St Mary�s Church at Barr was built in 1830 on land donated by the Savage family, and dedicated by Bishop Blake in 1835. Repaired under the direction of Fr Magennis in 1903, it was extensively renovated in 1939 by Fr McCauley, including wood- carvings of the Stations of the Cross by Newry sculptor, John Haugh, now based in Carlingford. He had a similar assignment at St Mary�s Old Chapel in Newry.

At Glenn, St John�s Church was built in 1848 on land donated by the Innes family, owners of the Dromantine estate. Only reminder of an earlier structure near Dromantine House was a one-armed granite cross, now sited adjacent to the present church. Renovated in 1982, under the aegis of Canon John McAnuff, PP, it was re-opened and blessed by Bishop Brooks in the following year.

And the local-born nuns would include Sisters Mary Maoliosa Sands, Catherine McEvoy, Mary Brigid O�Hare, Elizabeth McNally, Mary Oliver O�Hare, Angela McDermott, Mary Rose Rice, Mary Paul McNally, Maura Cranney, Mary Brigitta Brooks, Eithne Kennedy, Mary Patrick McNulty. Miriam McNally, Mary Ita Conlon and Mary Thaddeus McNally.

Sister Ita Conlon, who is Superior General of her Order, based in France, sister of Aidan, Finbarr and Fr Fergus Conlon, SMA, has recently been home on holidays. Her brother, Fr Fergus, a member of the Down GAA 1960 panel, is ministering in Zambia.

Incidentally, Sister Ita and Aidan Conlon�s father, Peter Conlon, a native of Forkhill, - who taught at the famous Carstands school in Newry along with another Glenn stalwart, Bill O�Keefe from Tipperary, - became principal of Barr School, a post later occupied by his son, Aidan.

For almost a century, both Catholic and Protestant pupils in the parish were educated together. At Derrycraw National School, erected in 1818, there were 21 Catholic, six Church of Ireland and three Presbyterian pupils. The first teacher was Donal O�Gorman.

Meanwhile, at Tullymore National School the ratio was 14 Catholics, five Presbyterians and one Church of Ireland. The teachers over the years included John McMullen, George Gillespie, Misses Agnes and Minnie Sloan. And at Donaghmore National School, opposite the church, there were 10 Presbyterians, five Church of Ireland and one Catholic pupil. Principal Robert Sloan held the post for 30 years, retiring in 1891.

There were 80 pupils at Barr National School in 1839, with the teachers over the years including Peter Murphy, Michael Boyle, Charles Grant, John Malone, Peter Thompson, Catherine McAuliffe, Mary Anne Timony, Mrs Catherine Logan and Mrs Mary Bell.

Some Catholic children attended the �hedge schools,� one in the townland of Knockagarney; another was on Barr Hill. The present St Mary�s School at Lurganare was built in 1962, with Mr Donaghy as principal. He had succeeded Peter Conlon, who died in 1951.

The original Glenn school was built in 1815, on a site presently occupied by the Beechill housing estate. Owen Finnegan, whose son, Fr Malachy was later Headmaster of St Colman�s College, was principal from 1913 to 1945, being succeeded by his wife until 1953. The present school, St John�s at Aughintobber, was opened in 1955, with Hugh McAllister as the first principal, being succeeded by Donal McEvoy.

Meanwhile, Dromantine has a fascinating history, dating from the five centuries when it was the stronghold of the Magennis clan. Then came possession and development by the Scottish settler family of Innes, followed by a half -century as a seminary, despatching over 300 priests to missionary work in West Africa. At present it is a prestigious conference centre, in stunning surroundings.

The Magennis clan held sway from the 12th to the 17th century, ruling over an area from Newry to Lurgan and Castlewellan. However, Murtagh Magennis, to whom Upper and Lower Iveagh had been allocated, was forced by creditors to sell the lands in 1737.

New owners of Donaghmore were the Scottish family, Lairds of Fife. For 190 years, Dromantine was their home. In 1804, Art Brice Innes built a mansion and developed the grounds, taking up residence in 1816. And his grandson Art Charles commissioned the present imposing structure, complete with man-made lake and extensive grounds.

Acquired by the Society of African Missions in 1926, Dromantine College was converted into a seminary, from which over 600 priests graduated, ministering to the people of West Africa. They establishing schools and colleges, through which a number of presidents, prime ministers and other leaders of their countries passed.

However, in 1974 it was decided to transfer the students to Maynooth. Since then, this magnificent edifice in its scenic setting has played host to various conferences, as well as utilised by youth organisations for sporting purposes. What a progressive and fitting climax to such an historic story!

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