Sad goodbyes as school shuts after 50 years

TWELVE-YEAR-OLD Abbangeal Venn has been able to keep a close eye on her brother, Ross, eight, during the school year.

She hadn't much choice they're the only pupils at St Catherine's Church of Ireland, one of the country's smallest schools.

But a new chapter in education has opened in their home town of New Ross, Co Wexford, with the closure of the 50-year-old school. Both students, who are Catholic, and their teacher Eleanor Masterson packed their bags and left the school for the last time yesterday.