Urgent need to preserve Mayo's school roll books

A VALUABLE part of Mayo's heritage is being lost - its school roll books.

Already schools in north Mayo and into Sligo have been catalogued thanks to a project led by NUI Galway. However, the physical roll books need to be preserved in a proper storage facility.

A member of the NUI team, historian Liam Heffron, raised the matter at a meeting of Mayo County Council's Culture, Education, Heritage and Corporate Affairs committee.

The roll books need to be preserved, he explained.

Many records have already been lost, including workhouse and HSE records.

Mr. Heffron raised the issue during a discussion on library services when he asked about an archival policy.

SPC members were told the library services in the county have been looking to employ an archivist. They would also need a building.

It was suggested to include it in a draft library strategy that is being prepared.