Tullow Group of Parishes
United Diocese of Cashel and Ossory
Tullow - Shillelagh - Aghold - Mullinacuffe

LITTLEWOOD HALL

Littlewood is the English word for the Irish placename Killabeg. Killabeg in Irish is Coill Beag, Coill meaning "wood" and Beag meaning "little", hence Littlewood.

The Rector of Aghold, the Rev. James McGhee was anxious to have a school close the the Glebe house and by kind permission of Mr. Haig, the Agent of the landlord (the Marquis of Rockingham) and the permission of the local Parish Priest who was in possession of the site, the old school house in Killinure was swapped for Littlewood Hall along with two acres. The present hall at Littlewood was build in 1818.

In 1868 the Rev. Frederick Owens secured a 99 year lease from the then landlord, Lord Fitzwilliam at one shilling a year. "for the purpose of a a school house connected with the Protestant Established Church or such Church as shall correspond therewith, on any new Parliamentary arrangements." Rev. Owens appealed for £17 to put the building into good repair and he was not to be disappointed.

The building ceased to be used as a school house in 1969 when Littlewood School was closed and amalgamated with Shillelagh National School. Littlewood School was given to the Parish by the Fitzwilliam Estate Trustees in 1979 and Lady Juliet de Clair, Lord and Lady Fitzwilliam's only child, generously gave, first £3,000 and later £2,000 towards its renovation. The parish raised approximately £4,000 and the old school took on a new lease of life.