A Story well lived
The Church Community Heritage Project
Rockhill To Our Community:
Photo credit: Irish Defence Force
January 28th 2021 is the 12th anniversary of the day the Army marched out of Rockhill for the final time.
To mark this and celebrate the some 400 years that Rockhill has been at the heart of our community - having served as a multi-generational family home, a national school, an Irish teacher training college and between 1936 and 2009 a barracks for the Irish Defence Forces – we are excited to announce a new project to gather, preserve and celebrate our shared history and heritage.
We have lots of more recent stories to tell.
But having gathered video histories from neighbours about their school days on the Estate before the Army days, dug through records and heard "You've heard how I...!" more than once; we want to hear from you so future generations will know just how special Rockhill is to us all.
Did you sneak into the orchard as a kid?
Have pictures of a wild night out in The Church during the army days?
Know anything about the hydroelectric station?
Have a great video of one of the fun runs?
Have a theory how an envelope with fillings of “Pure carbon in cavities from Coke” addressed to Lady Helen in 1959 made its way from Bantry, to Cork, to Dublin, to Rockhill, to the Geology Department of Queens University in 2001?
Remember a story your grandparents used to tell?
Do you know something about railway line in 1859?
Know someone who swears they know where the legendary tunnel to Ballymacool is?
We want to hear from you!
Know a piece of local history or folklore that isn't directly about Rockhill but is an important part of our local community?
We want to hear from you too!!
Want to get creative and tell your story through poetry, art or music? Go for it!
Everything gathered will be preserved for future generations to explore and enjoy and will be used to inspire future projects on the Estate.
Tag us on social media, use the #livelocalloverockhill, send us an email or type your story and upload pictures and videos below.
Over the coming weeks we and Rockhill House will be sharing our favourite pictures and some stories from our archive on our social media and when it is safe to do so will be arranging recording sessions for anyone who wants to tell their story that way.
You can submit your story on the form below or by email to story@thechurchrockhill.com.
Want to get involved but not sure how to best tell your story? Drop us an email and we will discuss ways for you to take part.
Want to know more about our history?
Find us on Facebook, learn about Rockhill House on their website or read the letter book kept by the then land steward Robert Rankin Robinson starting in 1893 - available in digital format on the Donegal County Council website and viewable here.