Sliabh a’ Mhadra
About Us
Sliabh a’ Mhadra
A “Hedge School” was situated in the townland of Ardoughter near Slievadara (in the field opposite O’Connor’s shop.) It was originally established as was all other Hedge Schools in remote areas to avoid detection from the authorities during the Penal Laws when education was denied to the Catholic Community. These schools were not free schools as a fee was paid to the teacher for tuition. Subjects including Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, History and Geography were taught through Irish. These schools often taught Greek and Latin as well.
Hedge School
These schools were outlawed for the most part of the 18th Century and the Hedge School master lived and worked in fear of being imprisoned and transported to far off lands. But Ardoughter Hedge School continued to operate.