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- Portora Royal School
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- There were five Royal Schools established in Ulster in the early 1600's. A Charter of King James 1st
led to an order by the Privy council in 1608
for their formation. The King had land set aside for the Fermanagh School on
the land and buildings of Castle Balfour, Lisnaskea. The first year of
operation , 1618 the were fifteen pupils, paying a fee of 100 guineas each.
Dr. Stock was the first headmaster. In 1643 the school transferred to
Enniskillen, to what is now Market Street (Then School House Lane), and again
in 1777 the School moved to its current location, Portora Hill beside Portora
Castle. The Headmaster was crown appointed, the School still has a Charter
signed by George 3rd appointing Rev Mark Noble as headmaster. At a capability
of 90 boarders the school had became to small, and in 1838 the new wings were
built - (now study rooms).
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- In 1891, under a new education act, the Roman Catholic Church took its
half of the endowments and educated its children separately although Portora
continued to educate boys of all denominations. (The new Roman Catholic
School, opened by Christian Brothers was at the site of the Poppy Day
Massacre, now the Clinton Centre). The continued growth of the 20th Centaury
saw the building of a Junior or Preparatory School, Gloucester House and the
building of the swimming pool. In 1948 the elaborate gates where added to the
front of the School. The gates where a memorial to those past pupils who died
during World War 2. The pillars came from the derelict Inishmore Hall, ex home
of the Montgomery Family. (near Tamalagh). During the later part of the 20th
Centaury boarding numbers fell, and today there are none. Gloucester House
closed, and the school is now a boys Grammar School with day pupils.
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- Over the years there were many famous individuals educated at Portora.
Oscar Wilde, whose works include " The Importance of being Earnest" and the
Ballad of Reading Gaol", is the schools most famous Old Boy, having attended
the School from 1864 - 1871.
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- His parents where good friends with the art master William Wakeman. Oscar
may have been sent to Enniskillen from Dublin to escape the scandal of his
Mothers (Jane Wilde) libel case and an admirer of his father, Mary Josephine
Travers. Although the Enniskillen papers covered the whole trial story. After
his imprisonment his name was rubbed of the honours list on the entrance to
the Steele Hall, you can see though where is was reinstated in a different
print, one of the first places to Publicly acknowledge him for his genius and
not his behaviour.
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- Henry Francis Lyte attended Portora from 1803 to 1809 and later wrote the
Hymns " Praise my soul the King of Heaven" and "Abide with Me" amongst many
others. He was attending the school when at the age of nine , his father
deserted the family and shortly afterwards his mother and brother died. His
headmaster Dr. Burrows, recognised the boy's talent and Henry was taken into
his home and the rest of his education was paid for by Dr. Burrows. A
compassionate act for someone with five children of his own. A tablet is
erected to Lyte in the School Chapel.
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- Other famous Portorans include the author "Waiting for Godot", Samuel
Becket and recently the band of Divine Comedy, lead by Neil Hannon.
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- The School has in its past contributed to Sport in the country, the Irish
Rugby Football Union (IRFU) was part formed with the help of the School and
through the years has had many players represent the country.
- Rowing and Sailing are two other sports at which the School excels.
Links:
Old Portora Union
Portora Royal School
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