Saint John Bosco Primary School Ballynease

5, Culbann Road, Portglenone, Co. Antrim BT44 8NZ

Welcome

To Be The Best We Can

Principal Mrs. S Dobbin

Tele/Fax:028 25 821868

Before 1936 the children of Ballynease were educated in a school less than a mile for the current site, in Thornstown. Mr. Kielt was their principal and he made his journey each day by horse and trap. When the school opened on its current site it was his wife, Mrs. Kielt who took over the position of principal and along with Miss Heaney welcomed the first pupils into the school. Pupils of that time are grandparents of the current pupils and they recall how the teachers warmed them on a cold day by making cups of cocoa and allowing them to sit along the pipes in the classroom. This cocoa was a welcome drink along with the usual lunch of a soda farl wrapped in newspaper. They also remember the push and lift pump in the yard which the bigger boys had to pump to fill the water tanks in the school. Fond memories are told of how May was the month they loved as they were allowed to come to school barefoot. Children of today squirm as we share the memories of a grandfather who told of his joy when someone's father killed a pig as they always got the pigs bladder to play football with! The school continued to grow in numbers and 2 classrooms was no longer enough. For a time the fuel store, which was down on the current pitch was converted into classrooms. This store has varied history as it had been the Avenue Bar in a time before in 1936. The building has continued to transform and extend over the decades until we have arrived at the present building you see today and know as Saint John Bosco Primary School, Ballynease.