Foundation Stone The foundation stone had the date 1885 inscribed but it was 26th March 1886 that the assistant surveyor Mr. J. Cockburn issued a certificate of completion. On it was stated the total grant value (533 pounds towards the building and 30 pound for the surrounding wall. This represented a grant of 66-66% of the total: the remaining one third had to be provided by the trustees. The total expenditure incurred was 800 pounds for building and 45 pounds for the wall. Durnien was appointed by the Trustees and too up his position in May 1886. The school w opened on 3rd May 1886. According to early documents there were 14 boys in 1st class, 33 in 2nd, 26 in 3rd class, 13 in 4th, 1st stage of 5th class had 15 and 2nd stage had 7, and there were 4 students in 6th class. The total on the original roll was 112 for the 1st year (105 enrolled on the 1st day). The age of the boys ranged from 4/5 years old to 14. First Pupil Most references tell us that Charlie Kelly, the first pupil on the register in Barrack Street was the son of a gardener who worked at the Convent of Mercy. He lived in Chapel Street, which was Lower Townsend Street, adjacent to St. Johns Church. Several mills were in existence in the town at this time, one situated in Barrack. Street. Many of the pupils lived in the neighbouring streets and their parents worked as millers. There were sons of drapers, carters and shoemakers. Carpenters were common, as were sawyers, pedlars, and shop assistants. There were several rag merchants recorded in the early registers, publicans, hairdressers and even one billiard marker. William and Joseph McGonigle who were next on the roll lived in Broad Lane, which was Orchard Street. John Mahon came from Barrack Street and Patrick Grahames also came from Chapel Street. Others came from Shaw's Lane off Butcher Street formerly Herring Market Street, Broad Row, the Back Fence, Back Street (Market Street), Puddle Alley (Kennedy Street), Factory Row (in Derry Road), Canal Basin, Cornmarket Street and Irish Street (Patrick Street). Subjects Taught The school day started at 10-00 a.m. till 3-30 p.m. The subjects taught on the early curriculum were mainly the 3R's. Other subjects on the timetable were Geography, History, Singing, Drawing, Science, P.T. (a type of Swedish gymnastics, and known as drill for 40 year~ and book-keeping. A hot house was erected in 1899 to the side of the school for the teaching of 'agriculture'. Religious Instruction was held during the last 30 minutes of the school day. One other notable point was that the content of the songbooks were closely scrutinised at this time to restrict the nationalist themes therein. Summer holidays lasted for only 4 weeks. On 5th August 1895 the School Commissioners agreed that fair days should count as part of the school holidays. Assistants Shortly after the school opened in 1886 and after much negotiating by the Rev. Fr. Hugh 0' Hagan with the commissioners, two assistants were appointed to the staff. Thomas Fagan was a 25-year-old Rostrevor man who qualified from St. Patrick's Training College, Drumcondra in 1885. He started in Strabane on 19th July 1886. Patrick McWilliams had been a monitor at Aughafad N.S. until 1883. He attended Drumcondra from 1885 -1886 and started in Barrack St. the day after Fagan. Both were given good reports by Inspector Cox, thus entitling them to their teachers' salary of £35. Doherty's School On the announcement of the retirement of Felix Durnien in August 1912, Andy Doherty was appointed on 1st October to be Headmaster. There were then 150 boys on the rolls. This man became synonymous with the school so much so that it became known for many years as Doherty's school. Born in 1881 at Upper Main Street, Strabane where his parents had a pub business, he received his early education at Barrack Street where he also served as a monitor. He trained as a teacher at St. Pat's in Drumcondra and joined Barrack Street in 1895.

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