An Post has launched two new commemorative stamps to mark the centenary of the opening of Scoil Éanna, or St Enda's school, which was established by Pádraig Pearse in Ranelagh in 1908.
The 55c stamps, which have been designed by Irish artist Thomas Ryan, were unveiled by Minister for Education Batt O’Keefe this morning.
The stamps commemorate the establishment of the boy’s school at Cullenswood House by the executed leader of the Rising in Ranelagh in September 1908. The school moved to larger premises at The Hermitage in Rathfarnham two years later.
Scoil Éanna was seen as a huge educational experiment at the time with Pearse intent on providing a ‘child centred’ education to its pupils
Boys attending the school enjoyed a huge range of subjects, from tending the large gardens to Egyptology. The school attracted artists such as Jack B Yeats, Beatrice Elvery and Sarah Purser who donated work and producing original plays in a theatre in the garden.
Following the execution of the Pearse Brothers in 1916, Scoil Éanna struggled to survive and finally closed its doors in 1935. The Hermitage is now the Pearse Museum while Cullenswood House is currently being refurbished to house Gaelscoil Lios na nÓg , an Irish-language primary school which was founded in 1996.
Earlier this year, Údarás NA Gaeltachta announced plans to develop a cultural and visitor facility adjacent to the Pearse Cottage at Ros Muc, Co Galway, which was used as a summer school for pupils of St Enda’s.
* A major concert to commemorate Pearse’s time in Ranelagh will take place tomorrow at Scoil Bhride, Oakley Road, at 8 p.m., as part of the Ranelagh Arts Festival. It will feature Liam O’Maonlai, Aine Ni Dhubhghaill, Ciaran Tourish and others. Information on www.ranelagharts.org
