Between April and June 2024 we explored the history of Donaghcloney with the P4 and P5 classes of Donacloney Primary School in what turned out to be a really fun-filled, packed local history project!
To start the project the pupils were challenged to find out as much as they could about the history of Donaghcloney by interviewing their parents/grandparents/relatives. We were super impressed by everything the classes found out, which pretty much covered the presentations we in the Society gave!
To learn more about the village's history the classes then visited the Donaghcloney Royal British Legion where they viewed artefacts related to Donaghcloney's history; and also met and questioned members of the Donaghcloney Community Garden about their memories of the village in the past.
The pupils also popped into the Donacloney LOL75 & RPB67 Orange Hall where they found out about the history of the hall and were introduced to some 'Donacloney Timing' on the lambeg drum.
A visit to the Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum followed where we learned about the production of linen, which of course Donaghcloney was famous for. To conclude the project the class then worked with artist Robert Peters, who introduced the class to the history of damask linen design, with the pupils then producing their own damask designs printed to a piece of Thomas Ferguson's Irish Linen, which will remain in the school as a reminder of the project.
We're sure this project has sparked a real interest in local history among the pupils, and we must acknowledge the support of the Donaghcloney Linen Green Association and funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which made it all possible!
A big thank you to everyone involved - it's was brilliant to see so many groups in the village getting involved. And of course a BIG THANK YOU to the teacher Mrs Vaughan who couldn't have been more helpful, accommodating and enthusiastic throughout.