OUR JOURNEY

The Story of Drumragh Integrated College

Welcome to Our History Project

We are developing this page as part of our ongoing celebration of the history of Drumragh Integrated College.

Take the time to view our archive gallery and read our story below. This collection will continue to expand as more historical data and memories are recovered, allowing you to journey through the milestones, challenges and magical moments that shaped our school community.

If you have photographs, memories, or historical information you would like to contribute, we would be delighted to hear from you via email.

The Hogwarts Era: Life at the Old T&F Site (1995 to 2009)

Step back into the labyrinthine corridors and grand Gothic architecture that shaped the first fourteen years of Drumragh Integrated College. From our historic opening day on 4th September 1995 to our final bittersweet farewell on 30th June 2009, this archival collection captures the raw adventure, community spirit, and unique character of life inside the old Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital building. Explore the spaces where history met education, from the sprawling grounds of Strathdene House to the iconic rooms fondly remembered by a generation of pioneers.

Please note: These archive images are part of our shared history.  Kindly contact via email if you wish to share or use any photos.

Foundations of a Shared Vision

Drumragh Integrated College was founded through the vision, determination, and commitment of local parents who believed in the power of children learning together in an inclusive and integrated environment. Their ambition was to create a school where young people from all traditions and backgrounds could learn alongside one another, fostering respect, understanding, and friendship within the local community.

The story of Drumragh Integrated College is closely linked with that of Omagh Integrated Primary School. Inspired by the growth of Integrated Education in Enniskillen in 1989, a group of pioneering parents, including long-serving governors Mr Aidan Bunting and Mrs Vida Lake, launched the Omagh Integrated School Project. One of the earliest appointments was that of school secretary Mrs Caroline McElduff, who remains part of the school community to this day.

Pioneering the Early Days

After an enormous community effort, Omagh Integrated Primary School became a reality and opened in September 1990 under the leadership of Miss Maureen Butler. Initially housed in three mobile classrooms, the school welcomed 32 pupils across Years 1–7 alongside 24 nursery children.

Establishing a small integrated school on the outskirts of Omagh presented many challenges, particularly alongside several long-established local schools. Governors, staff, and parents worked tirelessly to build trust within the community, support the development of nursery provision, and create a welcoming environment for pupils and families.

Despite modest beginnings, the school community remained committed to the vision of Integrated Education and the belief that children from different traditions should learn together in an atmosphere of respect and understanding. In 1993, Miss Maureen Butler moved on to establish another integrated primary school in Belfast, with incoming Principal Mr Eric Bullick confidently predicting that demand for Integrated Education in Omagh would continue to grow significantly in the years ahead.

A New Chapter for Post-Primary Education

Five years after the opening of Omagh Integrated Primary School, Drumragh Integrated College opened in September 1995 with 85 pupils in the former Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital building in Omagh. The college opened in time to provide a post-primary pathway for the founding pupils of Omagh Integrated Primary School as they progressed into Year 8.

At the time, Drumragh was the largest of three new integrated colleges opening across Northern Ireland and welcomed pupils from across the wider Tyrone area, including Omagh, Strabane, Beragh, Carrickmore, and Ballygawley. Under the leadership of founding Principal Dr Kathleen Hinds, the college quickly became a symbol of hope and progress for Integrated Education within the local community.

💬 Remembering the Foundation

"Taking on the role of founding principal was both an immense privilege and an extraordinary challenge. We weren't just opening a new school; we were establishing a completely new way of learning for post-primary pupils in the Omagh area. The energy and determination of the pioneering parents and our small, dedicated staff team created an environment where boundaries were broken down, and a true community began to form from day one."
— Dr Kathleen Hinds, Founding Principal

Life at Strathdene House

Initially accommodated within Strathdene House on the grounds of the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital, the college consisted of five classrooms, offices, and an assembly hall, while pupils also had access to the hospital’s Great Hall, tennis courts, and football pitches. From the outset, Drumragh offered a broad and balanced curriculum alongside a growing programme of extra-curricular activities.

💬 Character and Community

"Strathdene House and the old hospital grounds certainly gave Drumragh a distinct personality. Transforming a Victorian psychiatric hospital building into a vibrant, modern learning space required flexibility and a good sense of humour from both staff and students. Whether we were utilising the Great Hall or adapting old offices into classrooms, those quirky physical surroundings ultimately brought us closer together and forged an unbreakable school spirit."
— Dr Kathleen Hinds, Founding Principal

Growth and the Omagh Integrated Campus

With a dedicated staff team and strong support from parents and the wider community, the college grew steadily and became a popular choice for families across the area, frequently being over-subscribed over the past three decades.

💬 A Lasting Legacy

"Starting with just 85 pupils, we watched the college exceed all initial expectations as families across Tyrone embraced integrated education. The demand proved that our community wanted a shared space where children from all traditions could celebrate diversity rather than be divided by it. To see that tiny seed grow into a heavily over-subscribed college is a testament to the enduring power of the integrated ethos."
— Dr Kathleen Hinds, Founding Principal

As the college expanded, more of the historic Victorian hospital building became part of college life, creating many memorable stories and experiences for staff and students alike. The college steadily grew from its modest beginnings in a small corner of the old facility to eventually taking over three entire floors and two separate canteens spanning the full length of the building.

It was during this era that Harry Potter became a worldwide phenomenon, and the timing could not have been more perfect. Students and staff quickly and fondly nicknamed the old building "Hogwarts." Children and visitors alike were completely mesmerised by its grand Gothic, labyrinthine architecture. The winding corridors, towering ceilings and hidden corners perfectly mirrored the magical school of fiction, making the daily school routine feel like an adventure.

Founding students fondly recall exploring this sprawling, historic building and its expansive grounds, often stumbling across fascinating relics of the former psychiatric hospital. Hidden away were artifacts from another era: timber Victorian restraint chairs, old iron beds, abandoned luggage, and a bowling green situated in the attic. In the depths of the building, the basement housed over 150 years of dusty medical and institutional records.

This unique blending of old and new came to a head in September 2000, when the college reached a significant milestone with the introduction of its Sixth Form provision. In a striking symbol of transformation, old padded isolation cells were cleared out and reimagined into dedicated Sixth Form study rooms, ensuring that students could complete their entire post-primary journey in an integrated environment.

When the time finally came to leave these historic, quirky corridors behind in 2009, the college community marked the end of the era with a massive, celebratory leaving party fittingly titled 'Goodbye Hogwarts.' The event featured a plethora of music, drama, and entertainment showcasing the immense talent of both staff and students, serving as a joyous, bittersweet farewell to their beloved first home.

Looking back now, it is fascinating to see just how much time, society, and school life have changed. The organic freedom, spontaneity and sense of raw adventure enjoyed by students and teachers alike in the 1990s and early 2000s have slowly given way to a modern educational landscape heavily dominated by bureaucracy, rigorous risk assessments, and increasing institutional control and restriction across the UK and Ireland. While the new facilities brought much-needed modernisation, those early decades represent a distinct, unrepeatable chapter of liberation and community spirit.

Following this grand farewell, the college community moved into its new purpose-built school building, marking an exciting new chapter in the history of Drumragh Integrated College. In 2018, Omagh Integrated Primary School joined the site, further developing the vision of the Omagh Integrated Campus.

Drumragh College Founders Book: An archival treasure containing the creative illustrations, stories and personal messages of the pioneering staff and students who shaped the birth of Drumragh.

⏳ Historical Milestones at a Glance