conventionDeclaration detailLevel http://ica-atom.org/doc/RS-2#5.4 corporateBody Mungret Agricultural School conventionDeclaration 1854-1974

Mungret Agricultural School was established in response to a broader movement for agricultural education in Ireland, which gained momentum in the 1830s. Although the National Board of Education supported agricultural schools from 1832 onwards, Mungret’s origins were unique. It was funded through the Reproductive Loan Fund, raised in England during the 1825 famine for the relief of distress and later reclaimed in 1852. Influenced by Lord Monteagle, a bill (11 and 12 Victoria, C.115) allowed the debt due to the fund from County Limerick to be redirected and vested in trustees to establish an agricultural school.

In 1853, trustees purchased 71 acres at Mungret and leased it to the National Board for 61 years. Construction began in 1854, and by 1858, the school opened with dormitories for 75 boarders. The curriculum combined practical farm work with literary and agricultural studies, aiming to train future farmers and agricultural teachers. The course was designed to last for 12 months, after which the boarders could continue their studies at the Albert National Agricultural Training Institution in Glasnevin.

However, the school struggled from the outset. Its facilities were too grand to serve as realistic models for small farmers, and fees eventually rose from £8 to £26, alienating its target demographic. By 1870, only 8 boarders remained, and criticism mounted that students performed menial labour without learning skilled agricultural techniques. The school never exceeded 23 boarders. It was closed 1878, and the National Board surrendered the least to the trustees. Bound by the original trust deed to maintain an agricultural school, the trustees took possession of the property but soon acknowledged the venture as a complete failure. In a report to the Lord Lieutenant, they proposed repurposing the school into an institution offering general education, ideally positioned between primary and collegiate levels, though not excluding agriculture. To enable this change, a parliamentary bill was passed allowing the Lord Lieutenant, with Treasury approval, to redirect the use of the land, buildings and trust funds for broader educational purposes.

In August 1880, the trustees leased the premises to the Reverend Joseph Bourke, president of St. Munchin’s Seminary. Bourke intended to operate both the new boarding school at Mungret and the original seminary in Limerick. However, the dual operation proved unsustainable. Mungret failed to attract enough boarders, and by summer 1881, Bourke, facing financial difficulties and lacking support from the bishop, surrendered the lease. This transitional period set the stage for a more successful chapter: in 1882, the Jesuits, led by Father Ronan SJ, took over the site and established a university college, which later evolved into Mungret College, operating until its final closure in 1974.

 The Mungret Agricultural School Papers Correspondence Accounts and Receipts Other Documents From 1854-1867 From 1870-1879 From 1880-1888 Account Books Cheque Book Stubs Insurance Income Tax Grand Jury Cess and County Cess Rent Charge, Tithe Rent Charge and Poor Rate Prize Funds Concerning John Kenny Other Accounts and Receipts Corrrespondence concerning a missing deposit receipt Corrrespondence concerning taxation Corrrespondence concerning a new deed of transfer Letter concerning an unspecified rate to be settled Note from Lord Monteagle arranging a meeting Letter from John Kenny to Stephen de Vere concerning taxation Demands for charges due Letters concerning the death of a trustee Letters concerning banking Letters relating to a financial transaction Letters concerning the Spencer Small Farm Prize Fund Letter concerning the future of Mungret Agricultural School Copy letter of complaint from John Kenny Letter from John Kenny seeking a field for grazing Letter concerning the death of M. R. Ryan Letter concerning a financial transaction Letter providing information on pupils Correspondence relating to the candidature of a free pupil Correspondence relating to the deplorable state of agricultural instruction at Mungret School Letter concerning a trust deed Correspondence relating to the surrender of the school back to the trustees Letters concerning funding Letter from John Kenny concerning his accommodation Correspondence concerning insurance Correspondence relating to the sale of root crops Letters relating to changes to be made to the deed of trust Letter relating to the cropping of the Mungret farm Letter seeking an inventory of farm implements Letter acknowledging the return of deeds to the solicitor Letter discussing the letting of Mungret Farm Letter enclosing a signed transfer Letters outlining works done on the farm and amounts expended on labour Letter discussing the merits of a public bill over a private one Letters concerning the new scheme for the Mungret school Letter concerning the female school on the premises of the Model Farm Note from John Kenny concerning tax money owed to him Letters relating to the sale of meadowing Letter from [Joseph?] Bourke offering himself as headmaster Letter from [Joseph?] Bourke relating to building specifications submitted to trustees Letter from [Joseph?] Bourke complaining about building specifications Letter from Martin Morris complaining about building specifications Letter from [Joseph?] Bourke concerning the reopening of the school Letters mostly relating to financial matters Correspondence relating to the lease of the school house to Father Browne Appeal from local residents concerning the educational interests of the parish Letter from [Joseph?] Bourke regretting his temporary inability to pay rent Correspondence relating to the distribution of annual prizes Correspondence concerning the taxation of Mungret Agricultural School Letters relating to the school building which requires repairs Correspondence concerning an unused building grant Letters relating to unpaid architect's fees Letter from a trustee asking to be kept informed of what is going on Letter concerning an inaccurate financial statement Letters concerning the payment of poor rates and other demands Letters concerning the purchase of scientific instruments Letters from a trustee concerning his resignation Letter concerning a visit from an insurance agent Assorted letters Provincial Bank of Ireland in account with the trustees of Mungret Model Farm Provincial Bank of Ireland in account with the Spencer Small Farm Prize Fund Book containing workmen’s accounts Stub of a cheque book Stub of a cheque book Stub of a cheque book Stub of a cheque book Receipts from Sun Fire Office, London Receipts from Alliance Assurance Company, Limerick Memorandum of advance income tax paid by John Kenny Memorandum of income tax, poor rate and county cess paid Memorandums of charges paid Invoices and receipts for Grand Jury cess due Invoices and receipts for county cess due Receipts for rent charge due to the Vicar of Mungret Receipts for rent charge due to the Dean of Limerick Claims and receipts for tithe-rent charge Receipts for poor rate List of contributions received toward the Spencer Small Farm Prize Fund Receipts for annual contributions received towards prizes Memorandum of charges paid by John Kenny Cheques issued to John Kenny Invoice from Mullock & Sons Receipts for salaries received by John Kenny as caretaker Receipts for money received towards labourers’ wages Note relating to cattle show accounts Invoice from James Hogg, ironmonger Statement of income and expenditure Cheque issued to Ambrose Hall Cheque issued to M. R. Ryan Statements of dividends due Receipt from Thomas Ryan Receipt from G. M’Kern & Sons Receipts for crops sold Lodgement receipt Invoices and receipts for coal Receipts from John Moran Receipts relating to building repairs Solicitor's accounts for services provided Receipted invoice for an inspector’s report Invoice for the making of a press Summary of school income and expenditure Receipt relating to improvements Receipt relating to a grant for scientific apparatuses Assorted unspecified calculations Lease of three lots of ground in the townland of Tervoe Minutes of a trustees' meeting Resolutions passed at a trustees' meeting Statistics relating to the profit and loss made by agricultural schools Resolution passed at a meeting between Stephen de Vere and J. G. Barry Sowing and manuring plans for plots of ground Inventory of implements Legal and other notes concerning the repurposing of Mungret School Specifications of decoration to be done at Mungret College Return of the meadowing let on the Model Farm List of the allocation of prize monies List of repairs to be done Note concerning a pupil's competence in agricultural chemistry Note concerning the purchase of scientific instruments Timeline of events relating to Mungret College Notice of the sale of the townland of Tervoe