Gartan National School scoop top schools history competition spot

Gartan NS emerged the overall winners of this year's Donegal Historical Society's Schools' competition. Indeed, they also have made history as the first winners of the John McCreadie Memorial Shield, honouring the society's late and highly esteemed treasurer.

Society president, Rev. Raymond Blair, travelled to the school to present the shield.

"I was delighted to see the enthusiasm which the pupils had for learning about the history of their locality. Their project was well worthy of the award, given its originality and how well they illustrated it with relevant photos and other materials," he said.

The two runners-up were Scoil Cholmcille, Greencastle, 5th and 6th class. Some of the topics they focused on were fairy tales from their locality and fairs and markets.

The other victorious school was St Mura's, Lower Fahan, 3rd-6th class. Among their topics were Dunree Fort and the Buncrana railway.

After the turbulent years just gone, the society is delighted with the gratitude expressed by schools across the county that the competition is back with new energy.

Indeed, many pupils and staff told the organisers that the past few years have been an opportunity to discover and appreciate the vast amount of history in their vicinity.

"Our thanks also to Pat Shallow, director of the competition, for his huge commitment to this competition, a task he has been doing unfailingly for many years, a spokesperson said.

Schools will be contacted later this year with details about the next competition.