| A Poetic History Of The Diamond Primary School 1938-88 (First Published in May, 1988 before the 50th Anniversary of the school) Far away from the stir and the troubles of cities. In the heart of the countryside, peacefull, serene There’s a school in Drumrankin, outside Cullybackey By the side of the road winding up from the Dreen. Fifty years have rolled past since the Monday it opened ‘Twas the last day of October, nineteen thirty-eight When they closed the old schools at the Loan and Moyasset And their classes marched down to The Diamond’s new gate. It looks such a gem, ‘twas well named The Diamond Set into a backcloth of fields, emerald green, Looking down on the slopes of the lovely Maine Valley The outline of Slemish, far-off, plainly seen. Half a century’s names reappearing in roll books Family links firmly forged with the school through the years, McKibbin, Swami, Johnston, McFetridge and Fleming, Woodrow, Reid, Watson, McCrum, Price and Speers. Backus, Bennett, McShane, Holmes, Rodgers and Cubitt, Wilson, McWhirter, Moore, McLaughlin, McCloy, Livingstone, Blair, Lynn, Bamber and Crawford, Megaughin, Steele, Darragh, McNeice, Grant and Hoy. Craig, Calderwood, Painter, Montgomery, Spence, Mitchell, Mooney, Watt, Hunter, Carlisle, Surgeoner, Clarke, Kernohan, Christie, Brown, Millar, Kirk, Linton, Richmond, Kyle, Logan, Kerr, Kennedy, Marks. Buick, Evans, McGaughey, Magill, Fenton, Gillespie, Harkness, Harris and Lennox, Suitar, Cameron, McFaIl. Warwick, Cupples, McCarroll, Young, Nixon, McClelland, Murray, Davison, Laverty, Campbell, Leetch and McGall. Crabbe, Clements, Nicholl, McKeown, Ritcbie, McClintock, Boyd, Winton, McKay, Fleck, Du1 and Ewart, Mcllroy, Torrie, Workman, McBurney and Kenny, McCartney, Orr, Marshall, McCord, Taylor and Stewart, Bell, Wilkinson, Smyth, Gray, Gordon and Simpson, Rae, Ferguson, Knowles, Archer, Stirling and Greer, Morrison, McKendry, Ross, Dobbin and Sinclair, Sands, Lewry, Hutchinson, McAleese, McAteer. Carleton, McCleery, Dunlop, Donnelly and Dempsey, Courtney, McMaster, McDonald and White, Connaughty, Martin, Frew, Herbison, Higgins, Faulkner, Kirkpatrick, Henry, Dixon and Wright. Duff, Dickey, Colvin, Baird; Harkin and Irvine, McCurdy, McDowell, McClean, Booth and McCaw, Patterson, Porter, Mairs, Armstrong and Allen, McKay, Lamont, Worthington, Marshall and Law. Today we remember The Diamond’s first teachers, The late Master Porter, a true gentleman he, Miss Humphreys, Miss Hollinger and Miss Janie Watson His female assistants, respected all three. But time ticks away and brings about changes Old friends take their leave, and are replaced by new, Miss Hamilton then joined the staff at The Diamond Miss Megaw, Miss Smyth and Miss Davison too. Nineteen sixty-four marked the end of an era Master Porter retired from his life-long career, McNeice from The Buick took his place in The Diamond, Has been Headmaster now for the twenty-third year. Mrs McNeilly arrived next to take charge of the infants, Her successor, Mrs Surgeoner, for twelve years taught here Mrs Duffin, Miss Stewart, V.P. Mrs Morrison Are the Master’s class-teachers in this Golden Year. The old names of townlands that lie round The Diamond Are preserved in our roll books, I’ll quote just a few, Cardonaghy, Loan, Dreen, Drumraw and Moyasset, Ballyconnelly, Drumrankin, “Killylesh” and Glenhue. To parents, past pupils, and friends of The Diamond We extend a warm welcome - in school congregate, Meet up with old friends, reminisce, relive memories On the first Tuesday in June, in the evening, at eight. B. McNeice |