Pupils trace families in roll books from 1870

THE children of a parish steeped in history have been finding out about their ancestors from old roll-books as they settle into new rooms added on to their Famine-era school.

Dromleigh National School has pupil records going back to 1870 showing that about 300 children from the mid-Cork parish of Kilmichael were on the register at one point in the 19th century – all fitting into two tiny classrooms.

The 71 boys and girls now enrolled include many who can trace their family trees all the way back through the musty roll books.