execution of the will until 1859!
In 1863 an order by the Court of Chancery dictated the school be run as a male only boarding and day school.
The Tate School 1863-1949
A site bordering Windmill Hill was bought from George Waldron and plans were obtained from Sandham Symes of Dublin (at that time architect to the Bank of Ireland). Building work began in 1864 and the Tate School opened its doors in 1867.
Financial difficulties dogged the school – girls were admitted in 1909 when numbers began to dwindle and in 1942 when roll totalled just 15, the idea was first mooted to close the school. To raise funds the lawns in front of the school were leased to the Corporation for landfill…… the result a foul-smelling quagmire! Later the lawns were leased to a funfair, but the noise affected the sleep of the few remaining boarders!
1946 saw a slight upturn in numbers to 30. However, the school needed at least 40 to make it viable. According to the school’s history written by Jim Jenkins, a former Alderman and Mayor of Wexford, ‘…………the burden of supplying free education……..proved too much for the financial resources available.’ He also cited an “inadequate investment policy; a lack of support from the authorities (State and Church) of the day; and no voluntary financial support from those with the wherewithal to give it”. Added to all that, there was the decline in the Protestant population in Wexford town.
And so it was…….the Tate school closed in 1949. However it was not until 1957, that further legal wrangles were cleared for the sale.
In the late 1940’s Number 4 National School, St. Patrick’s Square began. It was a single room, in which a single saw dust stove in the centre, kept everyone warm in winter. Coal was scarce but there was a plentiful supply of sawdust from Hadden’s furniture factory in town! Miss Mary Victoria Sherwood taught 8 classes in this room.
Meanwhile, the Protestant school in Taghmon which had opened its doors in 1890 closed in 1938 due to small numbers and lack of funding. The decision was made in 1938 to close Taghmon School and transport the remaining seven children to school in Wexford, at a cost of £70 per annum. This was funded by £25 from Taghmon, £10 from Wexford, £25 from the Ministry and a further £10 from the Wexford Board of Education!
In 1963 the school moved from Number 4 St. Patrick’s Square to its present location at Davitt Road. The original school was opened in March by Dr. Patrick Hillery, then Minister for Education. It was built to accommodate 48 pupils, with opening day enrolment at 55!….and 2 teachers. Principal from 1964 – 1975 was Tom Anderson and assistant Miss Patricia Honner (later to become Principal Patricia Jeffares).
In 1979 enrolment had reached 80 and a 3rd teacher was appointed (Mrs. Elaine Bradish nee Phillips at this time who retired in 2013). The class was accommodated in a Prefab. The children received a top quality education and enjoyed their school days, despite overcrowding, poor lighting, regular visits from 4 legged long tailed friends and a playground prone to water-logging/flooding.
The start of the ‘80s therefore welcomed the planning approval for an extension. From February 1983 until June 1984 Mrs. Jeffares and her pupils were kindly accommodated in a classroom in the Mercy Convent Summerhill. As you might imagine the logistics of this were a “challenge” to say the least.
1985 saw the official opening of the first big extension – 2 new classrooms, a staff room, kitchen and G.PO. (General Purpose) Hall. The children continued to thrive and to learn.
1999 under the principal ship of Mrs. Elaine Bradish saw another extension and 11 years later under the principal ship of Mrs. Julie Rogers the school’s most recent extension; 2 more classrooms, a staff room, learning support/computer room and toilets which takes us to St. Iberius N.S. of today.
The school is now the parish school of the united parishes of Wexford Union and Kilscoran (nine parishes in all). As such, it is a school, based in Wexford town, but not primarily serving it.