Remembrance Day is always a special day at Hardy Memorial PS. A special thankyou to the boys and girls in the Pupil Council who attended the service at the Cenotaph and laid a wreath on belhalf of the school. As always we are very proud of our pupils.

Today a Special Commemoration then took place at our school - The Re-Dedication of a Tree planted in our grounds in memory of Private Jack McCoo by Jack's sister Mrs Kathleen Neville.

Jack was one of four brothers who served during WWII. He joined the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Rifles 19 Platoon - D Company.  Jack's platoon landed in Normandy at roughly 9pm on on the evening of D Day 6 June 1944. in Horsa Gliders which landed on Landing Zone N to the North of Pegasus Bridge. Sadly Jack was killed while on a patrol sweeping the woods on 13 June. He is buried in Ranville Cemetary. On his grave it states he was 21 yrs old however he had lied about his age to join and was actually only 19 when he died. 

The plaque will serve as a reminder to the Hardy Memorial and wider Richhill community of the sacrifice made by Jack and many like him. We are very priviledged that it is present on the tree in our school grounds.

A special thankyou to Mrs Neville, Mr Kyle Quinn, Mr Jackie and Gary McCoo, Rev Carlton Baxter and all those who played a special part in making today happen.