ALL praise to the management and staff at St Mark’s in Warrenpoint, whose Physical Disability Unit is the only one of its kind for pupils at post-primary schools in the Southern region. Now they have a refurbished Educational Centre, with state-of-the arts suites.

UTV presenter, Frank Mitchell, a former teacher at St Mark’s, was chosen to perform the official opening, which will provide such students with the opportunity to integrate with their peers on an academic and social level.

“When I arrived in 1996, I was struck by the loyalty which pupils and staff had to the school. Prize-giving night was a tremendous celebration of the year’s achievement. And my proudest moment was to welcome the President Mary McAleese to the school, where she dedicated the library to John Cull who, as principal, had done so much to lead St Mark’s into the 21st century.”

Opening in 1972 with just 230 pupils, by the Silver Jubilee St Mark’s had increased to over 850 on the roll. Among its past pupils have been a galaxy of Down G.A.A stars, such as Liam Austin, Paddy O’Rourke, captain of the Sam Maguire Cup winning squad, including Mickey Linden and Miceal Magill, along with Shorty Trainor, Shane Ward, Liam Howlett and Benny Coulter, who represented Ireland against the Aussies.

On the staff have been Peter Rooney, member of the Down side which won the Sam Maguire Cup in 1968; Head of Physical Education, Barney McAleenan, who has played for the county at minor, under-21 and senior level; as well as Liam Austin, distinguished as player and manager. Other sports have included camogie, hurling, netball, basketball, volleyball, cross-country, judo and golf, etc, - but more about those anon.

President of the G.A.A, Jack Boothman visited the `Point school in 1995 to present Down, Ulster and All-Ireland Under-16 medals to the St Mark’s side. The school has been renowned in second-level schools competitions, being the first winners of the All-Ireland Under-16 Championship in 1975, then making it three-in-a-row. They were also successful in 1988, `94 and `95.

No wonder that this school should have such a proud G.A.A. tradition, for its first principal, Hugh McNamara was a legendary figure, an outstanding inter-county footballer and manager, including Newry Shamrocks’ conquest of the Down Senior Championship in 1961.

Hugh recalled the `dream’ of that other great Gael, Fr Esler, whose ambition was to provide a second-level school, which would “serve all the families, reflect the ethos and best way of life of the community between the Mournes and the sea. But this objective was impossible to achieve in an area where a high percentage of 11-plus passers would transfer to the plethora of excellent grammar schools, just six miles away.

“The main purpose was to inform the parents from Warrenpoint and Rostrevor to Mayobridge and Hilltown that, instead of sending their bright children to Newry, there would be a school in their midst, where their children would be given as good a chance as in the scholarship hot-houses in Newry. It would be a truly comprehensive school in a rural setting.”

However, the former principal said: “Tradition dies hard, and parents want to do what is best for their children. There were academic successes at St Mark’s, but not enough to change the educational system. The parents continued to send their cream to Newry grammar schools.

“But along came Brian Carr as vice-principal. He designed a curriculum, which balanced academic needs with the practical, scientific and artistic, leisure and the work ethic. The curriculum he designed has provided the foundation for the successes, which St Mark’s has enjoyed over the years.”

Mr McNamara also paid tribute to his Senior Mistress, later principal, Mary O’Hagan, “whose only problem was that she refused to ignore even the weakest in her class. No one could be left behind. Mrs Isobel Bradley ruled the office, and had a fierce loyalty to St Mark’s; Art teacher Maurice Connell was a perfectionist, who dealt with his pupils firmly but fairly; Dolly Fegan also sought perfection, while Walter Heaton was the best caretaker in the business.

“What St Mark’s was about in those early days was an amalgam of many things, - chief of which was the loyalty of staff to the school, as well as pride in their work. Trust was spoken in many places, high and low. The values by which people guided their lives were challenged. It was nerve-wrecking, but it was also good fun,” stated the school’s first principal.

Another person, who spent many years at St Mark’s, was Aveen Tohill, Head of Music for 25 years. She described Mr McNamara as “the man who set it all on course, - he was loved and respected by all. During those early years resources were limited. For example, in order that pupils would have percussion instruments, some would have to bring saucepan lids with a piece of string, in order to join in the lessons.

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