In 1824 there are 2 schools on record in Ballinacree, one school was taught by Robert Fitzsimons in the chapel and the other taught by Thomas Caffery, who held school in his own house. A new school in Ballinacree was opened in August 1864. It was replaced by a new building in 1893 
(see photo on the left). This school was a four-teacher school where boys and girls were separated. The Principal of the boy’s school was Mr. Patrick Connaughton, and the Principal of the girl’s school was Mrs. Helen Connaughton.
Ballinacree’s new school was built in 1960 ; it was a three-teacher school with Mr. Connaughton as Principal, Mrs Connaughton as Vice Principal and Mrs Elizabeth Simpson as assistant. It was officially opened and blessed by Rev. Michael Troy in September 1961. The architect was Mr. Boyd-Barrett of the Board of Works and it was built by Messrs. Doherty & Son of Ballyjamesduff. The local community centre now stands on the site of where the old school was.
In 1993 a fourth classroom was added to the rear of this school together with a strong room for the safe keeping of equipment. During its construction pupils were taught in the building beside the bedding factory.
In the summer of 2009, a resource room was added on to the end of the main school building. This project was fully grant aided by the Dept of Education. The Bishop of Meath Michael Smith officially opened it on Oct 1st 2009. We also have converted our shelter shed into a very useful classroom and storage area for sports equipment.
Ballinacree – Baile na Criadh
Ballinacree “ The land of the briars” was so called because in penal days mass was said in a shed covered in briars somewhere in Ballinrink. There was also a Catholic Church at Killeagh [in the Parish of Ballinacree], which was taken over by the Protestants. They removed the bell from outside the church and brought it to a Protestant church in Co. Cavan. A well sprung up where the tongue fell and it has the cure of vomiting.
