May 2022 - Review of the Year

In May, Steelstown Primary School in Derry celebrated 50 years serving and educating the local community with a special Anniversary Mass held in the nearby Our Lady of Lourdes Church, followed by a special dinner in the school’s canteen.

Present staff were joined by past principals, past vice-principals, former staff, neighbouring local primary principals and post-primary principals, board of governors - present and past, the Bishop of Derry, Dr Donal McKeown, Therese Ferry of Catechetical Centre, Deputy Mayor Christopher Jackson, Gerry Campbell, chief executive, CCMS (Council for Catholic Maintained Schools) and Anna Ingram, CCMS, Faustina Graham, chief inspector, ETI (Education Training Inspectorate), Education Authority staff, local councillors and MLAs, Derry City and Strabane District Council staff, Friends of Steelstown PTA (Parent-Teachers Association) and members of the school community.

Overall, there was a wonderful celebratory atmosphere.

After the celebration of Mass, those in attendance gathered for tea and coffee in the school before dinner was served.

Speaking after the dinner, Bishop McKeown said: “It is a privilege to see this parish celebrate the role that its parish school has played in the community for 50 years.

School principal, Siobhan Gillen described Steelstown as a very special school.

“Steelstown Primary School officially opened in April 1972 under the visionary leadership of the much loved and very fondly remembered principal, Mr Jim Quinn.

Indeed, Mr Jim Quinn was followed by dedicated principals, who are with us here today, Mr Joe Martin, Mrs Kathleen Bradley and Mrs Deirdre Gillespie, all of whom contributed immensely to the development of the school.”

What was described as a “perfect storm” of factors, in May, led to more than 20 pubs and restaurants in Donegal being made available for sale or lease.

Four pubs were for sale in Donegal Town alone and premises are also on the market in Ballybofey, Doochary, Bruckless, Fanad, Kilcar, Ballyshannon, Bunbeg and Derrybeg.

A number of premises offering accommodation are also on the market.

Increased running costs - due to higher prices of electricity, oil and insurance, combined with staff shortages and the ending of Covid-19 business support, were some of the factors blamed for business owners looking to leave the hospitality sector.

Also in May, a number of Derry schools featured in a new film aimed at tackling bullying in schools.

The city’s leading independent community film company, Black North Productions, was working hard on their anti-bullying in the school film, 'Summary Justice.'

Pupils from several schools across the city and beyond featured in the film which was based at the fictional Saint Saviour’s College.

Current and former teachers also featured in the film, ably led by Mr H Montgomery played by John E Duddy.

Black North purchased school uniforms and badges for their 'Friendly Faces' pupils who assisted any pupil feeling bullied or down, or just needing someone on hand to offer them support.

All secondary schools across the Derry and Strabane District Council area were given an opportunity to sign up to the campaign.

The Children’s Commissioner for Northern Ireland endorsed the campaign and was pleased that a local initiative has been taken to eradicate bullying in schools.

All secondary schools who signed up were given a certificate of acceptance and 'Friendly Faces' badge allocation.

Schools were also given a PowerPoint presentation highlighting the campaign and how best to deal with bullying in their school.

Joseph McCarthy, Black North Productions founder and director of the film, said: “Unfortunately, bullying in schools will never really be eradicated completely and those who suffer from it often face more serious mental health issues in the future.

“However, we at Black North Productions firmly believe that our anti-bullying campaign will help reduce isolation and victimisation and to that end, we are funding our campaign and are willing to take it forward.”

A ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of the killing by a British soldier of a young Derry boy was hosted by the Bishop of Derry in May.

Back in 1972, 15-year-old Manus Deery had his whole life ahead of him. He had just left St Joseph's School and had just received his first wage packet from French's Factory.

On the night of May 19, Manus had just bought himself a bag of chips from the Scooby Doo fish shop on Mennan Square.

He then got talking to some friends in an archway known as 'the funnel’.

It was there, he was struck in the head by a bullet fired by a British soldier from an army observation post at the city's walls.

The British line at the time was that a soldier had shot an armed man.

It would take another 45 years of campaigning by the Deery family for an inquest to clear Manus' name and state categorically that he was unarmed, not posing a threat and was unlawfully killed.

The ceremony to mark the anniversary took place at the Westland Street/CableStreet junction and saw the Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown open a memorial garden for Manus and all other children killed in 'The Troubles’.

Sister Helen Deery, remembered Manus as a happy go-lucky boy who loved his music and may well have joined the Navy had he not been killed.

Speaking to the Derry News, she said: “Manus went to St Joseph's school and he couldn't wait to leave and start working. Cllr Deeney got him a job at French's Factory – sadly he would only work there for two weeks before he was killed.

“We were going up Westland Street on the way to the house and I could see thousands of people out. We knew then what had happened.

As happened so often during 'The Troubles,' the British Army's propaganda machine went into full swing in order to deflect the blame for Manus' killing away from them.

Helen added: “Within hours the next day, we got the full picture as to what had happened to him.

“Although the authorities went into cover-up mode straight away.

“It was put out on BBC News that Manus was a '17-year-old gunman.'

“However, it was only 45 years later at his inquest when the authorities finally admitted that he had no gun and posed no threat to anyone and that he was unlawfully killed.”

The inquest 45 years later cleared Manus' name and revealed the identity of the soldier who killed him. Private William Glasgow, who died in 2001, was that man.

At the end of May, Derry Girls star Jamie-Lee O’Donnell showcased the past and present of her hometown of Derry in a new Channel 4 documentary.

The actress starred as Michelle Mallon in the hit Channel 4 comedy about a group of teenagers growing up in Derry in the 1990s, which ended with a special episode paying tribute to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. She has also played a leading role in the TV prison drama, Screw.

In The Real Derry, Jamie-Lee explored her upbringing in the Catholic community and how things have changed in the city since.

Students at O’Donnell’s old school, St Cecilia's College, reflected on the city’s regeneration and why many young people still feel they need to leave Derry to gain new skills and experiences.

Fifty years on from Bloody Sunday, the programme also looked at what the future may bring for the city, in particular for the younger generation who still live with the impact of ‘The Troubles’.