St. Patrick's School << PREVIOUS | NEXT PROJECT >>
Built in 1828 to the designs of the Newry architect, Timothy Hevey, St. Patrick’s National School was the first Catholic school to be built in Belfast. The land was donated by the Marquess of Donegall, and had been the town dump until the school was built.
Operated by the Christian Brothers for a large portion of its history, the school continued to serve the educational needs of the north of the city until it closed in 1982. Before then it had been the place of schooling for comedian Frank Carson; Gerry Fitt, founding Leader of the SDLP; and former World Champion boxer, Rinty Monaghan, as well as countless generations of children from across north Belfast.
Situated in a sectarian interface, the building was nevertheless well beloved of both communities. Squat and brown bricked, people speak fondly of its pointed Gothic windows and Dutch gable. After it closed it served briefly as a parish community centre and survived until a fire caused severe damage in late 1995. So serious was the damage that the owners wished to have the building demolished for public safety and to enable expansion of a car park.
The threat to the future of Belfast’s last remaining neo-Gothic building was the impetus for the foundation of the BBPT. With a package of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Architectural Heritage Fund, various charitable trusts and the BBPT’s own borrowings, the group ensured a completed project at a cost of £1.2 million. Reopened in 1999 by Lord Dubs, then Minister for the Environment, St. Patrick’s now houses offices, a bookshop and a restored classroom that is used for events ranging from creative writing classes to business seminars.
