Coleraine Controversy

• Leaving Cert History

• Case Study

• Northern Ireland 1949-1989

1961

•Robbins Committee set up to report on future of higher education in Britain •Does not include NI in its considerations

Jan 1962• Stormont Financial administrators

meet University Grants Committee to discuss issue of a second university for NI

• Coleraine and Armagh begin lobbying to host the university

• Stormont government decides to establish a committee to investigate needs of higher education in NI

May 1963

• Sir John Lockwood recommended for chair by Ministry of Education in London

• Also approved by W. T. Ewing, Minister for Education in NI who will be secretary to committee

• It will consist of eight people with expertise in different aspects of education, four based in England and none Catholic

Autumn 1963

Dec 1963• Lockwood Committee meets for first

time. Decides to meet fifteen times at three/four week intervals

• Agrees terms of reference should cover academic, social and other factors relating to a suitable location

• The choice of a specific site should be left to the government

• Lockwood Committee visits Queen's in Belfast and confirms need for second university

• Queen's is hemmed in by adjacent land and has no power of compulsory purchase

• There are also issues with transport, parking etc.

Jan 1964

Feb 1964• Reps of University Grants Committee

attend fourth meeting of Lockwood Committee

• It advises main criteria be - (1) existence of higher technical institutions

that are potential universities(2) regional planning needs(3) availability of sites of over 200 acres with

room for further expansion(4) the proximity of a town with reasonable

facilities

Feb 1964

• Lockwood Committee visits Magee and members are unimpressed

• They report “lack of dynamism” among college community who have no “clear idea about how the college should develop”

1964• May 1964: At 10th meeting of Lockwood

Committee senior official from Department of Commerce and Labour and National Insurance tell members that industrialists think Derry “too remote”

• June 1964: Lockwood Committe draws up its shortlist – Magee is not included

• Dec 1964: Stormont cabinet recognises backlash of “killing Magee” and O'Neill says he is aware of the support a pro-Magee lobby could generate

Jan & Feb 1965• 14th Jan 1965: O'Neill controversially receives Lemass in

Belfast.• 30th Jan 1965: Basil McFarland, former mayor of Derry, says he

doubts Lockwood report will “do Derry much good” leading to foundation of University for Derry Committee (also known as Action Committee)

• 8th Feb 1965: Large protest meeting in Derry• 9th Feb 1965: O'Neill is first NI PM to visit Dublin• 10th Feb 1965: Lockwood Report published recommending

Coleraine as site for new university and Magee College to be closed down

• 18th Feb 1965: Two-minute silence in Derry with many shops and businesses closed in protest. Opposition is cross-community. 2,000 vehicle motorcade to Stormont led jointly by Derry's Unionist Mayor and a Nationalist MP

March 1965• Lockwood shocked at bitter reaction to his decision and

at length and scale of parliamentary debate • Despite heated discussion and defection of two

Unionists MPs, O'Neill's government wins the vote 27:19• Magee trustees agree to compromise whereby the

college will become a constituent college of Coleraine University, with full degree courses

• Agreement not honoured. • Unionist MP Robert Nixon makes his “faceless men”

allegation, backed up by Nationalist MP Patrick Gormley• Accusation that hardline Unionists had approached

O'Neill and advised him against any future development for Derry (educational, economic or otherwise) so that an increase in Catholic voters would not materialise and Unionist control of Derry would not end

• Nixon expelled from UPP and a petition of 15,000 names fails to move the government to investigate the matter

1969

• Magee College absorbed into new University of Ulster

• Presentation prepared by:

• Dominic Haugh

• St. Particks Comprehensive School

• Shannon

• Co. Clare

• Contents taken from leavingcerthistoryblogspot• Presentation can be used for educational purposes only – all rights remain with author