St Ciaran's College

The college attracts students from communities in south County Tyrone (Ballygawley, Galbally, Augher, Clogher, Eskra, Aughnacloy/Caledon, Cabragh, Donaghmore, Beragh, Fivemiletown) and north County Monaghan (Republic of Ireland) (Clara, Emyvale, Knockconan), Carrickroe,Tydavnet and surrounding catchment areas of Monaghan County

Students have come from the following primary schools in south County Tyrone (St Mary's, Ballygawley; St Malachy's, Glencull; St Brigid's, Altamuskin; St Joseph's, Gallbally; St Brigid's, Augher; St Patrick's, Aughadarragh; St Macartan's convent school, Clogher; Roscavey, Beragh; St Mary's, Fivemiletown; St Patrick's, Eskra; St Mary's, Aughnacloy; St Joseph's, Caledon; St Mary's, Cabragh; St Patrick's, Donaghmore; Blessed Patrick O'Loughern, Castlecaufield) and the following national schools in north County Monaghan (Deravoy NS, Emyvale; Edenmore NS, Emyvale; St Patrick's NS, Clara; Knockconan NS, Ballyoisin)

Not known to many outsiders, the legend of the ghost flute has been passed down through generations of students at the school.

Every year, a new batch of geography students fall victim to the ghost flute. The legend states it can only be heard by those who have taken a geography lesson in the school, and it will haunt you for eternity if you "forget" to do the homework assessed.

Once a year, at 3:33am on the 03/03, it is said that the ghost flute can be summoned. To do this, you must enter the school and chant "The Water Cycle Song"[2] three times, while making your way to the music department. You must choose a flute from the store cupboard and bring it up to the geography corridor. You must measure the distance between the geography classrooms and set the flute in the exact center point between them. You must bring offerings of lost pencils and broken rulers in the yellow pots from the back of the classrooms. Carefully place them around the flute in a circle. Finally, you must stand around the flute and recite "The Water Cycle Song" one last time, very quietly, but be warned, one you have recited this, there is no telling what will happen next. Those who have tried to summon the flute on this night have woken up the next day, in geography class, with no memory of the flute entirely.

Some say it is just the wind, however those who have made those claims have never experienced the horror of the hauntings. They will never know the true power of the ghost flute.

In 2019, Saint Ciaran's College made headlines when a high-risk registered sex offender was caught lurking the corridors of the County Tyrone school. Geoffrey Kelly from Fivemiletown, County Tyrone was dressed up as a woman when staff confronted him for trying the handles of classroom doors.[3] According to records, new enrolment for the academic year of 2020 has dropped by almost ten percent. However the board of governors of saint ciarans have implemented new and robust safety measures to ensure pupils safety.

• St. Ciaran's College, Ballygawley