St Colman’s Primary School

St Colman’s Primary School, Kilwarlin, was a small rural school near Moira that served generations of children from the surrounding countryside. Opened in 1862 as a national school, it remained part of the local community for 147 years before closing in 2009.

The school was never in the middle of a large village or town. It sat off the beaten track on Bridge Road, surrounded by fields and rural roads rather than large housing estates or busy streets. That isolation was part of its character, but it also became one of the reasons the school struggled to survive as pupil numbers declined.

From National School to St Colman’s

St Colman’s began life in 1862 as a national school. It later became a Public Elementary School before being transformed into St Colman’s Primary School in 1964.

At its peak, the school had around 90 pupils and four teachers. Children once travelled there from Lurganville, Moira, Hillsborough and even as far as Aghalee. For many families in the area, St Colman’s was more than just a school. It was a small community hub, closely tied to local family life, parish life and the surrounding rural district.

The school’s final principal was Anthony Lappin, who had been in post for around 15 years by the time it closed. In its final years, the roll had fallen dramatically, and Mr Lappin had become the sole teacher.

Declining Numbers and Closure

By 2009, St Colman’s Primary School had only two pupils remaining. Both were P7 pupils, and once they left, the school’s long history came to an end.

The official closure date was recorded as 31 March 2009, but local reports marked Friday 29 May 2009 as the day the gates closed for the last time. To mark the closure, Bishop John McAreavey held a Mass at the nearby church, followed by a barbecue and photographic exhibition at the school grounds for past pupils, staff and the wider community.

The closure was described locally as the end of an era. Former pupils, staff, governors and families had all passed through the small rural school over nearly a century and a half, making its closure a poignant moment for the Kilwarlin and Moira community.

After the School Closed

Following the closure of St Colman’s, pupils transferred to other local schools, including St Patrick’s Primary School in Magheralin. A Northern Ireland Assembly written answer in 2014 referred to the reassessment of school transport for pupils who had transferred from St Colman’s PS, Kilwarlin, to St Patrick’s PS.

The old school building was left behind, its classrooms slowly falling silent. By the time it was photographed for Urbex Hub, the building still contained reminders of its former use, including classroom spaces, school furniture, children’s work and the remains of the portacabins.

The Portacabins:

Photographs from the school when operational