Scoil Mhuire seeks past-pupil stories ahead of 2033 centenary

Scoil Mhuire secondary school in Buncrana has begun preparations for its centenary year in 2033 and is reaching out to the community for help in capturing a flavour of the school’s rich heritage.

In anticipation of this milestone, Transition Year students have commenced a project to capture the history, memories and lived experiences of past-pupils that reflect school life across the decades.

As part of this initiative, students are inviting past-pupils to participate in interviews or audio/video recordings (in-person or by Zoom) reflecting on their time at Scoil Mhuire. The school is particularly interested in hearing from its oldest living past-pupils, whose recollections will help preserve the earliest chapters of its story.

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The school also intends to document significant milestones in its history, including the introduction of the first co-educational class in 1967, the subsequent phasing out of the boarding school, and other landmark developments that have shaped Scoil Mhuire over the decades.

The project also aims to gather archive treasures that are tucked away in the homes of former students. These may include old photographs, schoolbooks, uniforms, press cuttings, letters or any memorabilia connected to school life. The collection has already begun, with the school recently gifted a school beret and photographs belonging to a boarder from 1945.

Anyone who wishes to contribute memories or materials to the centenary project is invited to contact vice principal Lorna Barron (email lorna.barron@scoilmhuirebuncrana.ie).

Through this initiative, Scoil Mhuire aims to celebrates a century of education, community and tradition and to build a comprehensive archive ensuring that the memories of past-pupils are preserved for generations to come.