Saturday, 14 September 2019

National School, Newtownstewart


My old Primary School, in the Main Street. There was an earlier National School (Mill Street?) but this school opened in 1879.

Originally there were separate schools for boys and girls; amalgamated in 1938.

The Girls’ School opened in 1867, Principal was Mrs Ellen Fisher. Mrs Fisher was succeeded as Headmistress by her daughters Miss Annie Fisher and Miss Christina Fisher in turn – the Fishers were in charge throughout the entire existence of the separate Girls’ School.

Boys’ school principal in 1905 (when records start) was Charles Browne – the C Browne in the Newtownstewart Cycling Club photo. JJ McAnulla was principal from 1911-1941; Con O’Donnell 1941-1943; Michael Cassidy 1943-1960; Seamus O’Kelly 1960 until the school closed in the early ‘70s and St Patrick’s PS opened up in Dublin Street.

In my time there were two classrooms in the building above and two further classrooms in wooden buildings at the back. I believe these huts were left behind when the Americans left the area after WW2

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St Eugene’s Flute Band, Newtownstewart

(Left to right) Front row: P McGuigan, A Hackett, F McGonagle, H McGuigan Second row: J Devlin, E Gavigan, L Orr, L McGonagle, P M...