Drumaness school ready to celebrate 75th anniversary

Drumaness school ready to celebrate 75th anniversary

10 December 2014

A SCHOOL built for the children of Drumaness millworkers will this week mark 75 years of education.

There will be celebrations at Christ The King Primary School throughout the week to mark the birthday with an anniversary mass this evening (Wednesday) at 7.30pm in Christ the King Church for anyone associated with the school.

Visitors have been invited into the school on Friday afternoon to enjoy a photographic display depicting decades of local education.

The village’s first school to cater for the children of mill workers was located opposite the mill at the junction of Oldpark Road and Crawfordstown Road.

Although the original building no longer exists, a row of shops now stands in its place.

The next primary school was built at the top of the Drumsnade Road and was known as Drumaness National School.

It closed in 1939 leading to the development of a brand new school, adjacent to the church of Christ the King.

The new school opened as Drumaness Primary School and was renamed and blessed as Christ the King Primary School, by Canon Gerard McCrory on June 7, 2007.

As part of the anniversary celebrations, parents were given the opportunity to change the school uniform.

They voted for children to wear a shirt and tie, replacing the polo-shirt and sweatshirt which was previously worn by children.

The school colours represent the two local sports clubs in the village, Drumaness Mills Soccer Club and St Colman’s Gaelic Athletic Club both clubs wear royal blue.

School principal Grainne Fay said the school crest was maintained as it highlights the Church of Christ the King and the weir which runs along the side of the school from the Dromara Hills.

“Our school is situated in an area of outstanding beauty, our school is beautifully 

maintained both inside and out and we are extremely proud of it,” she said.

“Although our school is a Catholic maintained primary school, we have always welcomed families and staff from other religious and non-religious backgrounds. We continue to do this harmoniously and without issue.”