Birches Primary School was officially opened on Monday 6 June 1966 by Captain The Right Hon Terence O'Neill, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. The decision to build this Primary School was reached in the light of the continued decline in the local population, and the introduction of the Intermediate School system, whereby children moved away from the Primary School at the age of 11 years. This rationalisation of Primary education resulted in the closing of five small schools, namely Cloncore Upper, Derrylard, Milltown, Tartaraghan No1 and Tartaraghan No2.
The new school erected on a site of approx. 1 1/2 acres acquired from Miss Gertrude Magee was constructed of steel frame and brick, the external walls being plastered. There were five classrooms and a spacious assembly hall. It was designed to accommodate 160 pupils and the approximate cost was £56,700.
(taken from Tartaraghan Precinct by Rev. W.E.C. Fleming)
This page has been started in response to several queries from past pupils of the school. We hope to add more information about the school's history and also about past pupils of the school. If you have any photos or relevant information please do send them to us.
NEWSPAPER ARCHIVES
Below are a selection of picture taken from newspaper articles involving Birches PS over the years, click on the images to get a better view and more information on the picture.
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