We were delighted to welcome First Minister Michelle O’Neill to Derrychrin Primary School for what was a truly special and memorable morning. The visit was filled with a fantastic sense of pride, celebration and community spirit, reflecting all that makes our school so unique.
The First Minister was warmly greeted on arrival by Principal, Mr. Ciaran McElroy, Board of Governors Chairperson, Mr. Colm McElroy, Vice Chairperson, Mrs Ciara Gordon, Sinn Féin Councillor Mr. Gavin Bell, and our Primary 7 School Council representatives, Dan and Lorcan.
The morning began with a warm welcome from our Instrumental Group, who performed a selection of music at the front reception area, creating a joyful and welcoming atmosphere from the outset. The First Minister then enjoyed a tour of the school, meeting pupils and staff and experiencing first-hand the high quality of teaching, learning and relationships across our classes.
In the school hall, the First Minister joined us for our “Taste of Ballinderry” Coffee Morning, hosted by our Primary 5 pupils led by Mrs. McGuckin, which provided a wonderful opportunity to welcome members of our wider school community into the school. The atmosphere was vibrant, warm and full of pride.
Our Primary 6 pupils performed a beautiful song in Gaeilge, while Primary 6 School Council representatives, Emma, Padraig and Priya, delivered a confident and welcoming address, highlighting the importance of pupil voice and leadership within our school.
A key highlight of the morning was the launch of the “Ballinderry Celebrated Cookbook”, created by our Primary 7 pupils led by Mr. O’Neill as part of the Junior Entrepreneur Programme 2026. Pupils shared their entrepreneurial journey through presentations and videos, showcasing creativity, teamwork and a strong connection to their local community.
During her visit, the First Minister spoke very warmly about Derrychrin Primary School, describing it as a very special and unique school with a wonderful school community. She shared an inspiring message with our pupils, reminding them that they are amazing and capable of achieving amazing things, and encouraging them to start each day by telling themselves just that.
A presentation was made to the First Minister of a beautiful painting, “Misty Mornings Over Lough Neagh,” created by Paula McGlade alongside her children, Emma and Patrick, who are also pupils of Derrychrin Primary School. The piece reflects the importance of protecting and preserving Lough Neagh, a message of great significance to our school and the wider local community.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all our staff, whose dedication and teamwork ensured the success of the morning. In particular, we thank those who prepared the hall so beautifully in advance of the Coffee Morning and visit—it looked outstanding. Thank you also to Margaret, Caitríona and Mandy for providing tea, coffee and refreshments for staff and visitors.
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Councillor Mr Gavin Bell for his continued support and for his assistance in organising this very special visit.
This was truly a wonderful morning, filled with positivity, pride and a fantastic school community atmosphere. It is a day that will remain a very special memory for all involved.
We thank everyone who contributed to making the visit such a success and for helping to showcase the very best of Derrychrin Primary School.
