The first people in Ireland arrived about 4,000
B.C. Legend says these people were a magical people and now live
under ground. They buried their important people under great stones
monuments with 3 tall standing stones, twice as tall as a man,
holding up a massive cap stone, 50 tons in weight.
Cu Chulainn is a great Irish legendary warrior. His father is
supposed to have lived in a great earth mound overlooking Dundalk,
with a tunnel to the centre of the mound. Cu Chulainn was born near
our school.
There is a large castle in the vacinity called Roche Castle. It was built in 1230 by the Normans to protect the
surrounding land. In 1318 Edward De Bruce from Scotland, was killed
here. His death is linked to the film 'Brave Heart'. When Willam
Wallace was killed, Robert De Bruce carried on his work. He got his
brother to fight the English army in Ireland but he was defeated in
battle at Faughart, 3km from the school.
St.
Brigid, our local saint is buried in
Faughart. Her feast day is February the 1st. Every year we make St.
Brigid's crosses out of rushes in her honour and get them blessed at
a special mass.
Our nearest town, Dundalk, was a garrison town. It had large walls,
ditches and mottes surrounding it. Part of the wall is still standing
today. Dundalk was an important trade and industry centre, although
this could not have achieved without Lord Limerick who sold his lands
to up-grade Dundalk. He built parks, roads, a harbour, numerous
factories and a sea wall.
Our school is located in what was known as "the Gap of the North".
This was the gate way to Ulster and many battles have been fought
here down through the centuries.