Warm welcome

their new principal Catherine Dempsey as the school re-opened on Sandy Lane after the Christmas holidays.

Catherine from Moynalty, County Meath replaces Angela McAdam who retired last summer from the post that she held for seven years. The latter was the first past pupil and first from the locality to hold the position.

Catherine follows in a proud line of headmistresses/ masters of the school that this year is 120 years old, having opened in 1899.

There were two schools initially, catering separately for boys and girls. James McCormack from Edenkell, Kilcurry and Ellen Whatley from Newry were the respective principals of the boys and girls sections when they opened.

Some 100 boys and girls turned up on that momentous date, January 8 1899 when McCormack, aged 26, and Whately turned the keys on the doors. For the most part the pupils were sons and daughters of fishermen, farmers, labourers and merchants.

Many of their parents if they attend- Saint Fursey’s Church. This would have entailed a daunting walk of three miles in all sorts of weather across field, paths and mass paths.

The first day is very descriptively recalled by former teacher Pat Mulligan in his detailed researched, comprehensive and very informative history of the school which was published to mark its centenary in 1999.