Year 8 History classes recently participated in a series of Historical tours of the College led by College Archivist Mr Gerry McNamee. Mr McNamee provided a fascinating insight into key episodes in the College’s history, including World War One, the 1916 rising, the Belfast Blitz and the Troubles. Highlights of the tour included the College Chapel where the boys examined the famous Harry Clarke stained glass windows and the opportunity to examine key College artefacts, including a class list from 1882 that included the names of John McBride and Eoin MacNeill, both of whom had connections with the 1916 Rising. They were also shown the diary of Edward Keys. He was a pupil in the College during WW1 and his diary gives a vivid account of life in the College during the War. These collections will soon be housed in the new Diocesan Library and History Corridor.

There are plans to invite Mr McNamee to talk to our Year 8 students again as there were so many questions, we ran out of time to answer them!