St. Johnston No.2 National School (St. Baithin’s)
This school opened in 1931 having a Roman Catholic ethos. It was situated at an
area known locally as “The Blue Ball”. It served the pupils of the community
until its closure in 1980 when the current St Baithin’s School was opened in St.
Johnston. Mr Sean McBride composer of The Homes of Donegal and the Crolly Doll
was one of its principals. The school was demolished in May 2008.
By Hugh Doherty
Here are some essays from the school courtesy of Duchas.
My Townland
The - that I live in is called Castlethird. It is situated in the parish of St.
Johnston. There is a few government cottages being built in it at present. Most
of the people are living in cottages. Their names are - Marshall, Corcoran, Mc
Gee, Roulstone, McCready, Logan, Moore, Coyle, Hunter & Robb. Here are the names
of those who live in thatched houses; Gamble, McSorley, Payne, Devenny, Duffy.
There is the ruins of an old house in Castlethird in which a cripple named Latta
used to live with his sister.
Castlethird got its name from the ruins of an old castle which stand in it. My
granny is over 83 years old and has known Castlethird most of her life. Another
old woman who lives near us is Annie Byres. They have no Irish but I daresay
they could tell some stories.
Here are their names and addresses, Mrs Cassie Devenny, Churchtown, Carrigans,
Co. Donegal & Mrs Byres, The Haugh, Carrigans.
The most common names in my parish are Mc Gee & Devenny.
There is only about a couple of old ruins in Castlethird. About 20 years ago,
some people emigrated to America. No one has gone lately. A lot of young men
have gone to Scotland. They are working in some quarry there.
This is a verse about Galbraith’s mill, which is situated in Churchtown. Some of
the Church town boys made it.
About two miles from Carrigans,
And a mile from Dooish Hill.
There stands a famous building
And they call it Galbraith’s mill.
Mc Sorley is the miller.
Although he’s very wee.
With book and pencil in his hand
He’s as busy as a bee.
There is a sort of plantation in Churchtown. Great masses of bluebells grow in
it every summer. Foxes and badgers live in it. It belonged to Dr. Gamble. He
died some time ago, and so his property is going to be sold. There is another
small plantation in Tyroddy and it belongs to Mr Jim Gallagher.
There is hardly any flat land in our parish. It is all rather hilly. A lot of it
is pasture-land.
Pupil’s name - Nellie Corcoran,
Address: Churchtown, Carrigans, Co. Donegal
Date - 11th Oct 1938