By Jonathan Magee
IT was a day of celebration on Thursday as the pupils of St Eunan’s National School in Raphoe launched their new book – ‘The Life and Times of St Eunan, Raphoe’.
The book launch marked the 1400th anniversary of St Eunan who was born around 625 and died in 704AD.
Parents, pupils, school staff, members of the clergy and guests attended the lunchtime event in the packed school hall.
School principal, Anita Keeve welcomed the school’s patron, the most Rev Niall Coll, recently appointed Bishop of Raphoe.
The parish priest in Raphoe, Fr Eamonn Kelly was also in attendance along with Canon Dinny McGettigan and Rector of the Church of Ireland, Dean Liz Fitzgerald.
Third class students perform Lord of the Dance.
Crowd listen to a fascinating event about St Eunan.
Ms Keeve said: “St Eunan’s is a shared space here in Raphoe and it is wonderful to have Dean Liz Fitzgerald with us today, as well as Mrs Norma Summers, principal of Raphoe Central NS, Dr Howard Welch, from Raphoe Royal and Prior, and of course oe Boyle from Deele College here in Raphoe.”
Pupil Noah McCarron welcomed the guests and explained that pupils from fourth and fifth classes were involved in writing the book.
Among those to attend was local journalist Mary Harte who said she was so impressed with the pupils because normally she is asking the questions.
“But they were asking me the questions and they were superb, they were absolutely excellent and I can’t say enough about their interest in St Eunan,” she said.
Presentation to journalist Mary Harte for helping the students.
Mary said she had carried out a lot of research with an archaeologist and had found that the cathedral in Raphoe is the template of where the original monastery would have been.
She believed that the water spout on William Street was an ancient pilgrim bath.
In his address, Bishop Coll said that when he thought about St Eunan he always thought about St Colmcille from Gartan. Colmcille’s beliefs and teachings in Christ brought him from Gartan to Derry, and finally on to the remote island of Iona in Scotland, he said.
Bishop Niall Coll at the book launch.
He said that St Columba had a monastery in Iona and St Eunan ended up following in the footsteps of Colmcille.
“St Eunans in Raphoe have written a book about St Eunan, and St Eunan had written a book about Colmcille, so it is very appropriate that we have this celebration today,” Bishop Coll said.
Dean Fitzgerald also addressed the event, and spoke about St Eunan’s Cathedral in Raphoe.
“I want to remind everybody it’s so old it belongs to all of us,” she said.
“So if you want to go into the cathedral and have a look at the windows, the window at the end is the ascension of Jesus Christ.
“St Eunan is just beside it and then you have the windows of the four gospels.”
Guests were entertained by some of the pupils from the school, with class members performing music and a special Lord of the Dance routine.
The pupils also thanked a number of people who were instrumental in researching and publishing the book including Mary Harte, teachers Mrs Bell, Mrs Griffin, Mrs Sweeney, Mrs Keeve, and Liam Boyle who printed the book.
St Eunan’s national school principal, Mrs Anita Keeve and Deele college principal, Mr Joe Boyle.