Database of Enrolment Registers for Ballyneaner National School

Ballyneaner National School was situated in the Parish of Donagheady in the Barony of Lower Strabane in Co. Tyrone. Its actual location was on the border between Counties Londondonderry and Tyrone and its pupils were drawn from townlands lying in both counties. I chose it because many of the families from the townland of Lisbunny [one of the locality studies] sent their children to this school. Two in particular, Bond and McMillen, who are included in the case studies of families in the right-hand menu of the CD, had children at the school.

The information in the database includes the date when a pupil entered the school, their age, religion and place of residence at entry, as well as the occupation of their father. Because the pupils came from townland on both sides of the county boundary I have indicated which townlands were in Co. Londonderry and which were in Co. Tyrone. Some transferred from other schools and there is a separate column containing this information. The information has been transcribed from the Registers of Attendance covering the years 1863-1899.

Note that the information within the database is arranged alphabetically by surname.

One interesting point emerges from these registers regarding local placenames. Clearly the part of Lisbunny that was occupied by the Gormley and Devine families [listed in the register] was known locally, at that time, as Stoneyblatter.

There is also another interesting point about the ages of the pupils. Ten of the new entrants were aged 15 or more when they entered the school. One of these was Alexander McMullan or McMillan who entered the school in 1884 when he was 20. I know, from his birth certificate, that he was born on 26th April 1864, the first year of compulsory registration of births, so the age given in the register is not a mistake.

Apart from one entrant, Fanny Cunningham of Liscloon, all of these older entrants were men. Were they thinking of emigrating and felt that they needed to be able to read, write and count?

This database was originally produced by Terry Eakin and my thanks to him for his permission to use it on my CD and this website.

Copyright 2010 W. Macafee.