Bye Bye Beersbridge Belfast Elmgrove Primary School is on the Move

I'm over on the Beersbridge Road in East Belfast to take a last look round Elmwood Primary School. Built in 1932 the old school building has seen better days. Back in 1932 Elmgrove's architect was RS Wilshere, a leading figure in the development of ‘modern’ architecture in Ireland. He is responsible for building a number of east Belfast schools. By December 2024 the present school children and excited staff will have moved into a brand new school, at a east Belfast new location, less than a mile away. So it really is, 'Bye Bye Beersbridge!' On Thursday afternoon and evening parents pupils and former pupils got the chance to take a last look round their old school as the memories came flooding back. I was one of those taking a very informative and nostalgic school tour. Elmgrove P School was once attended by, world renowned singer songwriter Van Morrison, the late Billy Bingham, Northern Ireland's most successful football manager, the late Unionist politician David Ervine MLA and George Jones of Clubsound and radio fame. The Beersbridge Road school was officially opened on Monday, January 9, 1933, by Alderman JD Williamson. After 91 years on the four acre site, the school will move into a modern, new build which incorporates part of the former Avoniel Primary School in November 2024. We wish all the boys and girls and the school staff our very best wishes o this new beginning.