About
"On the stem of memory, imaginations blossom", Patrick Kavanagh.
Donaghmore Heritage Centre in County Tyrone is set in a beautiful sandstone building based in a former National School in the village, which closed its doors to pupils in 1958. Based on the site of an earlier school of 1841, which had fallen into disrepair, a new building was constructed in 1883 using local sandstone and today it still retains many of its original features such as the finials on the roof, the original datestones, the high ceilings, the two original classrooms and their fireplaces, and the original folding doors.
Although these buildings were common throughout Ireland and had an important impact on the communities they served, many of them have, fallen derelict, been repurposed or demolished. The Donaghmore National School building has withstood the test of time at one hundred and forty years old and has been repurposed for use as the local Heritage Centre. It has been sympathetically restored and now serves as a meeting place for Donaghmore Historical society, acting as a repository for numerous documents, photographs and objects focused on the rich local heritage and story of Donaghmore village and its surrounding area.
Visitors will be able to engage with local history presentations during their visit, including the history of the school and will be able to examine a selection of school documents and objects including the original teacher's desk and cupboard. We hope that this opportunity to visit a national school building will help you to reflect on the role that schools played in the development of a local community and what was considered to be important for children to learn all those years ago.
Donaghmore Historical Society is also keen to share other heritage resources with our visitors during the open days. You will be able to view maps, books, photographs and historic documents relating to the history of Donaghmore and its environs, including Brown's Soap Works and the world-famous Colleen Soap, learn more about the ancient cross that holds such a prominent location in the village, and discover how early Christian monks used waterpower to grind corn on the river Torrent.
We will be delighted to welcome you to this unique building in the beautiful village of Donaghmore and share some of our local stories. School days have always played an influential role in everyone's development so do come along to find out more and share your experiences with us, we'd love to hear about them.
Guide Prices
| Ticket Type | Ticket Tariff |
|---|---|
| EHOD | Free |
Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.
