No matter how bad it seemed at the time, many of us look back on our school days with a sense of fondness and nostalgia. Ah, what we wouldn’t do to go back to the good ol’ days.
Growing up in the north of Ireland is a truly unique experience, and the 14 years we spent in school are truly no exception to that rule. With their many quirks, there are things we all remember about our school days.
Looking for the ultimate nostalgia hit? From formal excitement to knowing Heaney poems by heart, here are the top ten signs you definitely went to school in Northern Ireland.
- No matter how bad it seemed at the time, many of us look back on our school days with a sense of fondness and nostalgia. Ah, what we wouldn’t do to go back to the good ol’ days.
- 10. The formal was the biggest event in your school calendar – the most important night of your teen life
- 9. Chip day was your favourite day of the week – the sprint to the dining hall was always worth it
- 8. You got a visit from the Translink Safety Bus – learning safe use of public transport
- 7. The back of the bus was the place to be – where all the cool kids sat
- 6. You wore a uniform – blazer, shirt, and tie have to be perfect
- 5. CCEA still gives you the fear – those dreaded exam days
- 4. You had at least one classmate who was related to a staff member – everyone knows everyone in Northern Ireland
- 3. You were either a packed lunch or school dinners kid – you couldn’t be both
- 2. You studied Seamus Heaney in English – one of Ireland’s most beloved poets
- 1. You had at least one class in a mobile – an unconventional classroom
10. The formal was the biggest event in your school calendar – the most important night of your teen life
After 14 years of education, there was nothing quite like the chance to get dressed up and let loose with your classmates and teachers.
If you remember the excitement and the build-up to the school formal better than you remember the actual event, then that’s one of the top signs you definitely went to school in Northern Ireland.
9. Chip day was your favourite day of the week – the sprint to the dining hall was always worth it
After Jamie Oliver came along, school meals started to become significantly healthier and significantly less appetising.
Thankfully, most schools in Northern Ireland kept serving up one of the best ways to cook potatoes at least one day a week, the glorious chip day. We still remember the sweet smell of freshly fried frozen chips emanating from the dinner hall.
8. You got a visit from the Translink Safety Bus – learning safe use of public transport
Now, if you went to school in Northern Ireland, you’ll likely have used some form of Translink service to make your way to and from school every day.
However, if you went to a Northern Irish school in the past 20 years, you’ll probably also remember getting a visit from the pink and blue Translink Safety Bus, brought in to teach us all how to use a bus safely.
7. The back of the bus was the place to be – where all the cool kids sat
Staying on the public transport theme, anyone who went to school in Northern Ireland will remember the important seating hierarchy on the school bus.
Only upper school kids could sit in the back seats. First years, dream on!
6. You wore a uniform – blazer, shirt, and tie have to be perfect
Ah, the school uniforms we all loved to hate. Schools across Northern Ireland had uniforms in a wide variety of colours ranging from the classic navy, black, or grey to the more adventurous blue, green, and maroon.
5. CCEA still gives you the fear – those dreaded exam days
One of the signs you definitely went to school in Northern Ireland is if the mere mention of CCEA still ignites fear deep in your stomach.
What was it with them always asking the off-the-wall questions that no one predicted would come up on the exam?
4. You had at least one classmate who was related to a staff member – everyone knows everyone in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is a small place, so it’s hard to go anywhere without bumping into someone who is related to someone else that you know.
The same was true with going to school in Northern Ireland. There was always one poor kid who was the son or daughter of that notoriously mean teacher.
3. You were either a packed lunch or school dinners kid – you couldn’t be both
It’s a divide as old as time: the school lunches kids versus the school dinners kids. Two different breeds, never to be united.
2. You studied Seamus Heaney in English – one of Ireland’s most beloved poets
In most schools across Northern Ireland, English Literature was one of the care subjects that was compulsory up until GCSE level.
So, many of us will remember studying at least one poem by the much revered Northern Irish poet Seamus Heaney. ‘Blackberry-Picking’, anyone? Check out where he ranks on the list of the best Irish poets.
1. You had at least one class in a mobile – an unconventional classroom
And finally, topping our list of signs you definitely went to school in Northern Ireland is that you had at least one class in a mobile.
With underfunding across the education board, schools had to make up for lack of space and large numbers of students in any way they could. This meant many of us will have experienced at least one class in a mobile during our 14 years.
