Mrs Laura Cairns, Tullymacarette principal
along with primary 5, 6 and 7 pupils. BL21-110MC
AFTER
nearly 70 years a small primary school outside Dromore will
close its doors for the last time this summer.
Tullymacarette 'Primary School has reached
the end of a road some 68 years in the making.
The present school, successor to an even
older school of the same name, dates to 1939.
The school officially closes at the end of
August but it will be the end of term when its 14 remaining
pupils say goodbye to it for good, heading on to secondary
education or going to alternative primary schools.
While trying to maintain normal conditions
for the children, staff are aware of the emotional upheaval in
the run-up to the closure.
Mrs Mary Hughes who joined the school's
teaching staff in January 1975 said: "I have mixed feelings. The
children are sad about the school closing but they were prepared
for it and are coping."
Principal, Mrs Laura Cairns who joined the
school in 1996 said: "We have had many wonderful successes for
such a small school and we have won numerous competitions.
"Despite the fact we have been small we have
been mighty."
The school will open its doors from 7-9pm on
Friday June 1 and 1-3pm on Saturday June 2 - for an informal
reunion of teachers and past pupils.
Mrs Hughes added " "It will be lovely to meet
faces from the past and catch up but it will be an emotional
time."
An old picture of Tullymacarrette Public
Elementary School
