Morrisseys Thatched Cottage 1950s

The 1820 Education Act resulted in a Doonbeg National School being built here at this spot. The school was a low thatched house. It operated as a school for 30-40 years.

The photo “Morrisseys Thatched Cottage 1950s” shows the thatched cottage in the background. The three boys (Michael Igoe, Michael McGrath and Austin O’Shea) were standing beside the postman’s van c1953.

The old schoolhouse closed in 1879 and was turned into a pub in the 1880/90s by Daniel and Bridget Hayes. As they had no children they left the pub to Jenny (Jane) Downes, their neighbour across the road. Jenny married Paddy Morrissey and together they further developed the pub as “P. Morrissey” in the 1950s.

Jenny Downes’s family had a shop and farm across the road from the pub.

These properties remain with their descendants to this day.

Outside Morrissey’s

Paddy & Jennie Morrissey