Enjoying the new book launched last week are Principal Dermot Finlay, Gerry Moane and Padraig Wray. (Front from left) Maria Consadine, Mary Irvine, Lauren Rooney and author of the book Tom Donnelly
A NEW ‘school reunion’ book, ‘Our School on the Hill’, which charts the history of St Mary’s Primary School, Brookeborough is now out.
Copies are available at £15 each from the school (028 895 31469) itself and from the local Spar store.
There is a special mention of the old school beside St.Mary’s Church which opened in 1874, and there are tributes to some of the local clergy who managed schools since 1870.
The names of pupils and who attended Brookeborough No 1 NS from 1865 up to 1939 and those who attended St.Mary’s over the past 75 years are all there.
The closure of rural schools in the parish, Coonian in 1968 and Mullanvaum in 1972 led to the building of an extension at St. Mary’s to accommodate these displaced pupils.
Some 60 former pupils pen their memories and stories and, likewise school staff, including teachers, all with great variety and humour.
There are separate articles on two local families, the Breens of Carrickaheenan) and the Currans of Knockmacmanus, both which have a long connection with Brookeborough schools.
There is an article devoted to the Maguire family of Munville who were originally from Knockmacmanus and provided two priests and a nun, all of whom ministered in Clogher diocese, the best known being Fr. Matt Maguire, PP Trillick 1906 – 1927, and his brother Tom who was the largest horse dealer in Ireland in the early 1900s.
All were past pupils of the old National School.
A range of photographs over the past 75 years includes a two page spread of teachers during that period.
At the special ‘reunion’ Mass in St.Mary’s Church, present and past pupils and teachers contributed to the liturgy.
The book was afterwards jointly launched at the front of school by the oldest ex pupil of St. Mary’s, Margaret Connolly (nee Curran) the present principal Dermot Finlay and the two youngest present pupils, twins Dillon and Dearbhla McDonnell who joined P1 in September 2014.
Also in the gathering was Sheila Lavelle and Pat Wray who were present as pupils in January 1940 along with Margaret Curran.
Old memories were rekindled as ex pupils met up again, the three oldest present being Lucy Suttle (nee Bogue), Angela McBride (nee McElroy), and ex school cook, Mary Cosgrove (nee McElroy).
The gathering was delighted with the arrival of Bishop Liam MacDaid and by his congratulations and best wishes for the future.
The assembly was then entertained with splendid traditional music provided by present pupils and past under the direction of Dinnie Leonard.