Our 50th Anniversary 1975-2025
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We held a design competition for a 50th anniversary logo. We had a great response and there were two winners.
One child created a super computer design aided by AI and the other creative design lent heavily on our school crest and captured the 50th anniversary in a very striking and warm way reflecting on the family that is Downpatrick Primary School. We used his design on beautiful eco water bottles for each child and each staff member.
One child created a super computer design aided by AI and the other creative design lent heavily on our school crest and captured the 50th anniversary in a very striking and warm way reflecting on the family that is Downpatrick Primary School. We used his design on beautiful eco water bottles for each child and each staff member.
The school moved to its present site just after Easter in 1975. It had been the Downpatrick County Primary School and in the building across Mount Crescent from us and where Downpatrick Nursery School and Surestart are now.
Downpatrick Primary School has had 50 eventful years of educating and nurturing children from Downpatrick and outlying areas such as Inch, Annadorn, Killough, Ardglass and Strangford. We have also had children from further afield, Saintfield, Comber, Ballygowan, Newcastle and Castlewellan and even from South Belfast.
We held a 'Birthday Party - Decades Day' for the children and a special Open Afternoon and exhibition for former pupils, staff and families to come and see lots of old photos and old school registers. Some date back to 1897.
The original 'Downpatrick County Primary School' was built in 1959 with Mr Bill Nesbitt as its principal. It was preceded by Southwell Boys' and Southwell Girls' Schools as well as the Fountain School (also known as the Back Lane School). Mr Nesbitt was still principal when the new school was built and he led the children 'Down the Lane' to their new school.
Mr Nesbitt retired in 1985 and vice-principal Mr Arthur Greenwood was appointed principal. Mr Greenwood was principal for 21 years and when he retired Mr Niall Stevenson became only the third principal in the school's now 50 years.
Below are a flavour of the old photos that we received from former staff and pupils. Special thanks must go to Mrs Olga Cairns, Mrs Rosemary Wilson and the late Mrs Anne Ferguson. Their extensive collections of old photos was the mainstay of our exhibition.
Down Museum has been very helpful when planning for the exhibition and they have kindly agreed to host our Exhibition in December 2025 - January 2026.
Down Museum Exhibition - December 2025-January 2026
We are delighted that Down Museum has kindly agreed to put on an exhibition in their main exhibition hall of old photographs, artefacts and uniform to mark our 50 years as Downpatrick Primary School on our present site.
The exhibition will be on and free to visit from now to Christmas 2025 and on into mid-January 2026. We would strongly encourage former pupils and friends and families connected with the school to go along to the Museum up in the Old County Gaol building on English Street just down from the cathedral.
The exhibition will be on and free to visit from now to Christmas 2025 and on into mid-January 2026. We would strongly encourage former pupils and friends and families connected with the school to go along to the Museum up in the Old County Gaol building on English Street just down from the cathedral.
