HISTORY: Sixth class pupils in Stramore N.S. Churchill, were delighted to receive a specially commissioned 1916 plaque from Jackie Dillon, director of Donegal Education Centre for winning the overall award in their category for the 1916 Decade of Commeration history project.
Their project focused on the 1916 War of independence activity in the local area and of a Dungloe man Con’O Boyle who was shot in the locality.
A local dancehall, once a very vibrant social centre, a disused shed today, was named after him “The Con’O Boyle Memorial Hall”.
Local people including grandparents were interviewed and their memories and local knowledge recalled and logged in the project.
Jackie said the judges were very impressed with the overall presentation and the local focus on people who fought here like Con’O Boyle and Peadar O’Donnell.
The children highlighted the fact that it was not only in the main focal points of Ireland that the battle for Independence was fought but also in rural isolated areas like Glendowan who rose to the challenge, died for the cause and these unsung heroes were commemorated in their own special way by proud communities.
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