Ballydevitt National School

Detached six-bay single-storey former national school, dated 1946, having recessed flat-roofed returns and toilet blocks to the rear (north-west). Now out of use. Hipped natural slate roof to main body of building having clayware ridge tiles, projecting stone eaves course, central metal vent, and cast-iron rainwater goods. Smooth rendered finish over red brick walls (English Garden Bond) up to window sill level with smooth rendered plinth to base. Cut stone name and date plaque to the front elevation (south-east) having incised Gaelic lettering reading ‘Scoil Baile Davit, Scoil Naisunta, 1946’. Square-headed window openings having stone sills and remains of three-over three-pane timber sliding sash windows with horizontal glazing bars. Windows to flat-roofed sections now boarded. Single square-headed doorway to the front face (south-east) of recessed blocks to either side having plain raised ashlar surround with ashlar lintels over, and with remains of timber doors with glazed panels to upper half. Set back from road in own grounds to the north-west of Donegal Town and adjacent to Killymard Church of Ireland church. Located at corner site adjacent to road junctions. Remains of single-storey playground shelters to site. Site bounded on road-frontage by blockwork boundary walls.

Despite being now out of use, this interesting symmetrical mid-twentieth century national school retains its early architectural character and form. This school conforms to the typical Office of Public two classroom national schools that were built in great numbers throughout Ireland during the mid-twentieth century, and represents a relatively intact example of its type. However, it is constructed using unusually high-quality materials, such as the ashlar stone surrounds to the doorway, and the natural slate roof that are not usually found at buildings of its type and date in rural Ireland. The date and name plaque with incised Gaelic script adds further interest. The contrasting use of red brick and plain rendered finishes creates pleasing tonal and textural variation to the main elevations. Its symmetrical form with the simple clean detailing can be viewed as a ‘light’ interpretation of the ‘International’ style then current in architecture, exemplified by the flat roofs to the recessed sections to the rear and the horizontal emphasis to the fenestration. The present building replaced an earlier national school at this site, which was in existence in 1907 (Ordnance Survey twenty-five inch map sheet). This simple school building is of social importance to the local community, and represents an interesting addition to the built heritage of the local area. Sensitively restored, this building would make a strongly positive contribution to the rural landscape to the north-west of Donegal Town.