Naomh Bridhid
School Details
Location
About
Scoil Naomh Bríd, Glenmakee, is a co‑educational national school under the patronage of the Catholic Bishop of Derry. Set in a rural, picturesque location near the Abhainn Bhinn Dearg and just two miles from Carndonagh, the school provides a tranquil environment for its approximately 100 pupils. With a modest staff of four mainstream teachers, the school focuses on the full and harmonious development of each child, nurturing intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual growth while fostering a living relationship with God and the wider community. The ethos is inspired by the patron saint, St Brigid, and promotes a caring, inclusive atmosphere where every pupil feels a strong sense of belonging, irrespective of colour, creed, class or culture. Discipline is employed as a tool to encourage respect, empathy and self‑worth. A broad range of resources supports this vision, including wellbeing programmes, home‑learning activities and a variety of educational materials that enhance classroom learning and extracurricular engagement.
History
Prior to formal national education, hedge schools served the Inishowen area, with a 1826 report noting Michael McColgan teaching in a thatched wall at Collin. Glassalts National School, erected in 1837 on land donated by the McMonagle family, was one of the first national schools in the barony. The one‑room, 30 ft × 20 ft building accommodated up to 108 pupils and operated for 94 years. By the 1920s the school was overcrowded, prompting Fr McGeown to request a new building. Following inspection, a new school was constructed in 1931 on land provided by the Doherty family, establishing the present site of Scoil Naomh Bríd.