A Little Bit of History - Drumucklagh National School
Drumucklagh National School opened on 1 September 1909.
The previous September, Hugh Devine sold the ground for the development of the school.
411 boys and 355 girls were enrolled in Drummucklagh between 1909 and 1980, throughout its entire history. I Patrick Gormley was pupil 393.
Labourer and Farmer was the most common occupation of parents when the school first opened, other occupations included, painter, publican, soldier, carpenter, lorry driver, teacher, post master and tailor.
This is a list of National Schools at which the children attended before Drummucklagh N.S. opened; Craigadoes, Drumbeg, Castletown, Ballyholey, Boyagh, Cloughfin, Drummoughill, Brow of the Hill Derry, Raphoe Boys, St. Johnston.
Townlands that sent their children to Drumucklagh:
Feddyglass, Whitecross, Drumbeg, Craigadoes, Drummucklagh, Dromore, Ballyholey, Legnathraw, Carrickadawson, Whitehill, Lettergul, Swilly, Malinagun, Slievebuck, Transallagh,, Ballylennon, Magheracloy, Momeen,Carnshannagh, Oakfield, Tullyrap, Binion, Whitecross, Broadlea, Ballyboe, Drumcrow, Creatland, Drumatoland, Rateen, Cavenacaw, Woodlands, Drumern, Listannagh.
Several people had ‘no fixed residence’
These names have been taken from the roll books for 1921-1925:
Tess, Annie, Josie and May Quinn. Hannah Brennan, Rose Ballintine, Maggie McBrearty, Annie Tourish, Annie Boyle, Bessie Colhoun, Molly Lynch, Kathleen Quinn, Nellie Brennan, Grace Quinn, Maggie Gormley, Agnes McGroarty, Ruby Gibson, Annie Coyle, Mary Tourish, Mary Gormley, Nellie Boyle, Sarah Rodden, Charles Mulhern, James Quinn, Patrick McCauley, Mickey Shiels, Thomas Lynch, William McCauley, Denis Shiels, John Tourish, James McCausker, James Harrigan, Thomas McElhinney, Michael Gibson, James Coyle, John Lynch, Hugh Gormley, Patrick Browne.
Drumucklagh School belongs to the Raphoe area geographically. But as it played an important role in educating children from the parish of Taughboyne which encompasses St Johnston and Carrigans it is appropriate to include it in this site. Another reason for its inclusion is that I have seen agreements between the school manager Rev Daniel McGinley who was parish priest of St Johnston and the teachers Mary Casey and Mr McLaughlin both giving addresses of St Johnston. Hugh Gormley (died July 29 1981), Mary Sheils, Kevin Shiels (died August 28 1997 and Kathleen Keys were all parishioners of Taughboyne.
Mrs Carr taught at the school near its closure.
Jim Callaghan, Letterkenny, was principal at the time of its closure. Born in Port Road Letterkenny in 1945, he went to De Salle College in Ballyvourney, West Cork for four years for his secondary education. He then went for two years to St Patrick's Training College in Drumcondra, Dublin and then when he qualified he took up his first teacher post in Drumughill National School. Liam McCloskey was principal then. Then years later Jim was in Drumucklagh school and became principal there. Jim went to teach in St Baithin's National School following the closure of Drumucklagh school. He remained in St Baithin's until he retired in 1996.
There was an Open Day including a reunion of some past pupils and teachers to mark the closure. The Open Day was Thursday 22 May 1980.
The School is now home to Daniel and Karen Devine.
Drummucklagh N.S.
1909 – 2009
A celebration of 100 years will be held on
Sunday 6th September 2009
in the home of Daniel & Karen Devine, previously Drummucklagh School.
1pm – 6pm
Display of photographs
Refreshments served
All donations go to the
Donegal Hospice in memory of Donna