GC36MQX "Dam School" (Traditional Cache) in Ulster, Ireland created by Shunky

This cache has been archived.

Inishanier: Hi,

There has been no response from the cache owner so I'm Archiving this cache.

It may be possible to reactivate this cache. If you wish to do so please contact me via my profile and quote the Geocaching.com ID for the cache so I know which one you are referring to.

Please be aware that reactivation is not guaranteed and will depend on individual circumstances.

Many thanks,

Graham

Inishanier - Volunteer Reviewer for Geocaching.com (Ireland)

GC36MQX ▼

A cache by Shunky Message this owner

Hidden : 10/26/2011

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

The cache is a small water proof plastic unit (magnetic). The cache is hidden in the layby on the main road.

This is a busy main road so please be careful accessing and rehiding the cache.

The history of the school is tied with the history of the parish and the Church of The immaculate Heart of Mary. For three centuries no Mass was celebrated in this area of north Down. With the construction of the Knockbracken reservoir about 1900 there was an influx of Catholic workers. A large wooden building served as a school for the workers’ children during the day and Mass was celebrated on a Sunday. It was known as “The Dam School”. Purdysburn Hospital opened about this time and Mass was celebrated by priests from the Lisburn parish. There was then no school until many years later.

1940 saw the requisitioning of the workshops of P.J. Walls by the British War Office, the site extended and used as an army camp – The British replaced by the Americans, the Americans in turn by the Gibraltarians – and during this time the local Catholic residents being allowed into the army camp for the celebration of Sunday Mass. On the 22nd May 1945 the foundation stone of the new Church was laid. However it was not until 1955 that St. Joseph’s Primary school opened with an enrolment of 47 pupils and only three class rooms. By 1969 four new classrooms together with an Assembly hall and kitchen had been added. The principal for many years was Mr. John MacNamee. Further classrooms were added and at a later stage even more class rooms. In September of 1985 St. Joseph’s had a new Principal Mr. Fitzsimmons. In the 1980’s the Catholic population increased dramatically (see table below) with serious consequences for the existing church building which had accommodation for just over 200 people. The population increase had similar consequences for the parish primary school which had only 10 classrooms. Mobile class rooms were also being used to try and accommodate the increase in children attending the school.

Year____Est. Catholic Pop._____Number of Pupils
1946........100....................No school
1966........600....................140
1986........2,500..................350
2002........6,000..................820

A new school, St. Ita’s, off the Purdysburn Road has been built and the original buildings of St. Josephs has been knocked down and rebuilt. The original church has been knocked down and a replacement church has been built.

See the schools own website (as well as the related site above) (visit link)

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Avpr obk bs gevpxf. Ybbx hc!

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)