Images

Book Launch - Culdaff- John Hume, David Wilson (Author) & Sean Beattie. Culdaff 2008

Altar, Redford (Culdaff). Oratory in former parochial house used by Fr. Mc Glinchley PP Culdaff, died 1897. Photo: June 2008

Kindroyhead, Gleneely: Parochial House of Rev Fr Mc Devitt, PP Culdaff in 1848, used as safe house by T.D Mc Gee before escaping from Tremone Bay, Date of photo c 1920 showing O'Kane family.

CARNDONAGH COLLEGE 1960-2010 : a 50 year milestone.

Front Row, left to right: Tommy Hanny, (B).,  Patrick Orr, Redcastle, Eamon Harkin, (C), Mick Breslin, Burnfoot, Kevin McLaughlin, (C), John McGettigan, Mov., Charlie Kelly, (C), Harry Barr, Mov., Larry Nash, (C), Pat O’Connor, (C).  

Seated: Aidan Doherty,(Glackin, C), Tony McColgan, Culkeeny, Patsy Doherty, (C), George Doherty, Bridge St., Carn, Fr. Kevin McKenna, Fr.O’Reilly, Fr. Campbell, R.I.P., Eddie Kelly, Clonmany, Brian McDaid, Quigley’s Point, Sean Vincent McLaughlin, M, Jim Toland, Clonmany.

Third row: Paddy McGuinness, (C), Billy Doherty, Redcastle, Charlie Doherty, Ballyliffin, Mickey Rudden, Culdaff, Charlie Kelly, Illies, Charlie Grant, (B), George McLaughlin, Greencastle, Tony McDermott, Ballinaboe, James McDermott, (C),  Dominic McDaid, Culdaff,  Seamus Doherty, Moss Rd., (C), Brian Cavanagh, (B) P.V. Doran, (B), Jim McLaughlin, Mov., James Gill, (C), John Grant, (Illies), Donal (Paul) Doherty, (C).

Fourth row: (------), (------), Dessie Doherty, (C), Brian Harkin, Ballyliffin, Philip Doherty, Urris, Kevin Deery, (M), Paddy O’Donnell, Drumfries, Harry McLaughlin, (M), Oliver Gilmore, (C), Jim Sheridan, (B), Paddy Kelly, (M), Peter Murphy, Buncrana, Roger Mooney, Culdaff, Mickey Morrison, David Quigley, Joe Gallagher, all Carn.

Back row: Jack Donovan, Malin Head, Francis McCallion, (M), Brian McLaughlin,  Peter Coyle, Christy Doherty, Tom Farren, all Carn, Paddy McDaid, (B).

(With thanks to John Grant for names and addresses and to Mickey McClure for original photograph taken by Butlers of Carn) B-Buncrana, M- Malin, Mov.- Moville, C-Carn.

 

Carndonagh College was founded in 1960 and Rev. Kevin McKenna, a native of Moneyneena, Co Derry, was appointed the first Principal. He served for three years before Rev. Art O’Reilly replaced him. Fr. McKenna returned as Principal in 1971 and remained in this post until 1973, during which time he managed to oversee the  amalgamation of the College with the Convent Secondary School and the Vocational School. The new school had over 800 pupils and at one time had the distinction of being the largest second-level school in the Republic of Ireland when school number exceeded 1,600 pupils. The Board of Management appointed Fr. McKenna as Principal of the Community School in 1973 and he remained in that position for eighteen years, later becoming Parish Priest of Dungiven.

 

Among the many distinguished pupils was the playright, Frank McGuinness. A member of the staff, Rev. Francis Lagan, a teacher of French and later Guidance Counsellor, became a Bishop in the Diocese of Derry. Several students later held key posts in finance, banking, the civil service, education, the church and in the legal profession while others played an important role in developing family businesses and farms.