St. Brigid's PS Carnhill celebrates 50th anniversary: ‘It spurred us on to become the people we are today’

Emmylou Large is a Belfast based GP who has absolutely no doubt that St Brigid's has played a major role in her life both professionally and personally. Her love for the place is abundantly clear....

Here's her telling her story in her own words.

"I can’t actually believe that it’s been 40 years since I started St Brigid’s, I remember the excitement of that day as if it was yesterday.

"I had watched my older cousins cross the Racecourse Road from my Granny’s house to school, and couldn’t wait for it to be my turn. Two days after my 5th birthday, my parents walked me into Mrs Hannigan’s P1 classroom, and so began my journey through education, which took me from St Brigid’s, to Thornhill, then onto Queens University Belfast.

"On that first day, I remember my Daddy telling me that if I got sad or lonely, I could look out the window and my Granny Mona would be waving at me from her house, but I never felt lonely or sad. I loved school. It was a happy vibrant place full of craic and laughter, where I made friends, and developed my love of learning.

"The school pantomimes were the highlight of the year. Mr. McMahon had a great talent for writing witty scripts for shows that were as entertaining to adults as they were to us children. We loved the singing and dancing and the buzz of performing… and some famous faces even had their musical debuts on that stage in the assembly hall!

"It was also in St Brigid’s that I first discovered my love of the Irish language. Every year, Mr Sheerin would be tasked with teaching us a few hymns and prayers “as Gaeilge” for our St Brigid’s day mass. Those few words and phrases were the beginning of my passion for the language which I carried through to A-level and still speak to this day.

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"We always loved a challenge in St Brigid’s, and in the older primaries we looked forward to the “ten laps around the school” fundraising event. The Belfast Marathon wouldn’t have had a look in, such was the endurance needed for that race! The craic was great as the classes took it in turns to race around the school. . . . . we slept well that night for sure!

"Oh and there was the time of huge excitement when Sr. Catherine was on This is your Life!!

Emmy Lou Large and her mum Angela

"I’m smiling as I remember the big events that marked my time in St Brigid’s and I could go on for ever recounting memories, but really, it was the everyday sense of community, and the nurturing environment that really made the school special. The encouragement from the teachers that we could be anything that we wanted to be in 1980s Derry spurred us on to become the people we are today.

"I visited the school a few weeks ago with my mammy, who is on the Board of Governors, and my two daughters, Aoife and Erin.

“As soon as I stepped through the doors the sense of familiarity was overwhelming, and as I showed my girls the pictures on the walls of pantos and Confirmations (complete with questionable 1980s fashion!!) I realised that I will always have a great sense of belonging in St Brigid’s. I know I’m not alone in saying that the foundations I got in St Brigid’s have helped make me the person I am today.

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"In 50 years, while so much has changed, what has stayed the same is the warmth, and the welcome, and the happiness within the walls of St Brigid’s as children learn and grow.

Congratulations St Brigid’s! Here’s to the next 50 years!