Former pupils and staff of St Patrick's and St Brigid's College, Claudy recall their favourite memories as the school celebrates 60 years

ABOVE: MARY O'NEILL, WHO HAS SINCE RETIRED FROM THE SCHOOL

Name: Mary O'Neill

Current role: Retired

Former pupil and school secretary

I was a pupil in St Patrick’s and St Brigid’s College from Sept 1964 to June 1968 where I followed a Secretarial Course in 4^th Year, typing skills, shorthand and book-keeping taught by Mrs Eileen O’Kane.

I returned in 1969 as a School Secretary, a new post created in schools and the furniture consisted of a large table, filing cabinet, telephone and an Olivetti typewriter.

There was no job description, but I quickly adapted my own routine of identifying pupils who were entitled to Free Meals, Half Price Meals or Full Price, by distributing colour coded meal tickets.

Answering telephone calls, delivering messages and a little typing were my main chores for several years.

Departmental Budgets, Requisitions and Invoices were soon daily tasks and completing weekly time sheets for one caretaker and two cleaners and myself the entire ancillary workforce.

Each decade brought changes, increased teaching staff, auxiliary staff, technicians, classroom assistants and cleaners.

Word processing, LMS, and computerisation became the new norm.

St Patrick’s and St Brigid’s was a happy welcoming school, a big united family, with one large staff room, which was full of laughter, many a story told and outings organised.

St Patrick’s and St Brigid’s expanded with new builds, renovations, private buses organised, increased pupil numbers, when it became necessary for admission criteria to be followed to get admitted, which brought joy to some families and disappointment to others.

I retired in 2015, 46 years as a School Secretary and four years as a pupil, having worked for six principals.

I have unforgettable memories, cherished friends and colleagues and I wish Mr McCullagh and staff every success in the years ahead.

ABOVE: FORMER PUPIL SHAUNA O'NEILL

Name: Shauna O’Neill

Current role: Fundraising Coordinator with Children in Crossfire.

Attended the school for five years, and left almost 20 years ago!

Firstly I think most people's fondest memories from school are often the friendships made, I am still good friends with the girls I was at school with and we met for lunch this week and had a great chat about all our memories from our ‘Claudy days’!

Things that stood out for us were the teachers who made it feel more like a family and put in so much effort. One of which was Mr Doherty in music, who had just started at the school the same year we started year 8, he started the choir, Orchestra and we had the famous school plays, our year we did Sister Act!

The buns in the canteen need a mention, and the school trips, from a citizenship weekend in Fermanagh to Barcelona.

We spoke about Mr McCauley too who was the principal during our time at the school, and how he used to always say at our assemblies, 'If it is to be, it is up to me', we can all still hear him saying it! Also how he would take our school diaries often and go through them, writing positive comments or at times comments asking why things maybe are not so good, but it showed great care, another thing he did was send out Christmas cards.

There was always something to get involved with, one of the girls did horse riding through Mrs Turtan, or some of us joined the famous Orchestra, and art workshops, and dance classes or took part in the talent competitions.

The schools location too is something we realise now we didn’t fully appreciate at the time, but also being in nature during your breaks getting fresh air, and things like cross country in P.E through Cumber Forest.

ABOVE: MARTIN AND MAJELLA HONE

Names: Martin and Majella Hone

Roles: Martin, Science and Technology Technician from 1978 – 2018 and Majella, Canteen Supervisor from 1985 – Present.

Martin:

I started St Patrick’s and St Brigid’s in 1973 as an 11-year-old pupil. Thanks to Father Carlin’s help and encouragement I never left until 2018. I spent 40 wonderful years working as the Science and Technology technician. I had the honour of working with many amazing colleagues through the years. I have the most wonderful memories of both past pupils and staff and witnessed the fantastic changes the school has made throughout its 60 years. I wish St Patrick’s and St Brigid’s and the dedicated staff many more years of success.

Majella:

As a past pupil, I returned to St Patrick’s and St Brigid’s in 1985. I have worked in the canteen for the last 39 years and I am currently the Canteen Supervisor. I have seen hundreds of great pupils come and go throughout the years including two of my own children, Elaine and Orlagh, and a new generation again with my Grandchild Rachel. I have many amazing memories from my school days right through to the present time. May St Patrick’s and St Brigid’s College have as much success in the future as they have had the last 60 years!

Name: Mrs Denise Geary/O’Kane

Role: Teacher of the Deaf

English Teacher from 1999 to 2012

I have many, many fond memories of my time teaching English in St. Patrick’s and St. Brigid’s College.  Fresh out of teacher training college, I arrived at the school bright and early on 1st September 1999.  Mr McCauley, who was the principal at the time, greeted me at the front door and escorted me to Room 12, proudly saying that he had painted the classroom himself over the summer holidays.  I then met my form class - a lively bunch of Year 10 pupils with many characters such as Shane Kerlin, whose one-liners and jokes never failed to brighten my day.

I nervously went to the staff room at breaktime to meet everyone and I remember the lovely Mrs Bridgeen Gormley getting up to welcome me and offering me her seat.  Mrs Margaret Donaghy then handed me a cup of tea and a thick slice of her homemade scone with butter and jam.  From that first day on I knew that I was part of the Claudy family and I spent 12 happy years there!

During those years I thoroughly enjoyed working alongside Mr Martin Downey and the rest of the English Department as we all shared a great love of teaching English.  My approach may have been slightly different at times though as one of my funniest memories is the time I sang Eminem’s rap song ‘Lose Yourself’ to my Year 11 class in an attempt to introduce them to poetry (- apologies to those poor students who are probably still traumatised today!)

I particularly loved my time working as the Special Educational Co-Ordinator and I never fail to be amazed and in awe of past pupils who have overcome so many barriers to reach their full potential.  It was this passion for helping students that prompted me to sadly leave Claudy in December 2012 to specialise in working as a Teacher of the Deaf.  I still miss my friends and colleagues and I am looking forward to seeing everyone again at the 60th anniversary.

I am always delighted to meet a past pupil and to learn about their own children (which makes me feel old) and their careers.  I am so proud when I bump into past students busy working as nurses, teachers, mechanics, quantity surveyors and radiographers etc.   I happily follow the talented and aspiring singers George Hutton, Stephen McKeever, Aoife Moore, Jamie Donaghy and Clodagh Biggs, to name just a few.  I also fondly remember all the beautiful students and colleagues gone too soon, especially our dear friend, Mrs Mary Toner, whom we lost recently. 

St. Patrick’s and St. Brigid’s College is known for its long tradition of excellence and service in the local Claudy community.  The teachers strive to nurture the gifts of all the pupils and work tirelessly to ensure that each student is valued and appreciates their own worth.  The caring and supportive attitude of the whole school community, which includes teachers, classroom assistants, office staff, technicians, canteen staff, school cleaners and caretakers, is what makes St. Patrick’s and St. Brigid’s College special and still so dear to my heart.